Now that my time is primarily devoted to wedding music, food, and apparel, I didn’t realize until today that I’ve put no thought into what poor Mr. Malden will be “wearing” next year. Which makes me feel a bit guilty, especially with all the wedding overload he has taken on… poor guy!
Fortunately, my decision on 2013 inserts should be a bit easier than it was last year, namely because I am about 99.999999% positive that I will be sticking with my beloved Franklin Covey inserts. Which brand to choose was the big decision last year. Although some days get pretty crazy, I’ve been pretty happy with them all year and haven’t had any huge desire to change.
But, since a new year is kind of like a bonus to change your format without the hassle of buying new inserts mid year, I’m of course thinking about what I really want out of my planning system for 2013. So, of course I’ve started thinking about what changes I would make to my current pages. Here’s yesterday, for example:
Not terrible, I’ll admit. Between colors and location, I’ve managed to keep all of my tasks, notifications, etc. pretty well spaced out. But there are a few things that bug me. For one, the daily notes section can get a bit cluttered, especially if I need to add extra items, like the list above. This is the space that I track my dinners in (not for nutrition, I just find it fun to look back years later and wonder why I had grilled cheese three nights in one week!). I also track my gratitude list here. Most days it’s fine, if it is only those two items. Anything more and it gets to be a bit much.
Second, the 8 to 8 schedule drives me a bit insane. As you can see above, my train leaves at 7:51, so I’ve notated that in the line above my calendar slots. And see this arrow next to clean?
Nope, I didn’t finish cleaning at 9 p.m… it was more like 1 a.m. And while I know (without creating my own inserts) that I won’t get a 24 hour calendar, my biggest gripe with my DPP Franklin Covey pages is probably the fact that any scheduled items that happen outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. need to be drawn in outside the lines.
So, I checked out the FC website for my options. That’s when I stumbled across these guys:
Notice the difference? Here’s what I’m using this year:
Yep, even though I decided against them last year, I’m seriously considering the bump up to a 2 DPP layout for 2013. For a few reasons.
In the photo above, the left page is actually the appointment side of the 2PPD format, while the right side is my current DPP layout. I know the photo is a bit blurry, but can you see the difference? Look at how much more space the appointments have! Instead of running 2/3 down the page and going from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., the 2DPP layout runs the whole page and goes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a whole blank hour above AND below. Mind blown.
Seriously though, I am definitely in love with the amount of non 9 to 5 space the 2PPD inserts have… I’m already thinking that I can use that above and below box to fill in any time I start or finish something, even if it is 1 a.m.!
In addition to the more logical time schedule, there are also more to-do spaces, along with an entire page for notes. Or post its, or whatever I want!
I’m already thinking this could be useful for clipping day-specific items like coupons to- right now I just clip them to the daily page, but since there is only one page for each day, I am constantly annoyed that I always have to move the coupon if I want to add something to the page. I could also use this space to elaborate on any to-dos or appointments so I don’t have to cram everything into the smaller spaces on the left page.
Sounds like I have my mind made up already, right? It would appear so, but there is still one teensy problem with the 2PPD that I might not be able to get over. Since I have yet to invent a binder with rings that grow with my needs, I am still worried about the same problem I dealt with last year: the 2PPD format just takes up so much space! But is it worth it for a possibly even more ideal layout than what I’ve had in 2012? I’m also trying to remember that my whole wedding section will be coming out at the end of September, which is easily the size of a month of 2DPP inserts now… I am going in circles.
That’s where you come in. I’ve set up a poll to the right- please vote on what you think I should do, based on what I’ve shared, or what works for you! Also, please add additional comments below if there is anything that you think might help me make up my darn mind!
Thanks, you guys are the best!
Do you need an entire year's worth of inserts at a time? You could always keep 6 months in there and rotate out the oldest month and add the newest month. Just a thought to keep you with the 2ppd and not over stretch your Malden. Otherwise, I think the 2ppd is a great idea!
No, I definitely don't need a whole years worth. Right now I have 3-4 months in the binder, so I know I can work with that system. Definitely leaning toward the 2PPD, but I'll keep you all updated!
I agree with Kanalt – go with the 2dpp, but just keep a quarter or third in your binder at a time. Anything outside that timeframe could be noted in a monthly spread (if you have one?), until you add the rest of the year. I've already printed most of my 2013 inserts, but those FC layouts are certainly tempting!
I just posted a comment over on Philofaxy that you responded to – about my new personal size Malden. Anyway, I've been using FC two pages per day for 20 years! I have 20 years worth of archive books in my closet. I've never even considered switching to any other format. I use the Notes page for ALL kinds of stuff! When my kids were at home, I wrote down funny (or bad) things they did. The pages are a mix of information and journal entries. There's a treasure trove of information in them. I would never voluntarily throw them away. In fact, when my son got married, I made a photo album with photos of my son for his new wife. I included quotes I pulled from all my past planners.
I usually keep 2 months worth of pages in my planner. I keep the previous month until about the 15th of the next month. Then I take those pages out and put in the next month's pages. I've been doing it that way for years and it works really well. Sometimes I only have one month at a time – if my planner gets full of other stuff. It just depends but I mostly have two months at a time.
I've used a bunch of different designs over the years. There actually aren't as many to choose from as there used to be – probably because of the slow demise of paper planners. I like the new one – I can't remember the name right now – but it has dark borders and I don't like that. I write on every space in my planner. I'm actually using the plain jane original pages. They give me the most writing room.
Anyway, that's just my two cents.
I love hearing about how you use your FC pages! For the past 3 years or so I've fallen out of the journaling habit and I feel like the 2 pages per day might do it for me because I don't have to (find and) open a separate book, I can just write it in my planner, which is open all day in front of me.I would capture so much more this way!
I have a question about the FC two pages per day: are the backs of the pages lined, or are the next day's pages printed on the back side of the page?
I've use the Franklin 2PPD for over 20 years until just recently. More on that in a bit but before I forget…have you seen those 'cut' page inserts that Franklin makes? Not sure that would work for you. They are not dated and are a bit shorter than the full size page so that you can still see the date of your calendar. You insert the 'cut' page to give you extra writing space for that day. Might bulk your binder up a bit but less than using the DO2P as you may not see the need to use the 'cut' page insert every day; only as needed. The only problem I see with that is you would have to flip them to see your next day. Looks like they only make them in the 'original' or the 'Blooms'. Here's the link; hope it works!
http://franklinplanner.fcorgp.com/store/category/prod215/US-All-Forms-%26-Tabs/Original-Cutaway-Daily-Notes-Pages?skuId=21961
I've bought a few Filofax binders over the past year and am using the Filo inserts for the time being. I've also been out of work for the past couple of years (except for an occasional free lance training gig and a part time job at the hospital for 6 months last year) so my needs have changed. Thus I've been just using the Filofax WO2P and this is working for the time being. (And I just received my Chameleon Compact; not sure how that's going to work for me but for the time being it's Filo inserts for me as the FC will not fit in the compact!)
However, my all time absolute favorite insert is the Franklin DO2P hands down. I used them in both the compact FC binder and the classic size for over 20 years. Depending on the size binder I was using at the time (ring size) I would either keep the full year (but not much else in the other dividers) or I'd keep half a year as suggested above. I also kept the full year MO2P. I find that the FC inserts fit in my Personal Chameleon should I ever go back to that insert (as the Chameleon binder is a bit wider) but do not fit in my Finchley (as that is a little narrower almost like the compact). I did order a Personal Malden a few weeks ago but sent it back (didn't care for the finish or smell on the one I received) but will be picking up another personal Malden in the near future. Glad to hear the FC inserts fit in the Malden as well.
The FC inserts aren't cheap and in fact are more pricey I find at some of the large office chains so I usually just order them straight from FC website (since in my area we are down to one FC store!). So be sure that's what you'll want to use before investing. I tried using the DO1P a couple of years ago and that just did not work for me…I needed the open section for notes for work, etc. And when I wasn't working I found the extra sheet handy for journaling, diet notes, etc.
Looking forward to seeing what you choose and your new set up and good luck with the wedding planning!
Hi Wendy! I do use a monthly spread- which has helped me this year with the 1DPP. I keep about three months in, and use the monthly pages for any advance planning.
Not to try and persuade you, but the FC layout is pretty awesome!
Homemakers- that is AMAZING! Do you have a blog? I'd love to see photos! If you don't have a blog, I'd love to have you do a guest post on mine showing off your 20 years of archives- let me know if you'd be interested. You could drop me a line here, or email me at thecrazylifeofj[at]gmail[dot]com
And Laurie, that is another reason I'm leaning toward the 2PPD, I used to be awesome about journaling, but I haven't kept up with it in years. Yet, I never fail to look back at my planners- I think it's time to combine them!
Thanks, Cheryl! Those cut away pages look interesting- I know a lot of people also use the FF day planner sheets in much the same way. I think I'd just get annoyed having to always make sure I had them with me when I needed them, but it's definitely an option!
Sorry to hear you didn't like the Malden- I hope the next one is better. The FC pages don't fit ideally, but I've definitely managed to make the system work for me.
I'll keep you updated on the system, just as soon as I make up my darn mind!
Wow Wow Homemakersdaily…brilliant that you kept all those diaries! I'm in the process of making albums (both digi and old fashioned albums) for my 20 somethings using a system called Project Life and there are all these quote and journaling cards that I've put to good use; but boy, if I had all those notes from the previous years, that would be priceless! A few years ago in a rage to declutter I dumped all my archived FC calendars but I did go through all of it and saved but a very few pages of important notes just to get a feel for the times and my handwriting/thoughts, etc. Now regretting I didn't save it all as I bet there were more jewels I could have gleaned!
Homemakers, I have to copy others' remarks about how you've used your pages! I'm envious! This sounds like such a treasure! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Laurie, yes the next days pages are printed on the back side of the page but they end with each month. So each month is it's own set of pages with a beginning and end. I put August pages behind August's monthly tab and September's pages behind September's monthly tab. Years ago when I got my first Franklin planner, we got a cassette tape with it that told how to use it. It was AWESOME. I wish they still did that. I learned a LOT.
J, I do have a blog, homemakersdaily.com. It's about all things homemaking but I do write about time management quite a bit. I'd love to do an article on my archives.
Cheryl, I LOVE those archives. They have SO much history about my family. While reading back through them, I read a note about my son (who's now 25). He had been a bad boy that day and I wrote, "I really hope he's not a bad seed." Looking back I have to laugh. What an overreaction! 🙂
Patty thanks for that info, I was wondering how they did that with splicing in the month tabs.
I would also love to see your archives! And, I would LOVE to know how your planner usage has changed and evolved over the years—sizes, formats, busy times, less busy times.
But I know you are currently having a busy time, so no pressure! 🙂
Don't worry, Laurie, we've already got a guest post in the works!