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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

The *Perfect* Weekly Planner?

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!

kirkrr's picture

2 Functions - Calendar and Tasks

Calendar is easy - it is a static view of a given timeframe, and many tools / forms satisfy this.

ToDo items / tasks are a different story. I like Covey's 7 habits perspective of 2 characteristics of each task, that are related but not dependent; URGENCY and IMPORTANCE. I have always used a tablet size piece of paper with 4 quadrants, with axis labels or more or less urgent, and more or less important. Tasks are on yellow stickies. Only when tasks move to the quadrant of BOTH Urgent AND Important, does the task gain priority. I made a sticky sized box in the more/more quadrant for the current task, and a section at the bottom for completed tasks (makes status reports easy! Management could ask me to do something, and I could just point at the wall chart and ask "what priority item(s) do you want me to push back?"

There is NO software on any platform that I am aware of that uses this powerful and simple paradigm. Anyone??

Some years ago, I saw a notebook system that would lend itself to this, but I can't remember the name, nor have I seen it again since. It used small paper cards and rows of card slots. In this way, you could record your todo items, and move them according to priority or category or whatever classification made sense. Never have to recopy things from week to week ......

Does anyone know the name / web site for this product??

Now that blank business cards are readily available, I have thought about making my own version.

 
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