Daily Log

So a couple of weeks ago, I was still again lurking on Plannerisms (my favorite new hobby, apparently), and I came across some posts (Which I can't seem to find. Just go peruse the whole blog, it's all good stuff any way and you'll enjoy yourself) Laurie did about using a planner as a "daily log book".  Since this is how I was primarily using the daily pages in my Filofax--albeit being frustrated by the lack of space--I decided I would work on this idea.

I found an old Piccadilly notebook that I got on sale at Borders a couple of years ago lying around gathering dust.  It looks just like a Moleskine, and is the same type of format replete with elastic cord, ribbon page marker (which I hate) and pocket in the back.

I just opened a page...and started. No planning, no laying out...I just went. I dated one week by dating the left hand page of a leaf, and then allowed 2 pages per day.  Then I decided at the end of that week that a leaf with the week ahead on two pages would be a good idea.  This way I could put any tasks for the week, any things to "research" (what I call all the time I spend online. It sounds so much prettier than "killing time"), blog ideas, etc.  I mark it with this yellow flag, so it's always easy to turn to. This "weekly" page keeps evolving, and I really like that.  I love that every week I can vary the format, the print, the color of pens, whatever I want. FREEDOOOMM!

As for the Piccadilly--I actually don't like it and wouldn't buy another.  Mind you, it's better than Moleskine by a long shot: much better paper and no nasty chemicals (read their site, I swear! It's a Prop 65 warning for CA residents because Moleskine uses a "plastic softener" PLUS, they're made in China. I'm trying to stop buying things made in China.  Just a personal conviction).  However, I find that the lines are WAY too narrow for my writing, and that there is a fair amount of show through on the pages (you can see that in the page above) especially with fountain pen ink.  I also prefer paper with a bit of "tooth" to it, and these pages are very slick.  It takes my fountain pen ink (Private Reserve in Fiesta Red, if you're interested) a fair amount of time to dry.  Frixions work fantasmically on it though!  Here's the page I used to test my new ones on:

I think when I finish this notebook I will try either the  Ecosystem Notebooks or the Exacompta Basics notebooks.  Both of them have a bit of tooth, and the Ecosystem is recycled AND made in the U.S. Plus, I've decided that I really prefer white paper to ivory.

But meanwhile back at the ranch: This "log book" experiment is working WONDERFULLY well.  On the daily pages, I just write the weather, things that are going on (lots about fires lately, sadly), things the kids do/say, thoughts, feelings etc. There is OODLES of space, as I can determine how many pages I need per day--I LOVE THIS PART!!

The only things I'm still having trouble with are:  1. Where to put contacts. I don't want to have to re-write these, and right now they're still in my Filofax Topaz (which is wearing at the corners already *sniff*. Crummy leather)  2. Where to put lists.  3.  Some routine tasks are not making it onto my weekly pages.  Of course, with my life having come to a grinding halt this summer, it's not all that critical, and I have plenty of time to work on solutions to these issues.  I think that as this is working so very well, even if I return to a "regular" type planner, I will continue with the daily log book.  This means that my planner choices and needs have changed very dramatically--and you know what that leads to---Yep...MANY MORE HOURS ON PLANNERISMS!! (Doing RESEARCH, I said! RESEARCH)

**HUGE thank you to Laurie, without your blog I would be so lost...