In high school, I tried a month of using a Day Timer planner. It was nice and I liked the small wirebound planners, but I ended up using a Day Runner planner even though the pages tended to rip out because it only used a three ring binder. In college I went to a Franklin seminar and started using the Franklin system. While the actual pieces of paper weren’t too different from what I had used before, the training that went along with it was very valuable.
I stuck with the Franklin for about six years, but eventually found that I was at my computer enough I could rely on a digital calendar. My switch to digital was complete when I finally moved to a Blackberry that could sync over the air with my calendar, contacts and email. The only think I’m really lacking at this point is a robust synchronization for Omnifocus tasks with my Blackberry.
I also evolved from a Day Timer to a digital calendar, but even though I’m at my computer most of the time, I’m switching back to paper. For most things, it works better for me.
I’ve tried just about every digital alternative since the Apple Newton Messagepad and still keep coming back to my good old paper Filofax — the original British equivalent of the dayrunner.
@Janet – The biggest advantage I’ve found with a digital calendar is that I can keep it synced with my computer, my assistant’s computer, my wife’s computer and my phone. This keeps us all on the same page so we don’t overbook each other. However, if you only have to keep track of your own schedule then paper is a whole lot faster and convenient.
@Bill – I wasn’t familiar with the Filofax. Thanks for pointing it out.
This post takes me back a bit…
I started with a Day Timer as well, and stuck with it until I got my first Palm Pilot. Since then I’ve moved through various Pocket PC’s, a Blackberry and now an iPhone, all while continuing to waffle back and forth between electronic and paper-based solutions.
I’ve tried various software and web-based services for to-dos and calendars, and I still haven’t found one that fits me perfectly.
The iPhone is the best so far, but I still find myself grabbing a trusty Moleskine most of the time.
I think the biggest challenge with any system is integrating tasks and schedules. Although the two are closely connected, they aren’t one and the same thing. Assigning a deadline to a task can increase the likelihood that you’ll get it done, but if it’s a low priority task, you often have to keep postponing until it makes sense to actually work on it.
I, too started out with the Day Timer and Day Runner series. And I found one by a virtually unknown system that worked the best for a while. That was during college.
Later on, I discovered the Franklin Online system and bought that. I then purchased the Franklin paper planner, and use a combination of that, Outlook, Omea Pro, and the Franklin Online system (Their PlanPlus for Windows).
Supposedly their system synchs with Palm and other phones, and Outlook. I only use it to synch with Outlook, as I don’t have the latest and greatest in phones (I have a regular flip-phone which does wonders for me).
I may have to check out Omnifocus though, just to see what it’s like. My biggest issue isn’t the system, it’s my mindset. I typically start out great, and then falter off after a while.
Have a great day:)
Patrick.