{"id":12869,"date":"2024-04-19T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=12869"},"modified":"2024-12-04T08:08:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T13:08:51","slug":"paper-system-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/paper-system-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Paper System Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last year<\/a>, I wrote about how I was changing how I manage my pen rotation and my notebook\/paper system. While the former is going very well, the latter, well, it’s a work in progress. It’s been about five and a half months since I switched to binders from my previous notebook system. And, unfortunately, it’s been rather rocky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The short version is that I still don’t have a definitive system figured out. The long version is significantly more complicated. I don’t want to bore anyone, but I do want to share the issues I’ve faced so that anyone trying this switch can plan ahead. I’m tackling this by issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Multiple Items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s start with the biggest issue. I’ve had a surprising difficult time getting adjusted to having multiple binders instead of one catch-all notebook. To start, there is more to gather if I want to bring them with me \u2014 like on days I have to go to the office. For a while, until I figured out the division of content, I had to remember what topic was in which book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, on the positive side, I can keep separate topics separate. I don’t have to worry about someone seeing work notes that they maybe shouldn’t, because that binder only leaves the house when I go to the office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The next issue is size. The B5 size I chose for my work binder is too big. It doesn’t fit comfortably on my desk at work, and it really<\/em> doesn’t fit in my workspace at home. I picked it because the Kokuyo Campus Study Planner loose leaf paper in “Weekly Visualized” format is only available in B5. Once I run out in mid-May, I’m switching back to my tried-and-true A5 size. I recreated the layout for A5, and it should work even better for me since I customized it (I’ll come back to that).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mini 5 I bought has proven to be too small for my planned use, but it’s so cute that I’m keeping it and trying to figure out how to best utilize it. Any suggestions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I really should have done some additional research before<\/em> buying binders to figure out what size(s) I would want. I suggest checking out Planning With K<\/a>‘s video Things to consider if you are New to Ring Planners<\/a> before you make the switch if you’re thinking of doing so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least I’m happy with the size of my blog binder \u2014 A5. It’s serving me well, but the rings are a bit small for the various paper types (more on that in just a moment) and dividers. I’ll probably end up turning my current blog binder into my work binder and buying a new blog binder with larger rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paper<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I should have seen this one coming. People regularly talk about paper issues. But, I got spoiled by having a full notebook of good paper when using the Rhodia Goalbook<\/a>. Unfortunately, that paper is only<\/em> available in notebook form, and it’s rather pricey \u2014 at $32 \u2014 to purchase just to tear apart and cut down into sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I’d used some Kokuyo paper that was rather nice, so I bought some in various ruling types when I first made the switch. And, I promptly learned that all Kokuyo Campus loose leaf paper is not<\/strong> created equal. I’ll have a paper review in the next week or two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, discovering the crappy “fountain pen friendly” paper was a definite downer. I’m sure some of it will find its way to the DC Pen Show freebie table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Layouts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I said I’d come back to layouts. The last “issue” hardly deserves the name. If I call all of the previous items “first world problems,” then this is a “privileged person problem.” It’s really more of a minor annoyance than anything else. And, ironically, it’s also a benefit of using binders: the layouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have so many options for page layouts now since I can print them out on loose leaf paper instead of having to draw them out in a notebook. This gives me more freedom with line weight, font size and style, and complexity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My weekly prep is shorter, because I’m using something already printed. But, the initial development of the layout \u2014 I’d rather make them myself than buy them because then I can customize them to what I need \u2014 can be significant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are so many options that I practically find myself in decision paralysis. And I fell into the old trap of trying to do\/track too much that I thought I’d long ago escaped. I’m slowly moving past it, getting back to a reasonable \u2014 for me \u2014 and sustainable level of tracking, but it’s slow going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrap Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m still trying to figure out the best use for each binder size and type I have. I’m not even positive that the sizes I have are what I’ll stick with. I’m testing the Filofax Personal size, but it’s not proving to be useful, and I’m wondering if I should get a Pocket size to replace the Mini 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I look forward to seeing how things go once I switch to the A5 for work. I’m optimistic that that change will make a big difference, and hopefully tip the scales on this endeavor from “maybe a mistake” to “good decision.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wish me luck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Do you use notebooks\/notepads or binders? Have you made the switch from one to the other? How did it go? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for reading to the end, I hope you enjoyed my post. Make sure to subscribe to my blog<\/a> or follow me on Instagram<\/a> so you don\u2019t miss any posts. I generally post at least once a week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I changed from a notebook system to a binder system last year, and it’s time for an update on how it’s going.<\/p>\n

Keep ReadingPaper System Changes<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[414],"tags":[315],"class_list":["post-12869","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-paper","tag-how-i-do-things","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/paperSystem-featured.jpg?fit=288%2C288&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Z77k-3lz","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15122,"url":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/paper-systems\/","url_meta":{"origin":12869,"position":0},"title":"Paper Systems and their Uses","author":"Rachel","date":"May 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"I've had several conversations about paper systems recently, so I decided to write a post about them. 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