So, in case you haven’t noticed or you don’t read here that often, I finally caved and bought a Filofax! I feel like this decision was an inevitable one as I have been eyeing them for quite a while and actually used to use one before the age of the Palm Pilot (I swear I am not that old, but I did have a Palm Pilot at age 14)! Back then I had a Franklin Covey binder, and before that I had whatever cute ring-bound planners were available from Fashion Bug (if you are my age, I think you know what I am talking about… faux animal fur and psychedelic rainbow prints were my thing). It took me a while to feel like it was time to return to a full-blown paper planner system, though. I had been seriously testing the waters last year with a variety of different paper planners ranging from inexpensive Target planners, to Gallery Leather planners to a more stylish and coveted Kate Spade planner! All of these were nice, but inevitably only helped organize one area of my life; my schedule! I really needed something that would keep my calendar, to-do’s, random notes, my blog’s editorial calendar and so on! Truthfully, all these other planners were fated for extinction because they all had one thing in common, a binding, which meant I couldn’t move things around or add pages or sections as needed.
Now, I get it, I didn’t really have to get a Filofax to get that sort of customization. I could have used any number of apps that I already own to keep track of everything in one place, my phone! The problem with a digital system like a phone, however, is that it seriously lacks a sense of accomplishment. This is totally a personal opinion, but no matter how many lists I would make on my iPhone, or how many events I scheduled, or how many to-do boxes I tapped, I never felt like I did anything. Once you tap those check boxes and close the app, those old items go away, you can’t see them anymore! Yes, your calendar events usually stick around (unless you have to wipe your phone and you failed to back up or sync) and you can still read your old notes, but it’s just not as gratifying! The endless digital paper doesn’t feel like it amounts to much because it’s all inside your phone. It doesn’t matter if you have 1 list or 10 lists, 100 to-dos or 0, it’s all equal inside the phone!
Don’t get me wrong, I do love my iPhone and I think it does some very important things very well and things that my Filofax could never do! For instance, my iPhone is great at reminding me! It dings, vibrates, and does everything in its power to let me know when an event it coming up or to remind me about something I have to do! My Filofax, for all its wonderful goodness, will never be able to get my attention when I have lost track of time! My iPhone is also great for taking notes while I am driving through dictation which I do often! Wow, to think how wonderful the world would be if my Filofax could do that, it would be like having my own personal secretary! My iPhone also is the place I like to take quick notes when I am out and about and either (a) did not bring my Filofax, or (b) cannot pull out my Filofax because of the situation. IPhone’s are nice and discreet like this, but if the note I took is something that belongs in my Filofax, I will eventually transcribe it to its proper place!
Look, the advantages and disadvantages of digital and paper planning systems are really endless and to each their own when it comes to managing your own time. For me, for now, my Filofax and its trusty friend, my iPhone will be living and working together in tandem to help keep me and my life together!
What sort of planning system do you use? Do you use a mix of digital and analog like me, or are you all one or the other? Let me know in the comments and feel free to share any apps or planner tips that you find especially helpful!
I got my filofax last year and I don’t regret it one bit. It doesn’t look as fancy as yours does (yours makes my heart skip a beat :P) but I feel like I still don’t have much to fill into it, for now it’s filled with all my lectures and submissions.
I tried going digital but it just didn’t work for me no matter how hard I tried to make it work. Decided to just stick to my pen and filofax which makes me happier
Definitely stick to what makes you happy, Maria! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you can come visit again soon!
I’m always on the fence between going digital or keeping my lists. Ultimately, I use Wunderlist and Google Calendar to manage things, but I still enjoy making paper lists each day to stay on track.
I’m gonna bring you back to the Filofax side! haha! Wow, that was very Darth Vader of me…
I actually just invested in a Filofax myself. I used planners in college, and early on in my careers. But as I got into my job, I realized that I didn’t really need a calendar, so I stopped using one. But one the last few years I’ve found myself getting more disorganized day by day.
The calendar and other apps on my phone just don’t work for me. For one, I hate typing on my phone. I mean, it’s find for twitter or texting, but otherwise I just don’t like it.
I agree, that writing to-dos and then checking them off gives so much more satisfaction than having a typed list on my phone.
I’m already seeing an improvement in my life after only having my Filofax for less than a week.
Awesome! I’m so glad your system is working!
Hey Alexis, I’ve just found your blog when I was linking to Fliofax posts on my own! Sorry I probably seem like a stalker as I’ve followed you on You Tube, IG and Twitter etc!
Great post. I use a FiloFax for my daily planning with categories for blog, health, finances, household, business etc. For each week I add a to-do list as like you I love to check things off. I tried the Wunderlist app on my tablet which has a very satisfying ‘check’ noise when you mark something as done, but I much prefer a paper version.
For my diet and water tracking I use apps though as it auto calculates all my calories and I find it much quicker. Plus getting my Filo out every time I eat a meal would be a chore!
Thanks Claire! Don’t worry, I do the same thing when I find a blog I like! Its a great way to stay connected making sure your following them in multiple places! Paper systems and digital systems will never go away (at least not for a long time I hope) so I think in the meantime we all need to find out what works better for us on paper and what works better for us on a phone or tablet! Thanks for stopping by and leaving me your comment!
I love the feeling of writing on paper and all the extras that comes with a filofax. You really can make it it in to a creative and personal planner that reflects your personality.
I just got one last week and I love the idea of it. And I would really love to make it work.. But I still love my phone! Have a galaxy s note 2 with a stylus and after I bought my filofax I’ve started do find so many note templates and new ways to personal the standard planner in my phone.. Its like a digital filofax! I might have to make a video of it on youtube 🙂
Love your blog!
Best,
Sofie
I carry a planner, but I still use my phone for alarms and reminders. For me, though, the process of writing puts the thought in my brain. Typing doesn’t do that. Also, I like to see everything at once.
I am old, though. I got my Palm Pilot in my late twenties. 😉
http://giftieetcetera.blogspot.com
I started of with a filofax in the 80’s then went digital in the mid 90’s. From 1999 until 2012 I used a PalmTs3 along with a lyndhurst pocket zip which had a built in holder for the palm. the system was great, I had the best of both worlds.
The Palm PDA got damaged and couldn’t be replaced as they were no longer in production. I opted for an I-pad. it was a bit too bulky to carry around so I got an i-phone . I contacted filofax to see if they were going to produce something similar to my old Lyndhurst pocket with the palm holder, this time with an IPhone holder but alas I was told there was nothing, as yet, in production. Here’s hoping!
I used to use some sort of pocket for a palm pilot I owned years ago that kept it with my paper planner. I have noticed that with some of the filofaxes people have been using the clear zip pouch or some personal sized filo’s have a pocket in the back flap where a notepad is meant to go and I have seen videos where people put their iPhones in that pocket! You may want to give that a try, but a dedicated iphone/smartphone holder would be awesome!
I love my Moleskines and fountain pens. I also love the flexibility of a digital calendar. I look at the digital vs analogue debate as an opportunity to build a constantly evolving system that works best for me and the work or time of life I’m in. Calendars work best for me in the digital realm. I can share and change things easily, and in my line of work things change all the time. However, every morning I sit with my calendar and do what I call my dailies, looking at what I have to do, where my business is going, and how I’ll get it done. I transfer this all onto a single moleskine page. Then I get the satisfaction of crossing things off with a pen. Feels real that way.
Saved as a favourite, great site!