Web Worker Daily

We’ve discussed the attraction of using paper planners in the past. Even though web workers have access to all sorts of cool to-do list and other planning applications on the web, there are times when getting everything down on paper is the best way to keep track of your day, especially when you’re mobile. Plus (might as well admit it) some of us still have a soft spot in our hearts for the classic Day-Timer and the like.

If you’re in the mood to try paper, one site well worth a visit is D*I*Y Planner. Started by Douglas Johnston and continued by a passionate community of paper-lovers, this is a great source for downloadable templates (in a variety of formats including PDF), all under a Creative Commons license that lets you use them as much as you want.

The D*I*Y Planner site contains a good variety of templates in various sizes, from “hipster PDA” on up to full-sheet. The v3.0 Core Package, for example, has 87 different templates you can print, from personal information to calendars to project brainstorming to trip diary to shopping list and beyond. And if the Core Package doesn’t satisfy you, there are dozens of other templates contributed by users of the site.

Couple these templates with some decent cardstock, a good paper cutter, and a binder (or a binder clip), and you’ve got your own perfect, customizable paper planner. The only drawback is that the site is currently quite slow to serve pages. Fortunately, once you get the downloads you want, this is a one-time cost.