Although my trusty iPhone is always within easy reach, without a doubt I’m equally devoted to my old, reliable Filofax. Though many have sounded the death knell of paper planners, nothing really engenders the same emotional reaction as a loose-leaf planner filled with a calendar, note pages and To-Do lists.
My particular organizer has seen service on and off for the better part of a dozen years. I’ve tried other planners, but often their style and format were too limited for my needs. So back I turned to my elegant and trusty black Filofax personal size planner. It is a buttery soft lambskin that wears its age well. Soft and pliable and with just enough scuffing around the spine and edges, this handmade Filofax cover seems to hold memories, thoughts and events all by itself.
Personal accessories are an important part of any man’s life. The things we carry and consider special tell others what we value and consider truly special. Paper planners are tactile and personal in a way that electronic organizers – no matter how advanced – can never be. You can jot and note, doodle and make a list; turn a page or stash a newly acquired business card.
They are also reliable and portable. My computer may crash, but not my Filofax. And when that leather starts to look thoughtfully abused by time, I will be glad for the personality it imparts. Not so with my iPhone.
To me, like a flat leather folio, a worn-in Filofax is an elegant and incredibly personal item. It imparts a sense of intellectual anachronism, of curiosity and an appreciation for classics. The Filofax fits in nicely when going to meetings, can substitute for a notebook and is the perfect place for those loose scraps of paper currently cluttering up your bag.
These remarkably resilient tools have been around since 1921 and hold a certain cache due to the many elegantly constructed covers from which one can choose. An endless supply of refill pages, forms and calendar formats – sort of like paper apps – allows one to customize a Filofax to his exact needs.
My electronic tools have a prominent – vital, really – place in my life, but I am constantly drawn back to this arguably old-fashioned method of organization. But, for me at least, that is the attraction. A beautiful pen and leather-bound agenda, notebook and planner make life’s daily tasks seem a little more special. And that is one thing everyone can use.
You can also use a Filofax in areas where electronic devices are not permitted….
My Filofax is also my wallet these days.. combined both functions..
Steve
I couldn’t agree more! You can find lots more people who feel the same way over at Philofaxy: http://www.philofaxy.com For the Love of Filofax!
Thanks very much guys, Philofaxy will be on the OTC list soon! I’ve been a quiet fan for years.
Definitely agree with you. While I’ve never used a filofax, there’s something with writing down tasks in a physical format that you’ve used for years and will continue to use for years that can never be replaced by digital, no matter how hard they try.
I think I’ve carried a filofax for more than 20 years, back when it was nearly impossible to find fillers in the US. Since I was in london every few months anyway, I’d pick them up there.
My Palm is always with me…in my filofax! I wish The design team would re-introduce a Filofax to hold a pda. For me it is invaluable.
I also use a A5 Filofax as a work journal – recording and reflecting on work completed and planning projects for the future. Filofax…simply the best!
Now, on to the next topic; Pens. One of those little details that is fun to fuss with. Does one have a (please excuse the pun) signature pen that is almost a trademark? A pen that fits the occasion?
Marc – I have not forgotten you. Working on a pen post that should be ready soon. Another favorite topic!
The things we carry and consider special tell others what we value and consider truly special.
My favorite is the 1988, 1.125 inch ring Filofax. The true classic.
I been using filofax for the last 20 years and over the years had tried pdas, but nothing holds like a filofax organizer. From sketches, through planning goals, and executing projects. Filofax won the crown, the last time I had a pda with very important personal information it felt down a three floor condo balcony, you can imagine, the same thing happened to my filofax organizer and I still have it. I adore it. Filofax is a great investment, because we are worth it.
I don’t like trusting my personal information to the ether-world. It’s too static and vulnerable to snooping and lacks the charm of a well-worn planner. My filofax is going on it’s 5th year? maybe and I’m surprised that the zipper still works quite well and hasn’t pulled away on any spots which is surpising considering the workout I regularly give it. It’s my wallet, my bank acct register, my address book, my receipt keeper, my notepad. I like to douse the leather with a massage of mink oil from time to time and it’s become more of a pet than a planner. I know it’s silly to have attachments to material things, but I am attached to my planner and my little pen.
What do you do with your old refills though? I’d like to keep them but Colfax don’t seem to offer any products?