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The *Perfect* Weekly Planner?
Andy Welfle | Dec 12 2007
Friends, For most of my adult life (well, high school and beyond), I have been on the search for the perfect weekly planner. For a while, I was convinced that I found it in the mid-sized Gallery Leather weekly planner, but as I switched jobs, and realized that I need to keep an active to-do list for myself, I've realized that it doesn't do for me what I want it to. See, I've tried and tried and TRIED to computerize my planner and to-do list. I have a Mac at home and at work, and I love them! I even love Apple's software (especially the Leopard OS X upgrade) iCal and the Mail app. But I have found that as I start out updating it diligently, I just fall out of the habit of using it if it is on the computer. I also love the Google Calendar interface, but I run into the same thing. I just need paper. Here's where I need your help -- below is a list of requirements. Do you use a planner fitting these criteria? Are you looking for the same thing I am? • Needs to be in the 5.5" x 8.5" range -- slightly bigger or smaller is all right. • The week has to fit onto one page or one spread. • There cannot be markers on the day for hours. My day doesn't start at 8 and end at 5, so don't fence me in! • I would really like some extra space on each page or spread to make notes or to-do lists. • It has to have simple styling -- one simple color or design. None of this "180 Great Views of Ireland's Splendor" kinda stuff. • I need a bookmarker or tabs to indicate where I am in the book, so I can easily turn to the right page. • No spiral-binding. Yes, I know that makes it lay flat easier, but I'm left handed. That binding hurts. Plus, I like to feel like what I'm writing in is a book. Sound picky? Well, it is. You looking for the same thing I am? Or do you have any suggestions? Anything a must in your weekly planner? Please, share! 61 Comments
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 Perfect? Take control of your own destiny, Luke.Submitted by terceiro on December 13, 2007 - 10:01am.
This needs to be seconded, thirded, and fourthed, but I'm only one guy and can point out that Circa rings have been mentioned a few times already. I've been a Moleskine user for years and still use them, but they make lousy calendars. While they don't have the annoying "inspirational" graphics of Franklin-Covey or the 1980s-era design sensibilities of DayRunner et al, they're still a fixed format designed for a broad audience. It might be close, but it won't be perfect, and I'm supposing that Mr. Original Poster is really looking for a perfect solution. That's just a guess because, you know, he said he was looking for a perfect planner. Here's the answer: there is no extant perfect planner. But you can build your own. Easy. I built my own, using iWork's Pages.app, in about two hours. Maybe less at first, but I've tweaked it week by week and now have a solution that I love, love, love. It is, in fact, beautiful. It meets my needs perfectly and, when my needs change as they invariably will, I have the power to easily alter it. I am the master of this domain, and it is spectacular. For me, at least. I'll put a copy online for anyone who's interested: http://12easypieces.com/files/poets-weekly-planner-v1.5.pdf The beauty of keeping it in the Circa (or Rollabind, or Myndology) format is that you get the lay flat and, if you want, you can make it left-handed. You can even make it up-side-down or can use it landscape rather than portrait. You can use paper that's much, much, much better than the mediocre stuff in Moleskines. Flexibility allows for experimentation which makes perfection accessible. The downside is that you'll spend more (upfront) getting Circa-fied than you will on a single Moleskine. But the capital investment takes care of itself over time and, when you do discover your own perfect solution, it will all be worth it. » POSTED IN:
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