01 · SYMBOLS INSTEAD OF READING
The legend: colours and symbols that show at a glance what's coming up
At the back of her planner, Rosi has created a list of symbols – a new one every year, because life changes. A yellow dot means physiotherapy, a green one the home care service. When she opens the week, she doesn't read, she looks for symbols. It's quicker, and it works even with poor eyesight.
“If I had to read everything, I wouldn't know where to start. I don't read – I look for symbols.”Minute 11:15
Rosi's legend (extract)
- ●Physiotherapy
- ●Home care service
- ✿Home care service does housework
- ★Lift or toilet out of order – change route
- ●Meeting up with a friend
- ✦Fixed appointment – confirmed
- ■Paperwork, applications, appeals
02 · GROUPING
One day out, several errands
Rosi can only leave the house with help from the home care service – she's usually ready shortly before twelve. So a day is either an out day or an in day. If the orthopaedist is in the planner on Thursday, meeting Birgit goes on the same day. Whatever is already in there attracts the next thing.
“I have to go out then anyway – so I can put the appointment on that day. That's how I always think.”Minute 17:40
03 · SPEAKING IN CALENDAR WEEKS
Negotiating with authorities and her guardian in CW
Her legal guardian looks after 30 people and is hard to reach. Rosi texts him: “CW 46 or CW 47, then or then.” He picks one. At weekview, the calendar week sits at the top left of every two-page spread – it has become her language for negotiating.
“How else would you do it? That way you know straight away which dates it runs from and to.”Minute 37:30
04 · CARRYING DEADLINES FORWARD
What counts over years goes on the goals and quarter pages
A prescription must not be more than three weeks old. Foot care every eight weeks. The contract for the bath lift runs for five years – if you want to cancel, you need to know the date. The broadcasting fee exemption is valid until 30.04.2028. Rosi enters deadlines like these on the goals and quarter pages and carries them forward year after year.
“I have to carry that forward, otherwise I'll forget it again. Then something is bound to go wrong.”Minute 43:36
05 · THE PLANNER AS MEMORY
Keep old planners – and find things in ten seconds
When was the last foot care appointment? When was the lift at Sendlinger Tor closed? Rosi leafs through old volumes and knows. Whatever is written down she is allowed to forget – which is why she notes when she spoke to whom on the phone, not just what about.
“My brain only goes as far as it's written down. Whatever is in the planner, I forget.”Minute 16:21
06 · SCHEDULING FRIENDSHIP
“We must meet up sometime” is not an appointment
Rosi's most recent lesson: put private plans firmly in the planner, otherwise they drift from week to week until the cows come home. If you say “call me”, you have to call, too. Relationships need planning like everything else.
“So that you don't keep pushing it from week to week – and suddenly a year and a half has gone by.”Minute 35:37
07 · STICKING INSTEAD OF WRITING
Text blocks on labels – when changing planners
Rosi's hands are slower when writing. As a trained office administrator, she sets up phone lists, addresses and recurring information as text blocks on her PC, prints them on address labels and sticks them into the new planner. Packing lists for travelling work the same way: think once, use every time.
“So that I don't have to keep writing it out again, I stuck it back into the new one.”Minute 54:54
