My entire life, I’ve taken notes and kept a journal. I have journals dating back from when I was about 11 years old, filled with moody pointless poetry and details of my crushes. I have notebooks and planners from junior high; dissecting work and my to-do’s. My desire to save memories and stay organized has been consistent throughout my life, but in this digital age – I’m finding it as difficult as solving the meaning of life.
Last week, I had a mental meltdown. It was not the first of its kind, I must add. From time to time, work piles up and my current process of recording it has usually failed me. Not to mention, because my work varies – my system of what I take to a meeting always changes…and as a routine loving Taurus this enrages me. It creates tension and anxiety in my already stressed out brain. Although, my obsession with being organized has been with me since day one – this recent breakdown has urged me to find a solution, especially since some of you have asked me for suggestions.
So…how does one stay organized in 2013? Let’s begin with what I like, need, have and use…
The ability to cross off a completed task from my TO-DO LISTS brings literally makes my mouth water, but in 2013…it’s hard to jot everything down. Especially CALENDAR DATES, etc. Sometimes I’ll write something down in my lux Louis Vuitton Planner which stays on my desk because it weighs a ton, but it will make me forget an important meeting if it wasn’t saved in iCal. Or sometimes I’ll make a note in my notebook for work I need to do and I might forget about it because I don’t get an electronic reminder.
I like writing things down and seeing them in real life. Digital notes and calendar dates are important, but it’s hard for me to visualize everything when it’s not analog.
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I have a management team that orchestrates my work and other things, so it’s important that they know where I am throughout the day so they can schedule me accordingly. If I schedule something on paper or verbally and not on my iCAL, I risk being overbooked or worse – forgetting I have a meeting in the first place.
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NOTEBOOK, PAPER PLANNER, IPAD MINI & IPHONE (not pictured)
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(USAGE: Always)
PROS:
-Taking Notes In All Meetings.
-Making Notes For Future Work.
-Writing Out To-Do Lists & Appointments.
CONS:
-Prefer That It Could Be Segmented Per Category For Every Different Job.
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(USAGE: Always)
PROS:
-Absolutely Necessary For Scheduling Appointments By Myself & Management.
-Absolutely Necessary For Adding Due Dates For Work By Myself or Management.
CONS:
-Unable To Take Sufficient Notes.
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(USAGE: Sometimes)
PROS:
-Writing Out To-Do Lists & Appointments.
-Hand-writing & Crossing Off Completed Tasks.
-Super Nice (it was a gift a few years back)
CONS:
-Heavy
-Unable To Take Sufficient Notes.
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(USAGE: Rarely)
PROS:
-Easy Access to iCal.
-Potential to Take Notes (Evernote, etc)
-Professional, Sleek & Light Weight.
CONS:
-Not Sure I Need It
My ipad’s name is “Vashtie’s Max -iPad”. You love it.
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The past month has been dedicated to doing hours and hours of ridiculous research. Reading what other bloggers use and what other people have to keep their lives in order is beyond exhausting…it’s mind-numbing and absolutely insane, I do no recommend it but – I did it for you…so you technically owe me (you do).
What I’ve found is that, people are either more:
1. ANALOG (Paper & Pen)
2. DIGITAL (SmartPhones, Pads, etc)
Nothing I found in my researched showed people using both…but, I am both ANALOG & DIGITAL. Paper Planners satisfy my urge to use my hands and Digital Devices keep me and my management team on track.
Although some people find Paper Planners to be ancient – it was relieving to find countless others like me who need tangible paper and pens to be and feel organized.
SIDENOTE: I watched many videos of how people used Paper Planners and they all seemed to be the same kind of girl; high pitched voices (so high that I thought some of them were pre-teens), super girly and obsessed with details and decorating with stickers. I had to ask myself, am I this same kind of girl on the low? Maybe…just minus the high pitched voice and need to put cute stickers of on everything.
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It’s double duty the work, but it will be worth the try if I can feel organized and accomplished! If you are like me: ANALOG & (RELUCTANTLY) DIGITAL then maybe try this with me. Or you can just wait and see how it works out for me, I will keep you posted.
1. DIGITAL DEVICES WILL BE THE MAIN SCHEDULING COMPONENT:
As soon as I get an appointment to add (that has not been added by my management team), I will immediately add on my iPhone or Computer via Google Calendar.
2. PAPER PLANNERS WILL BE UPDATED (DAILY) WITH SCHEDULE & DUE DATES:
Taking lead from Digital Devices, my Paper Planner will be updated accordingly. As much as I love my Louis Vuitton Planner, it just doesn’t seem logical or useful for my day to day – based on how heavy it is to travel with me. I’m not sure I need my paper planner to travel with me or to stay on my desk, but I have opted to test out a new Paper Planner called Planner Pads. Out of competing brands like Day-Timer, etc…this Planner seems to be most logical, despite the fact that I had no visual attraction to it. It’s so business and boring, but maybe that’s what I need to focus. Anyways – it got a lot of good reviews from other bloggers.
It has 3 rows for filling in…ROW 1 is for Categories of things you need to accomplish. ROW 2 is for Things To Do to accomplish those Categories. ROW 3 is for Scheduling and Hard Appointments. We’ll see how this goes – if all else fails, I’m going back to my dude Louis.
3. NOTES WILL BE REVIEWED NIGHTLY & DUE DATES ADDED TO ANALOG & DIGITAL:
Making sure nothing has been missed.
Before leaving my desk or shutting down for the night, I will review my iCal and make sure appointments have been added to my Paper Planner. I will also review Notes from the day taken during meetings and make sure correlating due dates have been added to my Analog & Digital.
Let me know what you guys think. Do you have a great system for organization? Share your tips and thoughts! Thanks, Vashtie <3
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View Comments
Your solution sounds good. That's what Im into. After I bought smart phone I thought I'll move my whole life there but realized it didnt work at all. So I moved back to my paper calendar. I've also red that things stay better in your mind when you write it by yourself and read it from the paper. Btw, my voice isn't high either and the only stickers I use are post its where I write to do -lists and put them between my calendar. Luckily I have separate job and free time tho. Good luck with planner pad. It seems pretty logical. Might consider buying one too.
I actually really like the idea of the planner pad. I may just try it too to see if it works.. because I too also had a brain meltdown not too long ago. I work almost 60 hours a week, and go to school part time *knocks head against my wall repeatedly*. Anyways, hope it works for you. My moon sign is in taurus, so I totally understand where you're frustration is coming from.
Really appreciate this post Vash! As someone who is also analog and reluctantly digital, I often find it hard to get the balance right. Looking forward to your updates on this post.
I really like the idea of the planner. I have always been one to write things down, even on scrap paper but unfortunately that doesn't work well when I accidently throw it away. LOL. I am no where near as busy as you, and analog is working just fine so far...LOL. I have been using my DROID for my calendar alerts and that's only because if I can't remember to carry anything else, I will always have my phone with me. I review it each morning to see what's scheduled and get going.
I really like Any. Do and Any.Cal. Both for iPhone.
Work crazy well. Very easy, intuitive, and smart. They work with each other and better than iCal to me.
I also just have one small Moleskin around for lengthy notes or ideas.
Less is more Vashtie! Salute!
This planner pad website is so scetchy because it looks like something from the 90's... just an observation, like why is the website so basic?!
I like your planner pad Vashtie... Where did you purchase it from?