Switching to paper based time management in 2013 to give me something to write!

[jamesspo]

Time management has always been a struggle for me, but I've been doing a lot better in the last year or two after switching from "utter randomness" to GTD (Getting Things Done). It works pretty well so far, although I have struggled with my email (over 7000 messages in my work inbox right now ). I'm trying to get caught up on that while I'm on vacation (yeah, yeah... I know..how is that actually vacation), so hopefully I can *keep* it under control next year.

So far I've been using electronic todo lists to keep track of things, but given my new pen acquisitions (and very little cause for writing in my life sans grocery lists), I'm thinking about switching over to (nearly) all paper next year. I used paper for doing a bunch of sizing/estimating work that I'm a part of at the end of the year for the following year's budget, and I really enjoyed that. I was able to go somewhere comfortable with nothing but my notebook and a pen and my thoughts. I felt so much less distracted there, as opposed to sitting in front of my computer doing the same in a text editor. I'm in front of my computer for 12+ hours a day, so it felt good getting away, but still doing work. In some ways, I feel like the process of writing things actually helped me think more clearly.

I haven't really decided how I'm going to implement my system, with regard to how many and what type of notebooks, or the division between electronic and paper based systems. I have to keep the calendaring part of it electronic, as I have a ton of meetings and need to be able to use the meeting tool to coordinate with a lot of other people to find free times, etc.

Anyone else (particularly those that do most of their work on computers) using paper only for time management? I'd be interested to hear what others have tried in terms of physical layout, and what's worked well.

 

[syngent]

Lots of the paper guys make great planners even pocket ones

You could try out a rhodia one
www.gouletpens.com/Rhodia_Large_Black_WebPlanner_p/3781r5.htm

But you could always join the letter writing group if you are looking to write more then a grocery list.

Old fashion pen pals... but be warned paper, wax seals, inks and the like double the enable factor when they are in your hand and you can see and feel them in person

Best of luck with the managment

 

[jamesspo]

Thanks James..I'll see what they have to offer. I agree on the enablement. I've already got some wax and seal for my wife for Christmas, and I'm geeking out over the possibility of using that already .

Lots of the paper guys make great planners even pocket ones

You could try out a rhodia one
www.gouletpens.com/Rhodia_Large_Black_WebPlanner_p/3781r5.htm

But you could always join the letter writing group if you are looking to write more then a grocery list.

Old fashion pen pals... but be warned paper, wax seals, inks and the like double the enable factor when they are in your hand and you can see and feel them in person

Best of luck with the managment

 

[the_edski]

James, your OP really made me think I was reading about myself a few months. I was engulfed by utter-randomness and at a loss to get myself managing time on anything resembling order. I say +1 to the Canadian James's Rhodia planner. But if the planner doesn't work for you, or if you don't know what will be happening more than a day in advance ( like my job), I use a planning pad (see link below) that is kept right next to my mouse pad on my desk. The beginning of every day I write down what I need to accomplish for the day. I cross items off or add new ones as the day goes on and if something isn't finished, I write it at the end of the day on the paper I will be using for the next day. It has really, really made a difference in accomplishing tasks in a timely and efficient manner.

This particular pad fits my NIB obsession, because it has yet to bleed or ghost or feather with any FP-ink combo, and as a bonus, if you need to scribble or draw on it, the back of each page is quadrille ruled
http://www.amazon.com/Docket-Planning-Inches-40-Sheet-77102/dp/B001AFJPZK

 

[celestino]

James, good luck with the conversion and the crazy Canadian and Ed have made some great suggestions. Nothing compares to hand-written messages as they seem to get ingrained into your mind when you take the time to write them down, or so i think!

 

[syngent]

Its actually true celestino because when you write something you use more senses which helps commit something to memory

Your eyes your fingers and if you verbaly sound out the important stuff it will engrain it into the banks of memory... for some reason typing doesn't seem to work the same for me... maybe its to much muscle memory and I don't think as much when I do it

 

[galopede]

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.
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[Barbash]

James, your OP really made me think I was reading about myself a few months. I was engulfed by utter-randomness and at a loss to get myself managing time on anything resembling order. I say +1 to the Canadian James's Rhodia planner. But if the planner doesn't work for you, or if you don't know what will be happening more than a day in advance ( like my job), I use a planning pad (see link below) that is kept right next to my mouse pad on my desk. The beginning of every day I write down what I need to accomplish for the day. I cross items off or add new ones as the day goes on and if something isn't finished, I write it at the end of the day on the paper I will be using for the next day. It has really, really made a difference in accomplishing tasks in a timely and efficient manner.

This particular pad fits my NIB obsession, because it has yet to bleed or ghost or feather with any FP-ink combo, and as a bonus, if you need to scribble or draw on it, the back of each page is quadrille ruled
http://www.amazon.com/Docket-Planning-Inches-40-Sheet-77102/dp/B001AFJPZK

I have actually been looking for something just like this Ed, but had little success. Thank you!

 

[global_dev]

Check out levenger circa range. Really nice.

 

[the_edski]

Awesome, glad I could help!

I have actually been looking for something just like this Ed, but had little success. Thank you!

 

[SeattleSparky]

Lots of the paper guys make great planners even pocket ones

You could try out a rhodia one
www.gouletpens.com/Rhodia_Large_Black_WebPlanner_p/3781r5.htm

But you could always join the letter writing group if you are looking to write more then a grocery list.

Old fashion pen pals... but be warned paper, wax seals, inks and the like double the enable factor when they are in your hand and you can see and feel them in person

Best of luck with the managment

 

[Mendel]

Greetings from Mendel!

My past professional experience includes 8 years of time management experience with both Franklin Covey (before it was Franklin Covey) and Day-Timers. In light of technology, the paper-based time management industry went into severe decline.

Be that as it may, if you are using a fountain pen, the Rhodia pad listed in the thread is an excellent idea because of the thicker paper content. And those Quiver pen holders above are outstanding!

In recent years I've come to enjoy using Planner Pads, which comes in two sizes in either loose leaf or spiral bound versions. The only concern I would have is the paper thinness when using a fountain pen.

Let us know what direction you went.

Regards,

 

[jamesspo]

Thanks for all of the tips guys. I'll check out the planners. I may start out with just simple notebooks to start...but some of those look pretty cool! mmmmmmm leather.

 

[global_dev]

BTW, levenger will make you a sample planner for free as well as give you a $40 gift card when you buy the $40 starter kit. They are very generous with samples, as an good pusher should.

 

[oc_in_fw]

BTW, levenger will make you a sample planner for free as well as give you a $40 gift card when you buy the $40 starter kit. They are very generous with samples, as an good pusher should.

The first fix is always free

 

[breadstick]

I think I might be in on this. I love the look of the Saddleback small leather notebook.

 

[Alacrity59]

I used Daytimer products for over 10 years then moved to some software products . . . finally Outlook. I switched back to writing two years ago. I use a Harvard Elite planner that I get through Lee Valley for <$20.

 

[N2theBreech]

I've switched around trying to find something that works. Electronic planning just doesn't do it for me. For years I used a Franklin planner. Like Mendel, I facilitated Franklin Covey classes for few years. I did it as adjunct faculty at work.

In August of this year, I decided to keep a work journal instead (a Leuchtturm medium w/ dots). I like the idea of a work journal- it's unstructured, I can explore ideas, document a process so I don't have to re-learn it over and over, keep a running to do list, take meeting notes, doodle and sketch during slow meetings, and so on.

I still prefer the F/C system for time management, though. However for me, the F/C planners just don't lend themselves to creativity the way a blank journal page does. They are very strucured. I use a variation of that system in my work journal. Another advantage of the journal is that I get to do 2-4 pages of writing per day, on average, as part of my job.

I debated going back to the Covey system at the start of the new year, but I think I'll stick with the journal a while longer.

 

[syngent]

I used Daytimer products for over 10 years then moved to some software products . . . finally Outlook. I switched back to writing two years ago. I use a Harvard Elite planner that I get through Lee Valley for <$20.

If I had some reason to manage my life I would be upset with you for showing me this... as much as I love the portable office... I just don't need it... so I guess I'm safe and your off the hook.

 

[Shave_Rat]

OK, you convinced me, after looking through all the various options. The Rhodia WebPlanner is on order now, and next week will be a Quiver pen holder to go with it. Now, I just need to find a good friendly with FP ink pocket journal and I'm set on that stuff for a year.