Planning for 2018

I've been thinking a lot about what's working (and not working) for me right now, as well as looking into planners (yay!) for 2018.

I wish there were some sort of mathematical to determine the correct number of projects/commitments.  This semester I was definitely over-committed; I know this because there were certain projects (of the sort that fall somewhere between teaching and service) that consistently fell to the bottom of my pile.  And nothing really happened with them this term as a result.  In one particular case, it's not that I didn't want to do it; it's that it was always the least pressing.  I need to take on fewer of these sorts of things (clearly).

I also realized that I assigned way too much weekly writing assignments in both my classes.  Pedagogically, it's quite sound.  Practically, I just couldn't manage.  I'll definitely refine my thinking next semester (and beyond).

For reasons having largely to do with the lingering effects of giving up my admin job, I have a partial overload for next semester.  I'm okay with this once and I'll certainly talk it up in my annual review materials.  But I'll also need to strategize quite a bit about how to do it in a respectable way without getting completely bogged down.

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This of course brings me to the planner section of the post.  I've been researching planners--in a weird form of procrastination.

I have been using a Moleskine weekly for quite a few years.  For 2017, I moved to an extra large
(9x7) version, which visually worked out better for me.  I like it mostly.  The biggest problem with it is the paper is too thin and it bleeds through with most pens.  I'm committed to a weekly format, and one that has a fair amount of notetaking space and, not surprisingly, I like good quality paper.

Here's some of what I've surveyed:

• Golden Coil (sorry I don't have it in me to hyperlink at the moment, but way too expensive)
• Blue Sky/Day designer (maybe)
• Various planners with coloring pages (oddly, mostly ugly)
• Passion Planner (I love the idea of the various writing prompts and planning tools but the page design is hideous; I realize I can take some of the ideas and import them to handwritten systems)
• Leuchtturm1917 Weekly (seriously thinking about it; it looks like most of what I like about the Moleskine with better paper quality)
• Ink + Volt (this is my front runner right now; it's gorgeous, has a weekly layout with weekly and monthly planning pages and space for notes; what's keeping me from ordering it is the cost [$40+] combined with the fact that it's basically non-refundable unless damaged)
• Mochi Things Ardium (another one I'm seriously thinking about)

I'm sure I've looked at others....   Anyway, please feel free to chime in!