I have been using the Swirls No.2 Daily Planner as my daily planner for this year and have been using it daily throughout the year and into Q3/Q4. This one is going on the list for 2021 as I have really enjoyed using it.
The Swirls No. 2 Daily Planner from Completist is both eyecatching and functional. The planner is undated so you can start using it whenever you like. It has a day per page for weekdays, and a page for the weekend. This means it is perfect for a work planner.
How I am using this Planner
The layout includes space for appointments/meetings, your to-do list and a blank section for notes. All you really need in one handy place for a work desk diary. Also the best bit – it is a lay-flat notebook.
Since I last wrote about how I was using the planner during Q1 I thought I would write an update on how I’ve been using this planner during the pandemic and what has changed slightly since working from home.
Since the pandemic, I have found that there are more demands on my time, so while I do still using the daily planner largely in the same way as I did pre-pandemic, I do a lot more forward planning/thinking and don’t simply write my to do list for the next day each day.
However, the blank pages as the front of the notebook that I am using for contact details for my team, as well as important references that I need to refer to on a regular basis have become even more important during the pandemic and while working from home.
For each individual page, I am doing the following:
- Appointments – I continuing to use the appointments section to record meetings, calls and to block out chunks of time for deadlines. However, I have also now started scheduling back in time for business development and catch ups with people and making sure I am keeping in contact with people while we continue to work remotely. I am continuing to time blocking my appointments and making use of colour-coding/categories (much like I do in my outlook calendar) so that I can see what is going on visually.
- To-Do List – For the to-do list there is already a grid and a number of checkboxes laid out. They are not quite the right size for me so I’ve had to adjust slightly. Generally speaking I write out the key to-do items in line with the checkboxes, but may also break down the items further using the lines in between. This is not as neat as I would like it to be and sometimes I run out of space on a particularly busy day. However, I am continuing to make it work. One thing that I have started doing during the pandemic is planning ahead when it comes to the to do list (not just the next day). I write starting from the bottom of the to do list upwards anything that I might need to do on that day when it comes round and I might add this a week or a month in advance to make sure that I remember to do it. It might be for chasing things (to make sure I remember since I am really busy at the moment) and also for improving my financial habits (as I need to be raising invoices for my work in a timely manner).
- Notes and Sketches – I have not really been using this section for anything other than extra to-do list space. If I am not making much progress on my to-do list and I am feeling overwhelmed I might use it to re-write my “Before I Finish” to-do list of items I need to do before I log off for the evening. It can also be useful if I need to take a moment to re-write absolutely everything on my to-do list to be able to take stock and this has been needed on occassion as a sort of reset.
- Priorities Box – There is also a small “Priorities” box in the bottom left-hand corner. I would have preferred if this had been at the top as it is easily missed /forgotten about. However, I continue to use this box for my Frog.
Product Details:
- 250 gsm G.F. Smith card cover
- music sheet paper
- 320 pages
- daily planner layout (52 weeks)
- A5 size
- Lay-flat binding.
- Matching Bookmark included.
- made in the UK
The Completist | £35