New Filofax A5 diary layout for free download - Month Views Plus Notes

It's never too late to develop a new diary insert format is it?


We have often heard people bemoan not being able to separate month inserts so they can either archive them or interleave monthly inserts with weekly or daily inserts. So to combat this issue we have put notes pages on the reverse side of the monthly print outs.

If you don't want to interleave your monthly inserts or you don't archive them then continue to use the regular monthly inserts we have already made available.

Here's what the new Month on One Page plus notes format looks like:

You can download prepared 2013 sets in either the Month on One Page version (Word document or PDF document) or the Month on Two Page version (Word document or PDF document).

Each version is set up as an A4 document. To use them as A5 inserts, print the document in booklet mode on A4 paper, then use a guillotine to divide each sheet into two and punch the required holes, which the templates are set up with mirrored gutters to accommodate. Or, if you have A5 paper, then either the printer or the PC will scale it to size for you.

If you want to tinker, then you can download the source files. Starting with the Word files, choose between the Month on One Page version or the Month on Two Page version. With either, you'll need the Excel data file as well.

As long as you have some basic Word and Excel skills, you should be able to give this a go. You'll need to be able to set up a basic mail merge file link, and there are plenty of web tutorials that show you the way - Google using the search terms: Word Excel Mail Merge 20xx (where 'xx' is 02, 03, 07 or 10, depending on your version.)

Depending on what version of Word you're using, Word may put section breaks between every record, which will throw out the mirrored gutter formatting in the layout. If it does, the solution is quite simple; do a find and replace on section breaks (^b) to remove them all.

But if all you want to do is change a font or a font colour, you can download the prepared 2013 set and perform a format find and replace in Word. This link will show you how.

Also see the videos on the Diary Inserts page. 

Additionally the Personal size on Personal Paper Month to a Page and Month View have also received the same treatment. 

You can download prepared 2013 sets in either the Month on One Page version (Word document or PDF document) or the Month on Two Page version (Word document or PDF document).

For tips on printing on to Personal Size paper please see this instruction post.

As with the Personal size we are also making the source files available.  Starting with the Word files, choose between the Month on One Page version or the Month on Two Page version. With either, you'll need the Excel data file as well.

How to Use a Filofax

If you are happy with the way you are currently using your Filofax, stop reading. The worst thing you can do is tinker unnecessarily with a system that works well.


Still reading? OK then. This post will seek to briefly answer the question of how to use a Filofax. It will not address the issue of why to use a Filofax, nor whether to use a Filofax. I'm assuming you have worked through these questions yourself.


So, how should you use it? the real - but potentially unhelpful - answer is, 'However you like.' What follows is just one possible answer. It is based on my experience of what works (for me) and what doesn't (again, for me), filtered through the sieve of my own likes and annoyances. I'll try to keep it snappy; we're all busy people.

The rules

1. Put all other notebooks, planners and pads out of reach. While you are getting your Filofax up and running (say, the first couple of weeks you spend using it) you don't want the distraction of handling multiple systems.


2. Write in your diary every appointment you need to remember, including other people's insofar as they affect you. For instance, is your partner going out for the evening one day next week? That needs to be in your diary too if it means you will have to be at home providing childcare.

3. Every day, read today's diary and scan about a week ahead. Look for events that have been cancelled or are no longer relevant. Delete them. Think about any events you might need to add. Add them.


4. Maintain a separate (i.e. separate from the diary) list if you want to use your Filofax to manage tasks. The only time a task should be in your diary is if it needs to be done on a particular day. If it is just a matter of having to be done by a particular day, it belongs not in the diary but in the task list, where you should also note the deadline date. You can do this with standard Filofax task pages, but it's easier with Turbo Task pages.

5. Scan your task list at least daily for items you can or must do and mark complete.


6. Carry your Filofax with you everywhere. This is really important.


7. Whenever you set or accept an appointment or identify a task, write it down in the appropriate section straight away. Don't try to remember it to write in later. Don't write it on a scrap of paper to transfer later. Write it in the correct place in your Filofax right now. No excuses.


8. Have a notes section with plenty of blank paper. Write down anything you need to remember that isn't a diary or task entry. You can use plain paper or lined, grid, dot grid or a selection. The paper can be different colours if you like. If you must, you can decorate it.

9. Before you agree to an appointment, check your diary. You need to be able to trust what you see written there, hence the earlier warnings about writing things in right away.


10. As soon as you complete a task, mark it as complete in your tasks section and if you have time choose another to get started on.


11. These three sections - diary, tasks and notes - are the heart of your Filofax. If you want you can have other sections too, say for addresses, to track your finances or to hold long term reference information.


12. Do not stuff your Filofax with pages or accessories you will not use every day. Your system has rings. You can add things and remove them whenever you like. Have a photo or two in there if you like, by all means, but it is a personal organiser, not a scrapbook. Anything that doesn't help organise you should not be in it.


13. Use dividers to help you get to different sections quickly. Use sticky tabs to categorise sub-sections. This might be useful if you decide to keep multiple lask lists (e.g. home and office.) Have some sort of 'today' marker in your diary.

14. Keep a pen or pencil in the pen loop. Choose one that fits the loop and that will not fall out. Don't feel that you need to use that particular instrument every time you write in your Filofax. If you carry a pen or two in your pocket or bag, use those. But keeping one pen/pencil in the loop means you will never be caught without something to write with. It's a fallback.


15. Keep doing all the above. Don't lapse. Keep forcing yourself until it becomes habitual. Again, no excuses.

Now what?

You can, of course, download and print most of the pages you'll need from this site. Diary inserts are here. Other inserts are here. They are free to download and free for your personal use.

So there it is. That is how to use a Filofax. Unless you want to use it differently. It's up to you. You can do what you want; I'm not your mother.

Undated diary for the Traveler's Notebook in Passport size to download and make

I don't have a Passport version of the Midori Traveler's Notebook, but some of my readers do, and they've asked for some inserts in this size. Today's is an undated week-to-view diary.

The insert has pages for 31 weeks. You can add in your own dates, and half-boxes are provided for you to complete as below.

And because not everybody likes orange, you can choose one of these colours instead:

To make the insert for yourself, start by downloading the file in the colour of your choice:

                   Orange insert     Blue insert     Red insert

These files are PDF's. When you print be sure to set it to print at full size as explained here. The file is set up to print a booklet in duplex mode, flipping on the short edge.

This is what will emerge from your printer. Depending on the way your printer works, you'll either see the top sheet uppermost or the bottom.

Bottom of pile

Top of pile

Guides will be printed that show you where to trim the pages top and bottom. Once you've done that, your pages will look like this:

Now you'll need to fold them all in half and sew them into a single-signature booklet. You can see detailed instructions on exactly how to do that here. You'll be making a passport-sized booklet, so change the measurements accordingly. The passport-sized booklet is 124mm tall and 89mm wide.

Download year-on-a-page calendars for the Midori Traveler's Notebook

There are times when it is helpful to be able to see dates for the whole year at a glance. I've created a year-on-a-page calendar that is the perfect size for the Midori Traveler's Notebook.

Simply download the file, print, and cut out the page. I've included calendars for 2013 and 2014 on one page, and you have a choice of colours:

You could either tuck the inside the cover of one of your inserts, or if you have a kraft file, you can stow it in one of the pockets. Don't have a kraft file? You can make one. If you prefer, you could glue it to an insert cover or an inside page of one of your inserts.

Download the file in your chosen colour here:   Blue   Red   Orange   Green   Purple

Download and print notepaper (3 types) for your Pocket Filofax

A while ago, I made some standard refill pages for the Filofax Personal. There was personal lined paper, personal grid paper and personal dot grid paper.

In response to a request, I've now produced versions of each of these for the Pocket Filofax. They look like this:

You can download the pages either as editable Word files or as PDF files. If using the PDF versions remember to set your printer settings so as not to shrink the pages. Each page yields three pocket pages.

Download the pages here:

Lined - word file     Lined - PDF file

Grid - word file     Grid - PDF file

Dot grid - word file     Dot grid - PDF file

Each file should be printed double-sided with the duplex set to flip along the short edge. You can then cut out and punch individual pages as outlined in this post.

My (very) short fiction for the Kindle

My book Very Short Shorts is now available in the Kindle Store. Originally inspired by a Filofax blogger's challenge, I wrote ten stories, each of just 50 words. I was surprised to find how much was possible within such an extreme constraint.

I've packaged the stories as an ebook that you can download and read on the Kindle. Just click on the picture below to go to the Kindle Store, where you can buy the book for a very reasonable 82p, $1.29 or your local currency equivalent.

 

Journalling School now available for the Kindle

I am delighted to announce that Journalling School: A Short Course in Personal Journalling is now available as a Kindle book.

To view it in the Kindle Store, click on the book image below.

 For 82p (or your local currency equivalent) you can carry the whole series around with you.