Saturday 7 January 2017

Planning The Year

As most of you know, I'm a bit of a Filofax fanatic. I'm not one of those people who have loads of binders but I love the ones I do have and I'm one of those rare people who has found the exact style of planning which works for them and who are happy with their set up and the binder they use. The Filofax I have for everyday use is a Malden in crimson which is a personal size and I also use a red A5 Chameleon for household planning and finances. I do have two or three other binders but I don't actually use them.

I was looking at the Filofax website not long before Christmas and I came across the Illustrated Diary Packs. I hadn't seen them before so I think they're fairly new. They come in Stripes, Geometric and Floral designs and I thought how lovely one of those would look in my Filofax. I duly wrote it on my Christmas wish list and I was lucky enough to receive the Floral pack, the one I preferred, as a Christmas gift.


I usually spend a lovely time between the Christmas and New Year period putting new pages in my Filofax and setting them up ready for the year ahead but owing to everything which was going on with my dad being in hospital at this time and feeling ill myself, I didn't get round to setting everything up until after 2017 began. I found an hour or two on Wednesday to get everything sorted out.


I'm very impressed with the diary pack, the diary pages themselves are adorned with a pretty floral design and they're lined too which I much prefer to plain pages.


Included in the pack are monthly dividers and on the back of each one is a monthly planner.


The pack also contains ruled notepaper, plain notepaper and to do pages.


I'm really pleased with the pack and how attractive it's made my Filofax look.

If you'd like to read more about how I use my Filofax, I did A Tour Of My Filofax Crimson Malden post back in 2014 and though I've changed a few things round since then, removing some sections and adding others as things change, it's still essentially the same. That's the great thing about a Filofax, it's so versatile so as things change in your life, you can swap things around in your planner.

How about you? Do you use a planner? Have you ever used a Filofax? I'd love to hear what style of planning works for you.

56 comments:

  1. These look like a great addition to your Filofax, quite pretty and practical too.

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    1. I think they're so pretty, but the other designs are nice to jazz up the pages if you don't want anything quite so girly.

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  2. You are a rare person if you've got a system that works! I've tried so many diary systems but now we use Google calendar because that's the one my husband uses and if it's not in there, he thinks it's not happening! :-) xx

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    1. I know that most people who use a planner strive to find a system which works for them. Mick's planner is in his head, he doesn't write anything down and doesn't plan electronically either, he's got a brilliant memory.

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  3. Like you, I'm a Filofax girl. Did you know that Filofax was originally invented for vicars? I like the week on two pages set up but I use the horizontal lay-out. I usually buy next year's pages around July/August and put them in the binder then and remove old pages as I go, usually about a month after they've "happened".

    I like having my address book and telephone directory in the same binder as well as loads of personal information. I keep stamps and some medication in it. If ever I lose it I'm desolate! I've just bought a new binder, my first for about ten years which considering how much bashing it gets I think is wonderful!

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    1. I didn't know that. I used to use the horizontal lay-out in my A5 Filofax but I don't use a diary in there any more. I have addresses and phone numbers in my Filofax too, and I keep lots of information in there, I'd be lost without it. How lovely that you've just bought a new binder, I'd love to know which one you're using.

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    2. I can't find the name for it on the Amazon site - it just says Filofax binder! It's a dark red heavy leather one with just a button fastening. It feels lovely in use - which doesn't really answer your question

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    3. The two I use are both red, I love them.

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  4. Dear Jo
    Your new Filofax pages are really pretty. Up to now, I have used a small academic year diary for appointments etc. and copious numbers of bits of paper and sticky notes for day to day lists. I was given an RHS diary for Christmas and was going to donate it as it was too big to carry round. I then had a bit of a brainwave and am using it in the place of the lists, as a planning diary. So far, so good (although I'm not convinced it will necessarily make me any more organised!)
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. I used to use a pocket diary, I don't know how I managed now looking back, it was so small. I don't know what I did with all the other information. The RHS diaries are a nice size for planning, I hope it works for you.

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  5. Mum uses a Filofax... We were talking about it yesterday. I gave it her for Christmas 16 years ago and it's still going strong! I haven't seen those illustrated Filofax inserts before, but now I have I'll have to remember to get some for her next Christmas :)

    I'm more of a bullet journaller myself... When I remember! :)

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    1. I think they're really well made, they can last for years and years, even with heavy use. The illustrated inserts would make a lovely surprise gift for your mum. I've never tried a bullet journal but I know that lots of people swear by it.

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  6. Wish I had things to put in a planner! I lead a very boring life!

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    1. I don't believe that for a minute. I don't work and my children have now left home so I have a lot less to put in there now than I used to, but there's always lots of information that I want to jot down and dates that I need to remember and it keeps me on track.

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  7. A few years ago whilst I was in sales and on the road most days, I had a filofax and loved it, for I while I used it at home, these days I keep a small diary in my bag, we now make notes on the wall calendar. I do like list, we have this morning rechecked our income and outgoings, I keep the list on my computer, it is handy to keep in check and on top of spending. I hope things are settling down for you.

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    1. I have a friend who uses a wall calendar and my mum and dad do too. I've never done any sort of planning on the computer, I'm very old fashioned that way and like to see things written out, even my finances. I'm feeling much better now and my dad's a lot better too, thank you for asking.

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  8. I love the filo fax inserts, i couldn't find any nice ones this year and didn't think to look on the filofax website!
    I'm using a Family Life Book this year, there is lots of space to write something that i sometimes find is lacking in the filofax pages. I am trying to be more organised keeping records this year.

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    1. I think Mick ended up tracking these inserts down on Ebay as they'd sold out on the Filofax website by the time he came to buy them. I suppose you could get a different layout, a day to a page or whatever, to give you more room to write, but now that the family have left home and I'm no longer working, the week on two pages suits me fine. Hope you enjoy using the Family Life Book, I've never tried that myself.

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  9. I'm afraid that I haven't a clue how a filofax works. All our planning is electronic. We are soulless :-)

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    1. A Filofax can work however you want it to work for you, the main thing is working out what you want from it and which set up works best for you. I've never planned electronically, I just aren't technically minded enough.

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  10. I have several notebooks and a diary that works for me, I am the only one that understands it. My daughters store everything on their computers, but that would never work for me.

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    1. Having everything on the computer wouldn't work for me either. I'm quite old fashioned and like to see everything written down.

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  11. That's gorgeous Jo - I particularly like the month dividers. I hope that everyone in your family is feeling better now. Jx

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    1. The month dividers are really quite useful with the monthly planners on the back. My dad's much better now and so am I, thank you for asking.

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  12. Aren't they pretty. It feels good when you hit upon a system which works for you.
    Lisa x

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    1. It is good when you find a system which works, it doesn't matter which one it is so long as it's the right one for you.

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  13. Oh, to be so organised!!!! Since hubby retired I've not been nearly as good & so far this year it's non existent. Tooooooo...hot to be bothered about anything. It's really doing me in at the moment, with not much change forecast for the next week. I lie your method of working & takes me back to when our kids were younger & I worked full-time. Well done you & take care.

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    1. I must admit that things were much busier when Daniel and Eleanor were at home and when I was working but I still find that planning helps me with my time now. I hope you get some relief from the hot weather soon.

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  14. I just use an "ordinary" A5 diary. It might sound boring but I do use coloured pens in it so it at least looks interesting! :oD

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    1. Whatever works for you. I colour code things in my Filofax so I use coloured pens for that and it does pretty things up.

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  15. You are so organised and it looks so lovely too.
    Like you I use different coloured inks for differing things. We have a wall calendar one for family and one in the office work stuff - it helps to try and leave work behind which is hard sometimes with being self employed, customers tend to think you are available 24/7.

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    1. Being self employed, it's definitely a good idea having separate planners for home and work. I think that colour coding things really helps, things jump out at me at a glance.

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  16. Good for you. Apart from using a pocket diary for for things like dental appointments I usually just end up with pages of notes about what I've done on the plot. Perhaps this year I'll be more organised. Flighty xx

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    1. One of the things that I love about a Filofax is that I can jot things down and they can still end up in there, it's so versatile. When I had the allotment I had a separate garden journal where I made notes of everything I did and the dates too, it was good to refer back to.

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  17. Oh my! I really need to up my game with this. I usually grab any cheap diary from the pound shop and scribble in the important dates but this looks a far prettier way of organising. I think I must head off on a filofax (or similar) hunt later today. X

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    1. I used to use a pocket diary but I found I had notes everywhere, a Filofax works best for me because I can keep everything together, move things around and add or remove sections as I need to. Good luck with your hunt.

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  18. This is lovely, And how nice to change it up with some floral designs this year.
    I plan with lists, both in numerous notebooks, but online too - I have seasonal to-do lists, NY resolutions, and I always have a list of things I'd like to do between birthdays.
    My day-to-day lists are just in note books, wioth weekly and monthly lists in my diary. I buy the same one each year from Paperchase - an A5 page per day diary - I jot down everything in there. It's a bit unorganised but it works for me.

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    1. I loved the illustrated diary as soon as I saw it. Paperchase do some wonderful stationery, I like their ring bound binders too, very similar to Filofax but they have some pretty designs.

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  19. Looks great! Diary looks beautiful. Lovely color!

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    1. I'm really pleased with it. The diary has certainly jazzed up my Filofax.

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  20. How pretty, you have no excuse not to be organised now!!!xxx

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    1. Definitely not. I couldn't be without my Filofax, it certainly does keep me organised.

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  21. I love those pretty pages Jo. I use a calendar that I keep by my phone. I just bought another one to keep in my car with my work things. I am not as organized as you, maybe next year I will try your way.

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    1. I think a Filofax might work well for you with you having lots of appointments with your job and also for keeping notes too. Certainly worth a try.

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  22. I must admit I've been using the same style of diary for many years now, and it works for me. It does of course mean I update things at the end of each year but it's something I enjoy doing.

    Yours does look good, and obviously works very well for you.

    Hope things are beginning to settle down a little for you as we start the second week of January.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I still have to update my Filofax at the end of each year, but like you, it's a task I enjoy doing. Things are definitely settling down here now, thank you for asking.

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  23. Oh I love these filofax pages. I have two that I use one for uni and one for home and these would look lovely. I think I will have to get searching for them online as I have not yet got pages for this year, wish me luck.

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    1. Hope you manage to find them in stock. I really liked the floral design but there's another two to choose from too.

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    2. I did on Amazon I chose the floral range also as they are so pretty.

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    3. I'm so pleased that you found some. I know the Filofax website had sold out before Christmas as I believe Mick had to resort to Ebay and buy them from there. I like the floral ones, they're so pretty.

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  24. You have a good organising system there with your Filofax. I like the new pages. I'm the one that does the paperwork for accounts, sorts out the filing system and writes everything down in our house so I've recently been noting down new dates and information etc. on the kitchen calendar and pocket engagement diary for 2017 whilst Mr. P. is the practical one in other ways. I haven't used a Filofax since retiring, but having everything in one place in a Filofax does seem like a good system to adopt.

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    1. I do all our paperwork too, I think that's why I feel the need to keep everything organised so well and have some sort of system. I like having one Filofax for personal use and one for the home, I know exactly where the information I require is when needed.

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  25. I found your blog via ClickyNeedles. I love those printed pages and will keep a look out for them for my next year's Filofax. I much prefer keeping a paper version of my week rather than an electronic one.

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    1. I'm exactly the same, I'm a bit old fashioned that way but it works for me so that's fine. I'm looking forward to seeing what designs they bring out this year.

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  26. I love Filofax, I like all the different sections I can fill my binder with, pages for expenses, upcoming plans, shopping lists. I do use other brands that fit in my binder too. Your floral ones are so pretty xx

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    1. I like that it's so versatile and things can be easily swapped about, added or removed. I'm really pleased with the diary pack, my Filofax is looking very pretty with it added.

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