Every now and then I get into this crazy idea. One that got me into multiple Youtube viewing and then internet searching. To find out more about how to execute the crazy idea. This time, this one is to go back to using paper-based planning. I saw some really good YouTube videos on the benefits of paper-based planning using Franklin Planner and so here I am.
Table of Contents
How did I even get the idea
I am a digital person. You and me too. I use Things 3 for my task management app (although I must admit, as usual, my itchy back side made me spend so much time thinking about ticktick which I eventually did not follow up). I use Bear as my note taking app (but of course I had my fun with Evernote, Notion, Craft, Roam, Obsidian, Devonthink and quite recently Noteplan etc). And I use Apple Calendar as my calendar of choice (but of course, I think sometimes of Fantastical Calendar etc). Basically, I am a digital app whore.
Between these apps, I managed to live the schedules of my crazy of life as a father, a hubby, a worker, a part time sales gig and of course, being a sugar daddy to many cute girls (the last one is a dream… no looks, no money lah…).
But the one who kicked off my idea is one of my favourite YouTuber, Carl Pullein. He talked a lot about productivity and in one set of particular videos, he mentioned how he is going to try out the Franklin Planner.
I was hooked. I absorbed every word he said and I set about finding out more in many other Youtube videos too. And of course, I ended up ordering the Franklin planner from the USA. Boy is it expensive…… the shipment cost
Buying the Franklin Planner
So I started off with two items off the Franklin Planner web site.
I ordered the Original Two Page Per Day Ring-bound Planner but you can try other kinds (I am very keen on the Monticello Two Page Per Day Ring-bound Planner.. so pretty… maybe next year I will get this).
I also got the starter pack as it comes with the two important part of the Franklin Planner system which is the Punch Pagefinder and the 52 weekly compass cards. More on that later.
- Personal Management Tabs and Pages
- Pouch Pagefinder
- 52 Weekly Compass® Cards/Notes
As you can see, there are coupons to reduce the cost but the shipping to Singapore is the one that is expensive.
I got the package a week or more later !
The Original Two Page Per Day Ring-bound Planner
Here are some photos of the planner to entice you 🙂
Paper based monthly planner.. who still use these 🙂
An index for you to refer (e.g. you wrote something important on 14th January 2025 and you can write that in the index)… Er … Digital search is easier ? 🙂
The actual planner is nice. 2 pages a day. The left side is your tasks and appointments and the right side is your notes for the day.
Now the key to using this is to know that it is a PRIORITIZED DAILY TASK LIST. Not any task list. Not dump all your items into an app list. The best way to use this is (1) Fill up the appointments column with your MUST DO appointment (8am send kid to school, 10am kick off meeting, 2pm board meeting, 4pm pick up kid from school, 7pm gym, 9pm date with wife etc).
And then from your computerised based app (e.g Things, Ticktick, Todoist) and also your weekly compass list (see below), you can then fill up your PRIORITIZED DAILY TASK LIST with items that needs to be done or you want to do, considering how much time you have left.
DO NOT JUST DUMP YOUR WHOLE DAY TASKS INTO THE TASK LIST. It is prioritisation based on your time availability, your priorities and your weekly compass.
The Starter Pack
The starter pack is full of information about the Franklin Covey methodology of planning bu I only really want it for the page finder and the weekly compass cards.
Lots to read if you are into the method… and lots of those stuff which goes into a paper based planner but I doubt we use those nowadays. But if you are from that paper based school, it is VERY NICE.
The stuff in the starter pack…
Literature to get you started..
Like all paper based planner system, always there is that Most Famous Personal Information Page
Address/Telephone numbers ….. to replace your CONTACT app in your phone 🙂
Expense Tracker (REALLY ?!)
Friends and Medical Records…
Web site Tracker… to replace Linkding ? To show the world your user name and passwords.. HA HA 🙂
The Franklin Planner Binder
Now if you are like me, you will buy the Franklin Planner calendar but as I am not sure if I will end up using it, I did not buy any binder. I was hoping to use it for a while and see how it goes. The thing is, the Franklin Planner is rather special. You probably cannot find the right binder to use with it in Singapore.
So for a while, I use this method of Using Franklin Planner without a Binder. Cheap metal rings you can get from Popular….. it works, okay 🙂 Creative, right ? 🙂
Eventually, I convinced myself that I need a real binder. A real Franklin Planner binder. So I got the cheapest one.. the Spacemaker Open Binder. Let me tell you, it is a nice binder. The leather is so smooth and nice to hold 🙂
Here’s my set of paper planner inside the 7 holes open binder.
And of course, let’s get even more into the (expensive) eco system. You will also need a storage binder to store the used and un-used paper planners.
So here it comes.. the Storage Binder… with stickers no less…
There you go…. it is how it looks.. Used and Un-used planners in a nice Storage Binder..
And paste the year 2025 on the spine okay 🙂
Again, to be honest, none of the stuff are too expensive. It is just the shipping that cost. If you are in USA, it is really affordable and considering that it is for use for ONE WHOLE YEAR, it is quite all right. It is us, in Singapore, that is not enjoying the affordable planning tools.
But again, if you are keen, do not rush to buy. Wait for offers. There are many. Franklin Planners have many excuses to hold offers after offers. Whether it is on their web site or their almost weekly emails… you will always always get offers….
The One Good Thing I Learnt with my Franklin Planner : Weekly Compass
Two actually. One is a nice pen. Ha. I love the Parker Pen I bought to use with the Franklin Planner. I did not know that “not every pen is a good pen”…
A nice Parker Pen to use with the Planner
Secondly, it is the notion of Weekly Compass. This has become a defining thing in my planning life. Whether I end up using the PAPER BASED Planning or NOT, I will always be using the Weekly Compass method in my life.
This is the Weekly Compass Cards that is used with
You will just tear off one week card (each card holds two weeks) to be used with the Ring-Bound Punch Page Finder.
This Ring-bound Pouch Pagefinder makes it very convenient to look at your weekly comps items
So what exactly is the Weekly Compass. Basically it is just a list of items you want to accomplish each week. But under the Franklin Planner system, they asked you to (1) sharpen the saw (2) then identify your roles in your life and what you to achieve that week for these roles.
The “sharpen the saw” is all about YOU. Usually it is about Physical (e.g. go to the gym, take a hike), social/emotional (perhaps listening to a podcast to make yourself happy), mental (improve your thinking, attend a course, do some training) or spiritual (e.g. prayers, mediation etc).
Then you move on to your roles. As an example, perhaps it can be (1) a worker as in your job (2) a father (3) a husband (4) a church leader (5) a part time gig (6) a trip overseas. It is up to you and every week can be different. But for each “role”, you can identify something you want to accomplish that week (the BIG ROCKS).
The idea is that as you work through your days (in a week), you refer to the Weekly Compass to guide you to make the best use of your time. After all, you had set out the goals for the week so the Weekly Compass reminds you of the goals constantly and you can “bring the goals” into your daily planning.
Here’s some hints in the cards 🙂
I do my weekly planning (using the Weekly Compass) when my son is at tuition on Saturday and I am waiting for him at a coffee shop.
Conclusion on using Paper Based Planning
I have been using the Franklin Planner for two whole months. The weekly “planning session” at a coffee place or at home has been a good enjoyable moment. The use of my Parker Pen (I know…) has also enhanced the enjoyment.
Note that you can now never replace your digital life with a paper based planning like Franklin Planner. It is just illogical. But to use paper planning can sometimes bring a sense of calm and clarity to your weekly and daily planning, away from the huge pressure of a digital life.
The concept of weekly compass has been pretty interesting to me and whether I continue my paper based weekly planning or not, I have also incorporated it into Apple Shortcuts to be used with my Bear notes app.
Let me share that soon too.
