Years ago I managed charity shops, first I managed one at a time for various charities, then I upped my game and managed two.
Needing to know whether I had to be at one shop or the other, or in the office at the Hospice that we raised funds for meant that I needed to be organised. The ideal thing for all this was obviously a Filofax. I had a lovely big black one ... A5 size, bulging with diary pages, addresses and contact details for all the volunteers and staff at the shops and at the Hospice. Pages and pages of shop window plans, notes, brainwaves, meeting dates ... you get the picture.
Then I left, I down-scaled my life. I opened my own business and bought a desk diary. It became a habit, every year buy a desk diary, fill it with work things, with home things, with appointments and come the end of the year copy all the vital information into the new fresh desk diary with a brand new pen. The old one went into drawer in my desk.
The drawer is now full ... they will all be going on the next bonfire we have.
History going up in flames, but I have a good memory ... I really do not need a drawer full of old books.
Instead I'm reverting to a Filofax.
This time a nice neat turquoise personal sized one, that will have enough room for appointments, enough room for important names and addresses, for birthdays etc etc And at the end of each year I can get rid of the diary pages and insert a fresh new year.
Another drawer emptied, another item simplified.
Sue xx
My husband and I have used Filofaxes since 1985. We have matching diary inserts so it is easy to cross check. I am on my second binder, and he has recently got his 3rd. They are efficient and longlasting. I like the blue colour of your new binder. Definitely a "buy it once" sort of purchase. Enjoy yours!
ReplyDeleteIt is a glorious shade of blue isn't it 😃
DeleteI loved my Filofax when I was working. I had a huge list of contacts and was known as the "she might not know, but she'll know someone who does" person. Being able to replace just the diary was so useful. I've still got it somewhere, but I've not used it since disability struck, 20 years ago.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was the same for me 'ask Sue she'll know' was a frequently heard instruction. 😄
DeleteI have a drawer in a filing cabinet like that. Full of diaries going back to 1963. I cannot bring myself to destroy them. I want to read them when I am very old. I've never had a Filofax.
ReplyDeleteThey proved useful last year for Alan's latest security clearance update, but apart from that they've never been out of the drawer. I'll have a quick scan through before I set them on fire 😉
DeleteI'm like you Ilona, my diaries go back to 1966:( Lovely colour Sue.
DeleteThe colour really did 'pop' out at me 😃
DeleteWe have been de-cluttering since the beginning of the year, last weekend we cleared out a chest of drawers of paperwork. I have kept diaries since my son's brain damage in 2009 all of which have recorded his recovery, conditions arising from, hospital admissions and details of all his seizures that started in 2012. I decided that they could now go but I looked through them first and was upset by what I read, I hadn't forgotten how awful it was but it was so sad to see it all in black and white.Sometimes we have to let go of the past and look forward to the new, in our case his upcoming brain surgery which we hope will improve his condition. Those diaries served a purpose,their job is done, I still need one but I feel confident to get rid of it as a new year begins .
ReplyDeleteThat just sounds so 'right'. They were useful but have served their purpose and now it's time for them to go. Spot on. ♥️
DeleteI have a gorgeous 'personal' size binder, remember buying it in John Lewis in 1984 and it's still in brilliant condition. There's absolutely no need or reason to use it these days but I'll never get rid of it . . .
ReplyDeleteThat blue is a fabulous colour. x
I hope mine lasts as long 😃. It really is a good blue isn't it ... and that's unusual for me I love green.
DeleteI have a personal Filofax as well. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a good size isn't it, the personal one. Love it too 😃
DeleteI am actually thinking about going back to the Filofax method as I don't have to redo all those birthdays etc. - much more efficient. And yes, I too have a box full of old diaries/day-timers that needs to be shredded!
ReplyDeleteI bought myself an address book to try and get around that problem about two years ago ... but never got round to filling it in. Instead it has my old Filofax address pages folded and tucked inside 🤣🤣
DeleteHa! That would be me! :-)
DeleteI have a tiny handbag diary and my mobile diary eith reminders 3-4 days before birthdays etc sovi gave a chance to post a card. Since retiring my life is very simple.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds efficient. I like simple ♥️
DeleteI've never had a Filofax..........another Brand I manage without
ReplyDeleteI think once you've had one you realise the usefulness of them. Everything in one place, a bit like a stationery version of a mobile phone 😀
DeleteI love the idea of a Filofax but love the convenience of syncing my schedules, important dates and addresses with my husband's on our phones and computers even more. That way if anything comes up, we both can make informed decisions while making plans.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'm that computer, or phone savvy. I need, and enjoy seeing things on paper
DeleteA stationery version of a mobile phone...I like that idea. I'm really a pen and paper kind of gal at heart. Thank you for the nudge in the right direction Sue!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
That's what it feels like,and not that much bigger either. 😀
DeleteI've always wanted a Filofax but never had one. I use a simple small diary for appointments and a wall calendar for direct debits, etc.
ReplyDeleteI always imagined Filofax would be fiddly and now I see they're not. Ill have to investigate. Love the colour of yours.
I have a notebook by the computer to keep track of direct debits, but I may merge that into my Filofax too now I have so few of them. Thanks for giving me the idea 🙂
DeleteA while back I finally destroyed a drawer full of similar items. It wasn't easy but I was holding on to the past and it had no bearing on my current life. I used to use something similar to your Filofax that had replaceable pages. In recent years I've been using my computer in place of it. However I keep thinking I should get out my old notebook because computers can be unreliable. You may have given me the nudge I need to do just that. Thank you Sue! I love the color of your new one too!
ReplyDeleteI think just knowing 'things' are there can weigh you down. I think I'll sit with a long cool drink and watch the diaries go up in flames 😀
DeleteI agree about computers being unreliable. I've transferred all my photos and files into an external hard drive that I can plug into any computer and access them from.
Love the colour of your new Filofax, I have a black one that was bought for me as a present in 1992, still going strong, but I currently only have the address section in use,it is kept in the greetings card box. All appointments doctors, hairdresser etc. are on a large calendar in the kitchen. If it's not on the calendar it doesn't happen. At one time when I was teaching I didn't move without the Filofax, how times change. Helen S.
ReplyDeleteThey were a real 'have to have' item back in the day weren't they. Much like mobile phones are today. Times have definitely changed 😃
DeleteA good idea Sue - I am all for simplification.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will work as well as it used to just on a smaller, more personal scale.
DeleteI have one of those long narrow calendars in my kitchen and every new years eve I sit and transfer all the birthdays/special events to be remembered etc across to the new calendar. If its not on my calendar it doesn't happen! I've tried to use my phone but to no avail, I can't get used to it and I stand and check the calendar on the wall while I'm washing the morning dishes so I don't miss anything. Doesn't mean I don't forget to actually post cards though!!
ReplyDeleteI swear by my calendar for appointments too. It's handy to be able to see at a glance what's coming up.
DeleteIt's really great to feel you are organised and know what works for you, certainly makes for a stress free week.
ReplyDeleteAn alternative to the filofax is a Bullet Journal, it can be as simple or decorative as you like and plenty of examples and instructions can be found on Utube, great way of using only the space you need for any given day....sometimes lots some days not much or not at all.
I just needed something that I could throw the diary part of away at the end of each year yet keeping all the addresses and important information permanently ... and a Filofax fitted the bill.
DeleteIsn't a Bullet Journal just a plain notebook that you can use in any way?
I have an old binder that I use for my daily, weekly and monthly planning. I make up the pages myself and at the end of the year get everything organized for the next year.
ReplyDeleteAddresses, birthdays, phone numbers and because I am getting old and forgetful passwords are all kept from year to year.
I wonder if I could move to a Filofax?
God bless.
It sounds as though your binder does an equally good job 😀
Delete