Comments on: What Type of Calendar Do YOU Use?

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:37:53 +0000

Monica, I don’t blame you for not replacing your 2nd PDA – it just gets too expensive, especially if you can manage just fine with a paper planner.

By: Monica Ricci

Monica Ricci — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:30:46 +0000

I used to use a Palm (early version) and then after three years of faithful service, it died. I replaced it with another PDA (Dell Axim pocket PC platform). I liked it too, but then I broke it about a year after getting it, and I never replaced it.

I went back to paper. I use a simple version of the Franklin Covey planner.

~Monica

By: Kathy Stinson

Kathy Stinson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:06:46 +0000

Another excellent tip, Janet, as always. Thanks.

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:03:48 +0000

One thing to remember with these formats is that you won’t be able to fit the whole year in your binder (nor would you want to carry all that around with you) so you will likely just keep this month, last month, and next month with you, doing a rotation each month. Those month at a glance dividers come in very handy for the months you don’t have with you.

By: Kathy Stinson

Kathy Stinson — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:25:53 +0000

I will do that. A new calendar look for the new year in our new house – that’ll feel good!

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:33:54 +0000

Julie – thanks for your very detailed answer (as always!)

Kathy – if you haven’t already bought your 2009 refill, maybe you should get the 1 page per day or 2 page per day version instead of 1 week per page.

By: Kathy Stinson

Kathy Stinson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:01:41 +0000

Some pages can’t be removed because there are calendar pages on them, but I could clip them together, couldn’t I. (Duh.)

However, reading other comments here does make me think I would make good use of large spaces than my current daytimer. And that I would be wise not to have too many things on my actual computer to distract me from my writing.

Happy planning!

By: Julie Bestry

Julie Bestry — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:15:59 +0000

What a fabulous post, Janet! Have you thought of doing a MBTI-related session at a future NAPO conference? (2010 is in Ohio; that’s close-ish to you!)

1) I use a Classic-size Franklin Planner with minimal backup from Entourage (basically, Outlook for Mac).

2) It’s portable, flexible and spacious. I consult my planner multiple times per day, especially when I’m out with clients, so I need something portable. I use it for scheduling clients and appointments and fitting tasks/appointments to specific days, as well as for planning writing/marketing tasks (blog post ideas, article outlines). My planner gives me the space I need to be regimented with my time, but flexible with my handwriting and outlining style.

I find there’s much more likelihood I’ll remember and internalize an appointment or task if I’ve handwritten the information. I perceive time in a visual way, and writing the appointments makes the monthly calendar into a memorable “map” of my life; the hourly appointment part of the calendar maps my day. This charting makes me feel “safe” and mentally connected to the information, as I can visualize where it “lives’ when I’m away from the planner; the electronic calendaring lacks that mind-body connection and same visual mapping of time.

While I’m proficient with my iMac has to offer, I use the computer solely as as task-reminder backup, so I don’t get so caught up in a writing session that I forget to stop 2 hours from now to have a scheduled phone conversation.

3) The only thing I don’t love is the heft. I only keep the pages I need, but it’s still weighty in my bag. (I’m sure that’s what my subconscious likes about it–it’s like a security blanket.) If I didn’t use the Franklin Planner, I’m sure I’d use PlannerPads instead, as I love their format.

4) I’m an ENTJ.

By: Janet Barclay

Janet Barclay — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:34:09 +0000

Geralin – I’ve always liked the Quo Vadis line of products – so many different sizes and layouts to choose from – even more than Day Timers, I think. And I love your ABCs!

Kathy – Could you just remove those in-between pages? (and yes, you remembered correctly about your INFJ-ness)

By: Kathy Stinson

Kathy Stinson — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:09:30 +0000

1. I use paper. I tried electronic once and found it finicky. (I don’t remember it well enough to say precisely what I mean by that.) I’m thinking it might be time to try electronic again, because I can see where it would have benefits, but I don’t really want to spend money on another piece of equipment. Having read your “First E-Calendar” article, I might give Google calendar a try.

2. I like the feel of the leather cover of my daytimer and I like the pictures on my wall calendar.

3. With the daytimer, I don’t like how, near the end of a month, you can’t just turn the page to the next week without having a bunch of other pages in between.

4. I think I’m INFJ but if I’ve remembered wrong, you’ll know.