GTD Week: Moleskine planner

For those looking for something a little less corporate than formal planner systems, an good alternative is the Moleskine Planner. A self-contained planner (no pages to insert into binders) it has a weekly calendar on the left page with a space on the right page for lists, to-do’s, notes, etc. They come pocket (3.5″x5.5″), large (5.25″x8.25″) and extra large (7.5″x9.75″) sizes.

Each Moleskine has an elastic enclosure, bookmark and pouch on the inside of the back cover for keeping receipts, business cards, etc. Moleskine planners are soft-covered.

Moleskine Planner Pros:

- Inexpensive. You can find the large planner for about $18.
- No zippers or snaps to worry about breaking and you won’t freak out if you scratch the cover (unlike a $100 leather Franklin Planner).
- Nice paper and stitched binding.
- Ample room for notes, even on the small sized notebook.
- Dedicated page to notes/journal validates decision to hang onto it when it’s filled.
- No established “system”. You figure out how to use it.

Moleskine Planner Cons:

- Can be difficult to find. Barnes and Noble carries the notebooks, but getting your hands on a planner can be challenging.
- No built-in pen/pencil holder.
- Fewer accessories/add-ons.
- Soft cover can make writing in it a challenge, at least at the beginning and end.
- Has area codes, time zones, measurement conversion tables, etc. at the beginning.
- No established “system”. You figure out how to use it.

I’ve used Moleskine notebooks as journals and just bought my wife the planner you see above. She’s been very happy with it.

Thoughts? Questions? Leave word in the comments.

LivSimpl

GTD Week: planner systems

Probably the most obvious way to simplify your life is to get organized. There are dozens of GTD (Getting Things Done) systems out there and this week I’ll be reviewing five basic options. First up is the obvious candidate, planner systems.

Franklin Planners come in all shapes, sizes and designs: wire-bound and ring-bound versions ranging in size from “Micro” (2.625″ x 4.25″) to “Monarch” at a full (8.5″ x 11″) depending on how much real estate you’re going to need throughout the day. I should mention that I couldn’t find the Micro size available online.

Similar to the Franklin, I used a Day Timer 3×5 planner for a few years. It came in a nice leather case that doubled as a wallet and easily fit into the back pocket of my jeans, even with a pen, which was one reason I avoided Franklin initially: too bulky. If I’m going somewhere I like to have my hands free and don’t want to lug around a big planner in case I may (or may not) need to refer to it while I’m out.

Planner System Pros:

- Lots of designs and styles to choose from.
- Well-known and easy to find pages and accessories for.
- Includes instructions on how to maximize use of the planner (Franklin).
- Includes storage boxes for old planner pages (Day Timer).
- Varied sizes give you as much, or as little real estate as you need.

Planner System Cons:

- Tend to be expensive: initial purchase ($95.94 for a Monarch-sized fake leather binder and the basic filler pages) plus you have to buy refills every year.
- What to do with your old pages? For some reason I feel guilty for throwing them out. As a result, I have years of saved up planner pages.
- Toward the end of the month, I need to start making appointments for next month but found myself not having next month’s pages on hand.
- A lot of useless stuff is included: distances between major cities, unit conversion tables, area codes for most of the world and international holidays. It amounts to a lot of clutter you’re hauling around.

What do you think? If you used (or have used) a formal planner system leave word in the comments.

LivSimpl

LivSimpl: On vacation

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. It was a state holiday and I’m taking the rest of the week off work (vacation hours: use ‘em or lose ‘em).

Stay tuned next week. I hope to have a week-long series of ways to simplify life with various GTD (Getting Things Done) systems.

Until then, enjoy something simple, eliminate something unnecessary from life and do something kind for someone else. After all, it’s the simple things that bring us the most happiness.

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LivSimpl Tip: Touch something natural

So much of our lives are spent in what I refer to as a “manufactured world.” For example, right now I’m sitting (OK, slouching) on a couch made with some kind of synthetic fibers in an air conditioned apartment typing on a plastic keyboard looking at a glowing screen. Far too much of my time is spent like this.

Try touching something natural. Feel the texture on tree bark. Run your hand through leaves on a low-hanging tree branch. Feel cool soil in your hand. I find that even walking on grass instead of a sidewalk can be a welcome change, and makes me appreciate the world a little more.

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LivSimpl Tip: Mute

We’re constantly being bombarded with information and noise from all sorts of places: radio, TV, Internet, cell phones. However, today on my ride into work I decided not to listen to my iPod. It was quite nice just to listen to the rolling of the train.

The next time you have a chance to not be around those distractions, take it. Turn off the radio, don’t put in your ear buds, leave the TV off and don’t start text messaging. Just enjoy the moment.

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LivSimpl Tip: Pick up a book

Instead of flipping on the TV or mindlessly surfing the Internet try reading. If you’re like me, you have a long mental list of titles you’ve been meaning to check off. If that’s not the case, ask a friend what they’d recommend or explore a bookstore for inspiration. (If you happen to live in the Portland area, I’d recommend independently owned and operated Powell’s Books downtown on Burnside. Fantastic bookstore.)

You’ll feel much better about yourself if you spend an hour or two a day reading versus watching TV.

Bonus tip for the day: save some money and use the public library to find your next great read.

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LivSimpl Tip: Grow something

Go to a nursery, buy a plant and help it grow. We recently acquired a tomato plant and I’ve absolutely loved walking outside each morning before my run to water it. It’s a quiet, peaceful time of day and there’s it’s very rewarding to know you’re helping something grow. Give it a try.

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LivSimpl Tip: Take a walk

Take a walk today. Regardless of the weather. Get out, stretch your legs, take a deep breath and clear your mind. As you walk, be observant and try to notice things you might normally overlook.

This simple act can help clear your mind and appreciate the world around you, that might otherwise go unnoticed in our rushed lives.

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LivSimpl Tip: Carry cash

I know it seems counterintuitive to think that paying with cash simplifies anything. But carrying your spending money with you really makes sense.

First, you won’t be getting into debt voluntarily or otherwise: you have the cash in your wallet and once its gone, its gone.

Second, you’ll save money: If you can see how much money you have left for the week you’re less likely impulse shop and blow it on fast food and $9.99 DVDs at Walmart.

So unless you’re traveling a long distance, leave your debit and credit cards at home.

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LivSimpl Tip: Go camping

Get away from the hustle and bustle. Leave your laptop and Blackberry at home. In fact, don’t bring anything electronic. Just enjoy the beautiful simplicity nature has to offer. It could prove quite enlightening to see that you can get by (and enjoy life!) without all the distractions you normally feel are necessary.

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