This discussion on reddit about the paper agenda (see last post) really got me thinking about my ’newish’and actual reliance on Apple’s own calendar after decades of hassle-free and even pleasant use of a Filofax/paper organizers.
What made this digital calendar different or practical to the point of imposing itself as the obvious and undisputed choice it has become for me?
- Notifications? They’re always turned off on my device. I check my digital calendar exactly like I used to check my paper one all those years ago, each morning and noon. Every single day.
- Reminders? Maybe. I did grow used to them but I’m not convinced they’re that important since I regularly check my calendar.
- Recurring events? Here again, maybe. Even though I have regular appointments (those are mostly health related) they’re not ¨that* regular that I can schedule years ahead.
- Ease of use? Come on, it’s still much easier to jot down a quick appointment in a paper agenda than to use the cramped keyboard virtual keyboard and the tiny text field on the phone. At least, it is easier for me.
Sure, paper has no search feature. But I can very quickly browse through pages and always have a vague idea of when an appointment is due. Also, since I’m not some high-profile personality it’s not like my agenda is filled to the brim either.
Sure paper has no edit/delete button. But I do like those crossed out events. Like I prefer my handwritten drafts,with all their strike-out texts to the clinically clean word processor version. It feels more… organic. - Backup. Sure? Should I lose that agenda I would lose all my appointments.
- A device less to carry? Maybe. A Flofax can be heavy and thick but the can be very slim and light too. And there are many pocket organizers that weight nothing and take nos space.
Beside this last point an dthe question of backups, I have no idea how that digital calendar imposed itself to me so easily.
So, to try to understand why, I will not use Apple’s calendar for the next four months and only use a paper organizer instead .
I would have loved to use a Filofax but, like I explained in my reddit comment, I’m not much into fashion accessories which seems to have become the main focus of the Filofax brand nowadays. Too bad for me, I suppose. Instead, I purchased this tiny pocket organizer… on Amazon, as I could not find any that would suit me in nearby stores as, here again, what was offered was mostly fashion accessories and was sold at fashion accessories prices. Not for me.
Cheap, tiny and focused on one task: being an agenda. No batteries required. No updates. No bugs… No tracking either.
Like I said, I plan on using this agenda for the next 4 months as a full replacement of Apple’s calendar. I will see how it goes and then decide if it is worth keeping using it or if I’m better switching back to Apple’s, and why.
Published: 2024/04/26