Since moving into other roles in education, and the advent of tablets and smartphones, I've tried lots of combinations of tools to manage my calendar, tasks, and projects. It is perhaps no surprise that I've finally settled into a paper-based routine that I love. Out in the world, when people see me use it, they ask me about it. I thought I'd share it here.
Calendar
Make no mistake, an Outlook calendar is used to organize most of my time. This is because so many meetings are scheduled through that tool. I don't sync it directly to my phone, however, to avoid public disclosure issues. (I don't ever sync work email to my personal phone, either.) But, I do import it into Google and then connect to a personal account. Yes, this is some extra work (about two minutes a week) and what I can see on my phone isn't always current. I sleep better, though.
Journal
I have long admired the bullet journals that so many people use. I do apply some elements of the system to my paper calendar. I love my calendar, but there is so much more about work (and life) that I can't capture there. So, I started using a bound notebook (Leuchtturm 1917 dotted) to capture everything else: meeting notes, projects for work, information about data to remember for next year, movies I've watched, poems, or anything else that interests me. For example, here are some notes from the recent ASCD conference.

A couple of other things to note about this page, both having to do with how I overcame my inertia in starting this type of journal. I had long thought---incorrectly---that when starting the journal I would need to have the whole thing mapped out. And this overwhelmed me. I just couldn't figure out how many pages I would need to devote to each topic. Finally, I realized that I didn't have to. First of all, I can "thread" pages. They don't have to be right next to each other. I just need to know how to find them. So, in the lower leftthand corner, you'll notice a note to myself about the previous pages in the book that I used to work on this same project. If I need to, I can look back at them very quickly to see all of my notes and the evolution of the project. The second thing I do is that I use a piece of coloured Washi tape at the edge of the page to signal when I'm changing topics in the journal. I might have meetings for 8 pages...and then it changes to a data project. Over time, this becomes a visual of how I have spent my time over several months. The edges of the pages become a sort of bar chart.
I love that this little journal fits in just about any purse that I have. I can have it with me all the time to record ideas. I like being able to write, draw, or tape in whatever I like. Most importantly, I appreciate that it really captures how I spend my time. So much of my work is intangible---sitting in meetings or trying to figure out how to complete certain projects. This little book makes me feel like time didn't just disappear.
One journal lasts me about six months.
Tools
My go to, all time, super duper, favourite tool for writing is a Palomino Blackwing pencil, with a nicely sharpened long point. If you haven't tried one of these pencils, the kind used by John Steinbeck, Chuck Jones, Stephen Sondheim, and others...do yourself a solid and get some. I have gotten several people addicted to them over the years. They were all skeptical, but in the end, a pencil is not a pencil is not a pencil.
Beyond that, I carry about 20 Staedtler Fineliners with me at any given time. I love the colour selection, the way they move on the paper, and again...even though it shouldn't matter...they make things pretty. Considering that most of what gets contained in my calendar and journal is work-related, having something pleasing to look at is far more motivating.
The little tool bag in my purse also carries a small ruler, some 2x2" sticky notes, a pack of Zebra Mildliners, and a pencil sharpener. At home, I have been collecting a wide variety of Washi tape, which I also use to dress up my notes. I may need a 12-step program to manage this habit in the future.
In the end, how we manage our time and information is always personal. I love looking through the following hashtags on Twitter for ideas: #bujo, #bujoinspire, #studyblr, #studygram. What works for you?
1 comment:
I love finding another educator that loves organization as much as I do! Now that I say that, I think that there are actually quite a few teachers that are organized and like using a planner. However, it is pretty easy to spot the teachers that do not use a planner haha. I always have been a planner and I am so thankful for that now later in life!
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