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Swirls No. 2 Daily Planner – Q3/Q4 Check-In

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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

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