How I Use My Filofax Planner & My Moleskine Diary Together





Would I be cheating on Filofax if I admitted to preferring a bound notebook like the Moleskine when it comes to my main diary? I feel bad, but I think it's true. So I have found a way to merge the two together for ultimate productivity and satisfaction.


I know that this is meant to be a Filofax blog, but I kind of have a soft spot for bound notebooks. 

So I gave in today and went completely overboard spending the better part of twenty quid on a beautiful Moleskine Diary for my Filofax.  (I also bought a Writing Magazine which was what brought the price up to twenty, so that makes me feel marginally better.)

 When I arrived home, very excited, I watched eagerly as my four-year-old niece ate her dinner, and then I took her to bed and speedily read her two short stories before making myself a nice cup of tea and settling down to unwrap my new Moleskine.

To my utter disappointment, I discovered that the diary doesn't actually start until the beginning of July - That is two whole months away! What am I supposed to do for two whole months? Carry on using my current A5 Filofax diary inserts I suppose.  I am most put out.  Today is National Stationery Day and the one piece of stationery I bought is of no use to me for two months.  Grrrr.



How I Use My Filofax Planner & My Moleskine Diary Together



Why I love a bound notebook 

I do love how the Moleskine fits so perfectly into my A5 Chameleon Filofax though.  

There's something quite satisfying about filling up a bound leather diary, in my opinion it doesn't compare to loose Filofax insert sheets.

I like to see the pages get all marled, and I like to fold corners and rough it up until it looks and feels thoroughly used. 

Bound books seem to have this effect on me. It's the same with novels, I love to break the spines and fold down page corners and see the pages warp from the steam of a hot bath.


My Filofax is for the perfectionist in me 


For some reason, I almost feel afraid to touch my new Filofax inserts.  I want everything in my Filofax to be used perfectly because it is an organiser and I have to keep it organised!

It might have something to do with the fact that the inserts are so expensive too.  

My A5 Filofax feels like the 'final draft' of a diary, so basically I have been using an A5 refill pad to jot down all of my notes every day, and then I copy down the most useful notes neatly and in the right place into my Filofax.  

It's all a bit weird, isn't it?


Moleskine Passions Journals 


I love the fact that Moleskine also do a selection of 'Passions Journals'.  I bought a Moleskine Recipes Journal recently for my sister because we are about to embark on an online cooking project and blog together.  I think I have decided that I may need to purchase one for myself too.



Get yours!

 

And because they fit so perfectly into the A5 sized Filofaxes I may also have to think about which A5 Filofax I want next – to organise my cooking project of course! Any excuse to expand my Filofax collection.


Conclusion 


I think I have decided not to feel guilty about loving them both. 

You know, it's almost as if Moleskine and Filofax were made to fit together anyway - like a marriage of two luxury stationery brands.  How beautiful.

What are your thoughts on loose sheet planners and bound notebook diaries? Let me know in the comments below.


Until next time ...









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Filofax Vlog: Showing off My New A5 Aqua Chameleon Filofax Setup




SO exciting! I really enjoyed making My First Filofax Vlog on Youtube – Check out my Filofax Unboxing Video here. I'm back now to show you my brand new Filofax setup (Link to the new video is further down...)



It's a bit weird being on camera like this. 

It's even more weird being on camera talking about a Filofax planner. But you guys have all shown me that this is a totally normal thing to do in the online planner community, especially if you're a blogger. 

So I am embracing the new experience, and loving every moment of it. Even if I do seem completely insane.

You'll have to WATCH THE VIDEO to find out why though... 


Enjoy!









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Filofax Paper Planner Vs. Smartphone


Smartphone Versus Planner
Image by marijana1 from Pixabay 

They call them 'Smartphones' for a reason, although, I'm not sure what the reason is, because mine isn't very smart, and I'll tell you why. When it comes to your smartphone versus your planner, which one is going to take first place for you?
















Yes, this is an ancient blog post with mentions of mobile phones when you could actually remove the battery! I hope you enjoy the nostalgia of this post ...


When I purchased my very first 'smartphone', on my very first pay-monthly contract, I have to admit I was a bit besotted.

I abandoned my Pocket Guildford Filofax and my Moleskine for an online calendar syncing system and took full advantage of every note-taking app I could download for free.

Even my laptop became a bit redundant when I discovered a screenwriting app, a 'quickoffice' app, and various blogging and social networking apps.


Smartphone planner vs paper planner
Image by William Iven from Pixabay 


It was bliss and most of my spare time was spent squinting at the mini-screen - On the bus, in bed, and on the loo. But this is not where my story ends.


The cons of using my smartphone as my planner

 
I soon found that my battery was just not up to the job.  What happened to those good old Nokia phones that used to last about a week before they needed re-charging?  My new 'smartphone'  dies at the most inconvenient of times, and I can barely get through a day. 

So to rectify the problem I got into the habit of having the phone permanently on charge whenever I was at home so that at least I would know that when I was out it would be fine.  But effectively this only made the problem worse.

Then a few months ago the worst thing imaginable happened. The socket where my charger lead fits into my phone became loose.  First, a little wiggle did the trick, then a good shove kick-started the charging process.

But I'd have to keep an eye on it because it would randomly stop charging, which I found to be jolly inconvenient. Suddenly I was waking up in the morning to find it was actually the afternoon.

My so-called 'smartphone', which had cockily replaced my alarm clock too, had conked out in the middle of the night because it had stopped charging two minutes after I had drifted off to sleep!  I don't know about you, but I don't think this is very smart.

In a short space of time, the situation became so ridiculous that I was balancing the phone upright and on its side – sometimes upside down, wedged in a groove between a stack of books, with an elastic band wrapped around the phone to maintain the connection.


Are paper planners better than digital planners?
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay 


It was at this point that I had had enough. I mean, I was about to lose my rag. I was about to give in and purchase a new 'smartphone' when my aunt suggested an external charger for the battery.

So I ordered a charger on eBay that sticks in the wall and I have to take the battery out of the phone and slot it into the charger every time it needs charging.  For this reason, I now have two batteries, so that one can be charging while I am using my phone.  

But each barely lasts a day, and the MOST annoying thing is that my nails break now on a daily basis as I try to pry the phone open to swap the batteries over.  The whole thing is completely bonkers.

What's worse is that when I purchased the smartphone I didn't automatically become a 'smart-owner' of the 'smartphone'. I was mislead into paying insurance I didn't ask for.  I discovered this earlier today whilst analysing my bank statement.   £7.99 a month since this time last year - Annoying!

So here I have been, struggling with all the flaws of my decrepit piece of 'advanced technology' for a good three or four months, and I had insurance that I didn't even know about, and could simply have had the thing replaced!  

Apparently a month or so free insurance comes automatically with phones when you purchase the contract, but the loophole is that you have to remember to cancel it after the free period if you don't want to pay for it, which I didn't.

Filofax Fanciers may be relieved to know that I am back to using Filofax planners. They are SO much better than 'smartphone' calendar apps., and here's why...


Digital planner vs. paper planner

 
I thought it would be fun to place digital planners and paper planners side-by-side in a "real-life situation" challenge to see which one tallies up the most points. 

I have divided up the sections and scored each one out of 5 – with 5 being "the best".


Digital Planner Vs. Paper Planner
Image by Łukasz Cwojdziński from Pixabay


These are of course my own opinions and just a bit of fun. I would love to hear your thoughts though, so if you would like to share them in the comments below, please feel free :)


HEALTH

Staring at a Filofax for hours gives you nothing but pleasure...
Staring at a 'Smartphone' for hours gives you a headache!
SCORE:
Filofax 5/5
'Smartphone' 0/5

PORTABILITY

My 'Smartphone' fits pretty much anywhere - In my pocket, in my handbag, and even in my Filofax, but the battery-life means that functionally using it on the go can often be short-lived if I don't have my charger with me. And the charger takes up more space in the bag.

My Filofax takes up space in my bag too and can be heavy depending on what size I have chosen to use, but at least all of my information is constantly accessible.
SCORE:
Filofax 3/5
'Smartphone' 3/5

MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY 

My 'Smartphone does pretty much everything, all I have to do is download an app, and put up with touch-screen typing which can be annoying.

My Filofax can be specifically designed and organised according to my needs as well.  My A5 Filofax works as a portable office-desk which is great for commuting, and my Pocket Filofax can double up as a wallet, and also slot my phone in, so it's almost like a clutch bag!
SCORE:
Filofax 5/5
'Smartphone' 4/5

ATTRACTIVENESS

My 'Smartphone is discrete and formal but can be jazzed up with clip-on covers, gel covers, sleeves, and holders.  My Filofax - well I don't think I need to say that I am in love and fancy it to pieces, no fancy accessories needed. Enough said.
SCORE:
Filofax 4/5
'Smartphone' 5/5



TOTALS:  


FILOFAX 17/20
SMARTPHONE' 12/20


Well, there we have it. Filofax is a clear winner. What do you think?


Until next time ...











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