I am trying to decide what to use for my ‘everything else’ notebook next year!
This is a totally inconsequential decision, really. I could honestly use a spiral Mead notebook and survive the year, though I DO like the ability to have some monthly layouts and don’t really enjoy drawing those myself.
What is in this notebook? It’s NOT my planner. It’s NOT my electronic second brain (which contains a lot! School info, podcast notes, travel info, and a ton more). But it’s everything else: the things I want to track and contain but not within my ‘regular’ planner.
These things include:
YESSSS I was metaplanning last night (planning one’s planning = metaplanning)
Anyway, there is no actual reason these items couldn’t just go into Apple Notes. But I like having a separate Everything Else system! This year, I used a Cloth & Paper Discbound to corral most of these things. I could absolutely buy refills and use that again but one of my Planner Peace submission was all about Plotter and I am kind of lusting after one of their binders. I would have hit “purchase” already but they are $$$!
I ordered their refills to try (that’s actually one above) hoping to hate the paper, but it’s lovely and not too smudge-prone. So maybe I will go for it. Alternatively I could probably make a Hobonchi Weeks work, and it’s A TON cheaper. I just have to decide if I’m okay with the narrow pages (for goals lists I’d have to probably use multiple pages, or the full two page spread. Which might be fine).
Honestly now that I’m thinking about it I think I will try to make the Weeks work. I HAVE SUPERSHOES TO BUY*, you know!? If you are a Plotter devotee, convince me why I need one . . .
*The usual drain on my personal spending allowance.
In other news:
1- It’s Halloween!!! I just returned from Pumpkin Carving with G’s class. Let’s just say I am THRILLED no one cut themselves – this was a high anxiety supervising gig! I plan on sitting outside my house with a table (that is typical protocol in our neighborhood) while Josh takes the kids around. It should be high 70s weather, actually not tooooo hot or humid! A has a friend joining her and I anticipate those two will kind of go around on their own. Bittersweet (but I’m glad she’ll still be in our neighborhood!)
(My kids have NO SCHOOL tomorrow – both of their schools are off, which is kind of convenient and surprising, since the public schools are open and the two calendars don’t typically line up. I DO however need to go to work. So I’m ending Trick-or-Treating at 9 pm for us.)
2- November 1 is “NaNoWriMo” or “NaBloPoMo“. I am not sure I’m participating in any official capacity but I will aim to post every day (I kind of do that anyway, though sometimes I take breaks when it feels right or skip weekends). HOWEVER I will try to use this “do it every day” energy to make continuous progress on my writing project. I have 2.5 chapters DUE (DRAFT FORM) in 21 days!!!! I can do it. Maybe this “do something every day” energy will help.
Okay off to work on monthly AND q5 goals!! AHHHH! Exciting.
OHHHH and thank you for the kind words re: piano! Yes, I play that kind of thing by ear; if I know a song well and the chords aren’t too out there/unusual (most pop is pretty straightforward in this regard), I can just play it. I am NOT playing in a complex or advanced way; my ear is better (by a lot) than my technical abilities, which I have not really retained (but, one can sort of fake it, to an extent). I played for over a decade growing up (piano, then added violin, then voice). It’s surprising, but the ‘by ear’ ability seems to stick around without any regular or purposeful playing. It IS actually pretty fun and I would like to do more of it. Ummm, I am happy to take requests.
17 Comments
I really want the plotter too, added it to my Christmas wish list 🙂
Hello! I recently discovered your podcast and dove right in—if you see a spike in stats, that’s me, starting from the very first episode! I’m a busy psychologist and mom of four, and I manage my time with daily blocks, weekly and monthly plans, and a meal plan. Here’s my dilemma: I *love* throwing things away. Crumpling up yesterday’s time-blocked page and tossing it in the trash is honestly one of the best moments of my day.
Now, after listening to your show (and watching a few planner videos on YouTube), I’m intrigued by the idea of using stickers, pens, and even including photos. It sounds fun, but I’m not the type to keep stacks of old planners—clutter’s just not my thing. On the flip side, I’d have a hard time throwing out a planner filled with photos of my kids. Do you have any ideas for balancing this? Thanks so much!
Yessssss! I keep my 5 year journal that has kid pics in it. I will also keep a few random planners. But generally I toss them (shred!). This has been a good balance for me !!
The hemlock and oak inserts are really lovely and I think better paper than cloth and paper. I love their monthly review pages and they added new blank inserts this year.
I was lusting after plotter too after listening to that ep but it was just too much $$ (I’m Canadian so it was even more!) There is a store on Etsy that sells identical binders to plotter for a lot less though and all the reviews seemed pretty great…
I am envious of your ability to play by ear. I cannot do that. My HS boyfriend had that skill and was an amazing pianist. What a talent!
That’s nice that the kids don’t have school tomorrow. Ours do but our son takes the bus on Friday so he can sleep in a bit. It’s kind of nice to have Halloween close to the time change because we have been pushing the kids bedtimes back so they hopefully won’t be up at 5CST on Sunday morning… it worked to do that last year so hopefully it works again this year!
I told Sofia that you could play anything that you hear. she said: can you ask her to play levitating? heheheh
Of course!
Sarah, I feel for you! The Plotter binders look amazing. I’ve recently been thinking a lot about the animals behind so much of my life… from the cows that make milk for my 1 year old, to the chickens who lay eggs for us to eat… I don’t want animals to suffer for my existence (and I’m not saying any suffer more necessarily in becoming a Plotter binder…), but I think I’d be happy NOT to get one to avoid any potential additional suffering, you know? Not sure pleather or cotton or whatnot is better for the environment ultimately, but I’m leaning away from animal products wherever I can.
I was looking at planners the other day and am stuck! I might have to ask your advice. I usually just get an inexpensive one from TJ Maxx or something, but this year I’m a little more demanding. I looked at every planner in Barnes and Noble and couldn’t find one I like. It’s not an emergency- my current one is fine for the rest of 2024.
Your kids don’t have school tomorrow???? Lucky!
also one more thing – I read in my research that the plotter binders aren’t good for lefties because your hand juts up to the ring and doesn’t allow you to write the line fully, so you have to take every sheet out to write in it. If you want a luxury notebook, have you chacked out william hannah england? They are luxury leather covers with metal rings inside and operate like a discbound. I have one with Bordeaux leather on the outside and petrol suede on the inside, monogrammed, that I use as my commonplace book.
This is very valuable info! I don’t even really want a luxury binder to be honest i just liked the idea of a streamlined system w good paper. I think I am probably just going to go with the Weeks!!
(Or I could repurpose my C and P if I want to remove pages …)
I use the Erin Condron monthly petite planner as a notebook. It has an 18 month calendar, and the rest are notebook pages. It’s small and can be with me everywhere if I need to jot something down. It’s not my main planner but good to have with me.
I love that planner/book! So compact but also nice paper 🙂
I really want to get into a planner system next year. I mean, I am using planners (digital and paper) but I am not using them as consistently as I like. I’ll be coming back for more inspiration.
Sounds like a fun Halloween. I love the costumes 🙂
San please let me know if you have ANY planner related questions!!!