Flexiblefine's Planner

Flexiblefine's Planner

Here's a quick tour around my planner:

  • Binder: I use a plain 3-ring "classic" size binder (5.5 x 8.5 inch) that I bought at my local office supply store for just a few dollars. The plain binder is lighter than the leather binder I used to use, and it lies flat very easily.
  • Projects Tab: I use Project Outline pages for many of my projects, and 4-block unlabeled pages for smaller projects. Basically, if a project needs any kind of breakdown or planning, I use the outline form. If it just needs an outcome description, I use the 4-part form.
  • Week Tab: This is where the little images on the bottom come in. I print the one page Weekly Planning page on one end of a letter-size page, as shown on the lower left. I fold this page almost in half, leaving the holes clear. Used this way, I can keep my weekly plan visible (as shown in the top image) while using the whole binder. At the end of the week, the Weekly Planning page folds around my Notes pages for the week, keeping the week together in my binder and in my archive. The folded page sticks out like a tab -- you can make out a scribbled date on the right side of the top image. I use the Notes pages for the usual stuff -- capture, collection, and logging.
  • Calendar Tab: Undated Calendar pages, filled in by hand at the beginning of the year.
  • Shop Tab: Shopping pages, to keep a running list. If I go to the store, I have a list handy. If someone else asks "what do you need from the store?" I have a list handy.
  • In the Back: A couple of sheet protectors, a holder for business cards, a zipper pouch -- the "Plastic Insert Value Pack" from FranklinCovey.
  • Not Shown: An index card held to the front of the planner with a binder clip. It's a way to keep a reminder handy even when the binder is closed. End-of-day or start-of-day errands often go here.
  • Not Shown: More index cards, either in a leather jotter or the new FranklinCovey "task list wallet" thing available at Office Depot. In either case, used for notes when the binder isn't handy.
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Great idea

Week Tab: This is where the little images on the bottom come in. I print the one page Weekly Planning page on one end of a letter-size page, as shown on the lower left. I fold this page almost in half, leaving the holes clear. Used this way, I can keep my weekly plan visible (as shown in the top image) while using the whole binder. At the end of the week, the Weekly Planning page folds around my Notes pages for the week, keeping the week together in my binder and in my archive. The folded page sticks out like a tab -- you can make out a scribbled date on the right side of the top image. I use the Notes pages for the usual stuff -- capture, collection, and logging.

This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

Posted about it early on...

I posted about it in the forum early on, but I've finally gotten around to describing how it works. I've changed what I'm folding over (it used to be my next-action lists), but having the "third page" hanging out of my planner can be pretty handy.

--
flexiblefine
Do you procrastinate?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNowHabit/

excellent idea

i'm building my first DIY planner and taking your "week tab" suggestion. i may do something similar in my projects tab since i tend to have a lot of little projects that may pop back up. it would be nice to have all the notes and stuff wrapped up together. thanks a bunch!

Damn.

Time to dig out the index cards and binder clips -- the Post-Its I've been using as reminders keep falling off the front of my book. Thanks for the idea!