Paper System Changes, Update #2

I meant to write this post a couple of months ago, around the beginning of October. But, hey, better late than never, right?

I’ve divided this post into four major sections, so if you’re only interested in some of them, feel free to jump directly to them. Each section has a short update to my previous paper system changes post, followed by the new information.

Topics: Sizes & Uses | Paper | Layouts | Accessories

The short version of this post — the TLDR, if you will — is that things are going significantly better, but I still have a few issues to work out.

As a short aside, I’ve gotten used to bringing multiple binders when I go to work. It no longer bothers me. But, I rarely bring more than my blog binder with me elsewhere. I need to get back into the habit of bringing my Mini 5 (M5) binder with me more often.

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Sizes and Uses

Updates: The A5 blog binder is still going strong, despite the smallish rings. I didn’t turn it into my work binder. This is because I didn’t go with the A5 binder for my work binder as I’d planned. I’ll come back to this. And, I’m still having issues with the M5 binder, but I have a new idea to try.

A5

As I already mentioned, my blog binder is A5 — the Kokuyo Pastel Cookie Smart Ring Binder — and that won’t be changing any time soon. I don’t want anything bigger, and smaller would likely just be annoying since I’d need to use way more paper.

I also stole appropriated an A5 binder Jim wasn’t using and started a commonplace book. It’s a bit slow going right now since I’m so busy with blog stuff, but it will be a good project for the beginning of the year.

Personal

My work binder is a personal size. I’m currently using a secondhand ostrich leather Filofax Regency that is divine. It has THE BEST flop when it opens. It was clearly used a lot by its previous owner. The size works well for my workspace at home — much better than the B5 — and is easier to transport.

M5

I’m still working to find a use for my M5 — I stick to a few different Filofax Saffianos because they lay flat. Out-and-about notetaking didn’t work; it’s too small (for me) for that. Keeping track of new people I meet — because I’m terrible with names and faces — didn’t work well, either, because I’d forget to write things down. I briefly considered using it as a commonplace book, but I quickly decided it’s too small for that, too. My new idea is to use it as a reading log and reviews book. It may be too small for that, too, but I’ll try.

Paper

Updates: I’ve managed to find great paper for all of my binders now. A couple were surprising. But, I’ve got a complete list below of the papers I’m currently using for each binder.

I’m currently using multiple types of paper in each binder. To avoid dragging this out, I’m going to provide them in lists.

A5

I use the same papers in my blog binder and the commonplace binder.

• Muji loose-leaf paper in plain and dotted and grid ruling: This is ridiculously good paper, especially for the price. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should.
• Maruman loose leaf paper in 6mm ruling: This is good paper and has markings at the top and bottom so you can easily divide the page into sections. I wish it didn’t have such a large top margin, though; it’s a lot of wasted space. I’d also prefer 5mm ruling instead of 6mm.
• Maruman Giuris loose leaf paper in 5mm graph: This is fabulous paper. It’s thicker than regular paper, though, so I don’t usually have many sheets of it in my binder at once.
• Various scrap paper: I have some last sheets of the crap Kokuyo paper I mentioned in my binder paper chase post as well as some sheets of paper from my last Franklin-Christoph firma flex notebook that I cut apart.

Personal

• Miscellaneous Filofax papers: Because I purchased three different personal binders from Filofax, i have quite a few different types of their paper. I mostly use these for throwaway notes.
• Raymay bamboo paper, dot grid: I bought this paper for giggles, but it’s turned out to be rather nice. It’s pretty good with EF-M nibs. I don’t really use broader nibs than that, so I can’t speak to those.
• Raymay blank paper: This is what I print my layouts on. It’s Tomoe River paper, so it will be interesting to see if the two new packs I bought have the same problems as people are reporting with the Hobonichi this year.
• Raymay recycled blank paper: When I bought this, I thought it was the same as the regular blank paper. But, it’s not. This is only good for non-fountain pens. So, for me, it’s scrap paper.

M5

I have a WIDE range of paper in and for my M5; everything from Yamamoto to Filofax. This is mainly because I went a bit crazy buying paper int he early days of owning the M5 and haven’t come close to going through it all. My most-used paper, though, is from Raymay — which is Tomoe River.

Layouts

Updates: I’ve settled into the right layouts for each binder now — except the M5. And, now that I’ve stopped tracking spending — I’m not using the information from this analog tracker — I think I’m at a good tracking level again.

As I’ve said before, I mostly use layouts I’ve custom made so I can make them perfect for me. And speaking of them, would anyone be interested in seeing/using them? I don’t feel right selling them because they were inspired by, or Frankensteined from, other layout makers. Anyway, I digress.

A5

The only layout I use in my blog binder is for my schedule. It’s an exact replica of the vertical year calendar at the front of Rhodia notebooks. It’s perfect because I can see 6 months at a glance, and each day is a perfect fit for the Kanmido Coco Fusen sticky notes I use to write post titles on for easy rescheduling.

I’m working on a vocabulary layout for my commonplace book. But, that’s a low-priority item right now.

Personal

Currently, my work binder has the most layouts at five:

• Raymay undated monthly A schedule refill: I use these to note major meetings. I’m sure you all know about trying to find a meeting on your calendar to know when something was discussed or when a project started. This way is easier, especially if I can’t remember the meeting name.
• Custom daily schedule: I custom made a schedule/task list/mini calendar daily layout. It’s roughly based on the Kokuyo Campus study planner weekly visualized layout in B5 that I liked so much. It’s split vertically, with an 8:00am to 5:00pm schedule by half hours on the left and a space for tasks on the right. At the bottom, I have the current month calendar for easy reference.
• Custom weekly team meeting task list: I have to screen share for these meetings, so I can’t take digital notes. I use this to mark down any tasks I get assigned during the meeting and reminders of discussion topics for my other Monday meetings.
• Custom generic meeting layout: I also have a generic layout for any other meeting where I can’t take digital notes. I transfer these notes directly to OneNote after the meeting, but they’re useful when they’re needed. I also just bought the Raymay meeting summary layout to see how I like it.
• Raymay monthly planning schedule refill: I use these for my trackers. While the ones I currently have going — reading and 24 days of dupes — aren’t actually work related, they’re in this binder because that’s what size the paper is.

As another side note, I used a custom weekly schedule for a while that was a scaled down version of the Kokuyo layout, but I found I didn’t really have enough space. It evolved into the daily layout after about two months. I also tried the “getting things done method,” but that didn’t last long. I don’t like constantly moving items around to different pages. It gets too messy.

M5

I could list every layout I’ve tried, or even every layout I currently have in my M5. However, since I’m going to change it all come January, allow me, instead, to share what I plan to have.

• Raymay note refill – monthly schedule: I’ll be using this to track the type of book I read (biography, history, literature, fan fiction, etc.) because I’m trying to diversify.
• Filofax vertical year planner: I’m going to continue using this to track the titles of books I read as I finish them.
• Custom review layout: I need to create this layout. I want to note some major plot points, score out of 5 stars, if I reviewed it on Goodreads or my blog, and maybe some “tags”. This should help when I’m looking for a specific book to re-read and can’t remember the title. It happens more than I care to admit.

Accessories

Is any binder system complete without accessories? I didn’t think I use all that many, but as I wrote out my lists of what I have in each binder, turns out I use A LOT!

A5

The only accessory in my commonplace book as of now is a basic set of tabs. Nothing particularly exciting. The list below is what I have in and on my blog binder.

• Cover: I have a homemade fabric cover that really just protects from scuffs. I cobbled it together really quickly one afternoon from scraps of fabric. But it does the job. Maybe someday I’ll get around to making a nice one.
• Side tabs: I have two sets of tabs that I label using sticky notes for easy changes.
• Sticky note dashboard: This is just a board with several types of sticky notes attached. I can’t remember whether I got it from Journal Say or Kawaii Pen Shop, but neither seems to carry it anymore.
• Guide pages: I have two of the lined front/grid back guide pages from Kokuyo and one lined guide page I custom made. They’re useful when working with blank paper.
• Zipper pockets: I have two for holding general stuffs.
• Midori Chiratto index clips: I have one set each of the silver and gold. I use them to mark various pages I regularly turn to (currently inked, blog schedule, etc.) and the different types of paper after the “paper” tab. They’re really nice as dividers when you don’t want to take up extra ring space.

Personal

• Side tabs: I have two sets in this binder, too. One set seems to be custom made — it came with one of the secondhand binders I bought — which I use to mark out sections of my binder. The other is the Raymay 6 category index in style #2 that I use to separate paper types. I label both sets of tabs with sticky notes.
• Raymay 4 category index in style #2: I used this to separate types of notes in my notes section. But I don’t really need these. This is my reminder to take them out.
• Raymay pencil board with ruler: I use this to mark my current daily page and as a task list dashboard.
• Redi-Tag divider sticky notes: I keep a running task list on these, changing them out once a month, or when I run out of space, whichever comes first. It could be any sticky note that would fit on the pencil board. I use these because I already had them. When I run out, I’ll probably use some Post-it notes I have.
• Raymay guide protectors: I use these in several places to help hide the ghosting you get with Tomoe River paper.
• Midori Chiratto tabs: For this binder, I only use one to mark the current monthly spread.

M5

• Raymay 5 category index: Only one set for this binder, but they’re also labeled with sticky notes.
• Raymay 4 category index: Also one set, used to divide the paper types.
• Plotter project manager: I use one to separate and “hide” important phone numbers.
• Raymay zipper pocket: Just for holding stuffs.
• Ashford sticky note dashboard: I removed the big, watermarked, sticky note from the bottom — kind of hard to use when most is taken up with the brand name — and added a couple of mini index sticky notes and tearable page flags.

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I might share one more update if I can get the M5 working well for me. But, if you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments. I’m happy to share what has and hasn’t worked for me.

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What kind of paper system do you use? Does your system overlap with mine at all? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading to the end, I hope you enjoyed my post. Make sure to subscribe to my blog or follow me on Instagram so you don’t miss any posts. I generally post at least once a week.