At work as in life, time is money: managing it well means being more efficient. And for that, there is nothing like a practical and functional diary. Formats, paper, grids, notes... we tell you everything about the best ally of professionals!
The diary: a military invention
It was a certain Mr. Disney who invented the first agenda. But wait a moment... not the Disney who created Bambi or The Fox and the Hound. It was Colonel Disney, a man in the British Army. He came up with the idea in 1921 when he was trying to keep his calendar, artillery calculations and addresses together. At the time, the diary was more like a small binder with a sheet for each day. Since then the diary has evolved. In 1954 Dr. Beltrami (founder of the Quo Vadis brand) created the weekly planner.
Nowadays there are many different models and it is very easy to make the right choice: you just have to ask yourself the right questions. :)
1
QUESTION 1: WHAT PERIOD SHOULD YOUR DIARY COVER?
Depending on your organisation, you can choose between three types of diary:
16-month diaries: from September to December of the following year
Calendar year diaries: January to December
School year diaries: September to September
2
QUESTION NO. 2: ARE YOU ALWAYS ON THE ROAD OR RATHER A STAY-AT-HOME PERSON?
It is a question of choosing the format that best suits your needs:
If you're regularly on the move, the pocket diary is ideal for slipping into your handbag or briefcase.
If you don't have to travel for work, the large diary (A4 size for example) will help you to organise and write everything down.
No need to worry if you don't fall into any of these categories: there are also medium-sized diaries that you can easily take with you without resorting to a crabbed handwriting style.
3
QUESTION 3: HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR PLANNING TO BE PRESENTED?
Using and organising a diary is a matter of personality! Some people write everything down precisely, others note down only the most important appointments for the day. Some people fill their agenda weeks in advance, others update their agenda three times a day.
Fortunately, there are several diaries available to meet all user profiles.
The grid of a diary is the layout of the pages for dates, times and note areas. It is the grid that allows you to organise your days and to have a simple and quick reading of your schedule. If you are the type of person who has acute meetingitis and has to deal with 15 appointments in one day, we would advise you to use an adapted grid with, for example, one line per half hour. If you tend to use your diary as a notebook, consider looking at the details of the grids before buying.
5
QUESTION 5: WHAT TYPE OF BINDING DO YOU PREFER FOR YOUR DIARY?
There are two schools of thought about this matter: spiral diaries and stapled diaries. Are you torn between the two? You should know that spiral diaries can be opened flat and are very flexible. Their little plus? The bookmark that often comes with it! Stapled (or sewn) diaries, on the other hand, are generally lighter and more robust.
While online agendas need an internet connection, battery and/or network to function, paper agendas remain a safe choice for overbooked professionals. We hope these tips will help you find the agenda that suits you best for planning, prioritising and, in short, organising effectively!
