It’s been a very long time but I finally finished the little five by eight blackbook I’ve been working on for a sketchbook. It ended up being about a 2 year engagement with the thing. I don’t know why it took me so long to fill the damn thing up, but it took the time it took and it is what it is. I wasn’t at my most productive and I haven’t been for some time. Maybe I’ll step it up with a fresh start in a new book. I’ve already selected the new book (spoilers, it’s red) and I’ve put a few stickers on it to get going. It’s the same five by eight format but fewer pages, a little bit of a smaller book. In theory I’ll be able to burn through it in less time even if I keep the same pace. However, I would love to increase the frequency, length, and duration of entries in the new book. 

I’ve also been at it creating a new / modifying a few old systems to keep myself organized and on track. There’s a few new-to-me ideas and some others I’ve upcycled into this system. I’m mostly keeping with the “todo” list format. To add to the todo list I’ve combined an idea I picked up from a recent System Sunday newsletter. This idea is the “floor” / “ceiling” concept of a successful day. Add to that the notion of different lists for different timeframes such as the Ugmonk Analog system of cards for “today” / “next” / “someday” and I’ve gotten a pretty good system down. It’s workable for me and manageable for the few weeks I’ve been using it. The best part of it for me is using materials I already have, such as gridded and basic lined index cards. I have avoided special materials except for highlighters for some flair. Gotta keep myself entertained with bright colors.

To elaborate somewhat on the “floor / ceiling” concept. The “floor” is the basic worst-day-scenario minimum I can do in a day and still feel like it’s a successful day kind of list. Absolute minimum. The “ceiling” is the maximum I can do in a day and remain sane. That means for a workday I set a bar of three tasks and for a weekend or off-work day I increase that to five manageable tasks. I use the same three to five tasks for each kind of day. Everything over and above those tasks is the ceiling, an icing-on-the-cake kind of bonus task completed. If the entire ceiling part of the list doesn’t get completed, so be it, as long as the floor is done I get the sense of satisfaction from a job well done. Anything else I get to do is a bonus. If I get everything done, great; if not, whatever. 

I’m still using the three classifications of cards from Analog: “Today”, “Next”, “Someday”. Absolutely a borrowed idea. However, each “today” ot  “day” card is broken up into floor and ceiling components. The other cards are, for now, one list only with no importance assigned. 

The best part of all of this for me is being able to use plain old store-bought materials. Gridded  basic or lined index cards, pens / pencil, and highlighters. I use the gridded cards for lists and the lined ones for getting a longer idea out. Please bear in mind I’m still working it out in my head and on paper, getting the kinks out. I will probably be doing that forever, or as long as I use this system I’ve conjured up and cobbled together. 

I had intended to write about my sketchbook, on lessons learned, on accomplishments, etc. But I have gotten way off track. I’ll pick that thread up in my next post. 

In the meantime here’s examples of my cards:

And as an extra added bonus: here’s the new sketchbook!!