Update: Giving Up My Paper Planner
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I posted last week about my realization that I must give up my trusty paper planner once and for all and go digital with my business calendar if I am going to stay on top of things from here on out.
I wasn’t joking about it being a rattling moment for me. There are some old ways that die hard and keeping a schedule with a mechanical pencil and a thick planner is something I had grown to love.
I believe that I equated the carrying of a beautiful leather planner with looking ’so business like’ and it was intoxicating to physically cross things off my list as I complete the little daily to do lists I created.
Ok… enough - if I think about it too much I’ll be emo again 
I want to let you know how things are going for me in my new digital ways:
GREAT!
I am truly loving having my calendar 100% digital and virtual.
There have been a few bumps along the way as far as changing my habits. As I mentioned in a comment on the other post, the ‘knee jerk’ reach for my old planner reminds me of how I would reach for that phantom pack of smokes in my purse after I quit.
I’m using Google Calendar. I can view by the day, week or month and I particularly like the agenda view.
My son hooked me up with Google Sync on my Blackberry Curve so everything I enter online updates on my phone so I’m never more than a hand’s reach from my schedule.
Thanks for your encouragement on this.
How about you? Have you gone digital?
Kelly McCausey worked hard for others for many years and never made ends meet.
Now this single mom enjoys the freedom that comes from working hard for herself as an internet marketer, podcaster
and WAHM business coach. Host of 
When I was a student, my sister had a paper planner that she wasn’t using so she gave it to me. I started to use it, but realized that I didn’t feel like planning in too much detail. I would write down due dates for things and appointments but I’d check class schedule and student group calendars for most of the things that was scheduled, instead of writing it down in my own planner. I thought it was such a waste of the planner, so I started writing down what I did each day. My planner became my journal. Later I got tired of writing with a pen and the space limitation, and that’s actually how I started blogging.
There were a few months that I’ve used a calendar on my computer desktop, and then switched to Google calendar for a little bit too, but in general, I just don’t use calendars that much.
At work, we have a spreadsheet that lists what needs to be done, so I don’t bother to mark that on my own calendar. For outings with friends, it’s either coming up soon enough that keeping it in my head is sufficient, or if it’s farther away I’d probably get eVite reminders. Again, I didn’t feel a need to use a planner or google calendar.
Of course, that’s not to say that I don’t need a calendar; it’s just that my calendar exists in a more abstract way.
I do like to write to-do lists on paper though. Crossing things out is definitely more exciting than just deleting a line on a computer.
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Kelly,
I could never quite figure out why my paper planner was not working for me either. For me it was not that I was not writing it down. It was that I was not remembering to look at the darn thing. So I got rid of it last year and started using Google Calendar and Zoho as well.
Still playing around to see which is best for me.
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I am so scared to go virtual. Maybe I need t find out more about the google sync for the blackberry.
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I don’t think I’m ready to make the jump to a digital planner yet, love my paper.
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I use Google and a huge calendar that hangs on my office wall (the entire family uses this as well),but my trusty stand-by’s are Post-it Notes and tablets
I’m a sucker for lists and planners. I’m addicted to crossing things off so much that I’ll write down really mundane and unimportant tasks just so I can have the satisfaction of striking my pen through them.
I tried the Google Calendar last year but I think it’s time to try it again. I’m in the process of getting more organized and doing some spring cleaning on my computer and my desk, so that should help.
Hopefully I have the same luck as you Kelly!
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Kelly, girl you are funny!
“Ok… enough - if I think about it too much I’ll be emo again.”
Yes, digital is the way to go. If I write anything down on paper that is super important forget it because it will end up getting lost.
Ohhh glad to know Google Calendar works with the Blackberry! You know I’ve been talking about getting one for a while now and am doing some searching to make sure it’s the right decision!
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I was never very good with a paper planner!! I haven’t invested in a GOOD digital pda yet.. but i want too
i guess the paper will have to stay for now lol
with 3 HBB i better figure something out lol
Well…you’ve got me thinking now that you made the move. Paper was starting to take over my life so I’ve started cutting back on what I print or keep in print form. Next step is to digitize my calendar. You’re giving me encouragement. I’ll have to check out Google Calendar.
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I have been digital for a while now, using it in the corporate world, at a title company, was a must! I got used to using MS Outlook, and loved it! Now that I am (soon-to-be) working from home I have started using Outlook Express, which sync’s with Google Calendar and also my Smartphone! Love it all!
I tried using paper planners back in the day, but could never get in the habit of it and thought it was more time consuming than helpful. Now, I just enter appointments, etc. in Outlook Express or Google, and they all sync.
My hubby and I even had separate calendars that we shared with each other, but we’ve condensed everything into one, so I have his work schedule, the kids stuff, church stuff, all on one calendar so I am sure not to double book! And I can work around everything, keeping God first, family next!
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Kelly,
Glad to see you found a more efficient means of keeping your schedule in line with the Google Calendar. Organization, as you surely know, is key in succeeding in a home-based business. It can prove to be difficult setting your own rules, regulations and deadlines, but that’s the kind of self-discipline needed in a home business owner. For example, I’ve taken the web route with my business using Microsoft’s new Office Live Small Business. Have you heard of it? It’s a great tool for any entrepreneur, mompreneur, WAHM, whatever you want to call it, and I know from personal experience that it can benefit your business in more ways than one. It comes with an organized e-mail system that checks the status of sent e-mails, consolidates your invoices, and sends you weekly traffic reports to your website. Speaking of which, regardless of your web design knowledge, you can make a nifty website with OLSB’s easy-to-use page layout designer. I don’t know the first thing about HTML and I designed a fabulous page for myself!
You can read more about it at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com
One of the best parts, in my opinion, is that you get a free “.com” domain name! This adds a touch of class and professionalism to your page that will impress consumers and keep them coming back. I wouldn’t preach about OLSB if I didn’t believe in its valuable benefits. Give it a try for yourself, and if you or any readers have any questions, I work with Microsoft and would be more than happy them for you! My personal e-mail address is k-rosenberg@live.com. Kelly, keep up the great work, and good luck!
Regards,
Kimberly
I desperately need to go digital! My paper planner worked for awhile but now that I have more projects it’s just not cutting it.
Good to know about the agenda view on Google. Time to fool with that some more!
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