Does anyone else prefer a paper diary?

[Rainallnight]

Let me start my saying I’m not the most organised.

I’ve been using a diary on my phone for yonks. It’s ok, electronic reminders are helpful, but things still get missed.

I found a load of old paper appointment diaries recently and realised I really love seeing a week spread over one or two pages, and it gives me a much better sense of the passage of time.

Curious if anyone else is like this? Feeling like a right Luddite.

Well, I have a diary section (week on one page, notes page opposite) which I use for to do lists, keep track of orders, put in dates of planting/flowering etc.

Then I have a section for each part of my garden (it’s quite big!) where I plan, keep notes of what I’ve done, notes of what is planted where, ideas for plants to try next year and so on.

Spare plant labels, business cards of suppliers get tucked into the pockets.

I have a Moleskine hardcover diary every year, and I try to choose different colours, though invariably I've had some repeats as the colour range isn't huge. I always used to go for the pocket size, but this year branched out to the larger A5 (in yellow), and I'm really enjoying having a nice big page for each day.

I like the elastic band around Moleskines; useful for tucking bits of paper into. I always write in pencil so that it's easy to make changes.

I'm delighted to read that so many others also enjoy the annual December ritual of filling in The New Diary. It always gives me a feeling of enormous wellbeing.

I also have a paper calendar on the wall of my study at home.

DP is always trying to persuade me to use my Outlook calendar, but I will not budge.

I use a paper calendar which is hanging in my kitchen

My ex SIL (miss you matey ) and used to do "pencil plans" - she also was a paper diary gal - for an event that was likely to change a million times. Helped a little with avoiding too much mess as we could at least rub out

Let's all gather later in the year for new diary reccs

I agree with this, physically writing and seeing it's place n context to other stuff definitely helps my memory too

This is excellent Diary Discipline

Paper diary.
Have never used an on-line organiser, work tried to introduce it many years ago but most didn't engage and it faded away.
I don't always have my phone with me (really!) but I do my diary.

Yes, generally week to view. I just find it helpful and tend to keep a better track of my week or upcoming dates than any other method. I can't say anyone's ever commented at all though, let alone made fun of me for it.

I'm not overly interested in anything complex or expensive- it isn't a journal or a hobby for me so usually just something cheap with the layout I like (WTV with decent writing space and a notes or to-do bit for lists of notable things I need to tick off for the month that aren't date specific). I don't generally bother taking it out of the house unless I know I'll be booking important appointments in. I just note down dates and put them in later.

Yes! The scrolling calendar on iphone drives me mad. It's so easy to scroll and put the wrong date/time in. Awful.

This thread is such a lovely read!

I'm currently a mix... trying to find a way to be a bit better organised, and using a mix of organiser app on phone and family calendar hanging on fridge to try not to miss anything. But my whole heart loves any beautiful stationery and most especially a diary...

I used to have a Mairi Hedderwick desk diary every year when I worked in an office, with the most beautiful pictures, and found it so lovely filling everything in, though I do need to be more disciplined with it...

Starting a new job in a couple of weeks so might make this the excuse to invest in a diary or Filofax...

I use an A4 week to view diary. I keep my old ones. So useful.

I use an A5 academic diary, this yrs just arrived & plan to sit down & pencil stuff in this weekend. My work& personal dates combined

I'm the same. Every December I treat myself to one of WH Smith's leather bound diaries, which have plenty of room for notes and at the start of each month a summary page so I can note where I'm going and who I'm seeing and what I'm planning. Plus I use it as a bit of a therapy journal, as well. And like a pp upthread, I prefer to print stuff out as well.

Yes, always, and a wall calendar. Love the annual ritual of starting a new one. This year it's an A5 bright orange day per page.

I'm sitting here smiling at having found my fellow paper diary tribe 😁. I'm actually a filofax gal, had one in the 90s then abandoned it but a few years I went back to having one. I like that I can have sections for things that I carry over from year to year and sections for stuff for me and for DS, one for food... Everything is organised which cuts down a lot on my stress levels!

Yup I use a Dodo pad, it's fab!

We have a desk diary. Everything goes on the desk diary. If is not in the desk diary it won't happen

I love my Filofax. I have a personal size and it's just right to pop in my bag. My last one lasted about 10 years and I recently replaced it with a new shiny one. I would pay a reward to get it back if I lost it!

Amazed by all the Filofax love. Brilliant.

New diary on the way!