My morning Filofax routine
This morning I did something that I haven't done in quite a while: a full run through of my Filofax, starting in the front and then ending with my lists in the back.
I usually only stick to the front and first tab of my Filofax, but today I felt I needed to run through it all.
It was exhilirating! I haven't done that in so long, that I forgot how it just clears my mind and opens me up to creativity.
Mind you, my Filofax isn't a planner, even though most people use it for that. I do have a weekly insert that I can slot in if I want to, but I choose not to.
My routine
When I open my Filofax, I first look at the first page behind the pretty front picture. This page contains my running to do list, it's filled with things I dumped on there during the week(s) before. It's usually low priority stuff, high priority stuff I do right away, and it doesn't even get jotted down.
But what was low priority before, can be high priority now, so I usually check the list to see if there's something on it that needs doing. I have several other to do lists in this section, for the home, for my website etc. I check them all before moving to my first tab, called journal.
This contains my daily pages. These usually consists of a to do list, some light journaling and quotes I like etc.
I check the last page I wrote on there, usually the day before but in this case it was a week before. I move things to other sections in the Filofax, my notebook (an a6 notebook that I paste things in, or write quick journal entries etc) or to my phone, and then when I'm done with the page, I tear it out and toss it away.
Then I start my list for the day, I add things from the to do lists in front, and then add things I think of for the day.
After that's done I move to the second tab: poetry.
It's so funny how healing that tab is. I scribble a poem, just a quick little thing that I have space to write for after writing my list for the day. They are usually short, but to the point, I love them!
Here's the one I wrote today.
routine
fingers find
what I need
without thought
calm within
calm without
pages hold
the key
After the poem feels finished, I go to the third tab: doodles.
Here I make a five minute doodle, usually of things around me, or of a picture I've taken. Here's today's doodle.
When I have collected a couple of pages of my doodles, I usually take them out and paste them in my notebook as well.
Then I switch to the fourth tab, my lists. It isn't a lot, just lists of my self care routines, but it's comforting to leaf through.
After that, I'm going back to my daily page. There are six things on the list now, from big things like figuring out travel next month to smaller things that I can tick off in a couple minutes.
I don't have to do them all today. If I don't, I will just write them down on the next list.
I don't know why I don't do this full routine every day. It's clear to me that it's the most centering practice. Without doing my full filofax routine today, I doubt I would have felt inspired to write this blog post.
Going through my routine this morning has shown me how essential this is for my creativity and for my mental clarity.
And isn't that just the best?