Franklin Planner’s Dirty Little Secrets

Summary

Carl Pullein explains how he uses a Franklin Planner alongside digital tools to plan his work, capture ideas, and avoid distractions. Keeping the day’s key information on paper can reduce screen switching and help maintain focus.

Strategies and techniques

• Plan tomorrow in five minutes: Before finishing work, review the next day’s calendar and task list. Write down the three to five most important tasks, entering meetings first so the planner reflects the latest schedule.
• Keep daily information within reach: Use the planner’s Daily Notes page to jot down ideas, reminders, and completed work as they come up. This avoids interrupting focused work to find the right app or window.
• Transfer selectively to digital tools: During later planning, move only the information that needs to be kept or tracked digitally. Pullein transfers about 20% of what he writes down; short-lived notes can stay on the dated planner page.
• Record date-specific details: Write reminders tied to a particular day—such as someone’s absence or a public holiday—where they’ll be visible when that day arrives. Use red ink for especially important details.
• Use a weekly compass: Write key roles or priorities for the week on a card, along with current project topics and ideas for the following week. This helps keep attention on what matters now.
• Review monthly tasks: Use a monthly master list, divided into personal and professional items, for important tasks to complete by month’s end.
• Plan the year ahead: Keep an annual planning sheet in the planner. Reflect on what you want to change in yourself, your lifestyle, or your work, and how you want to challenge yourself.
• Use paper as part of a hybrid system: A Franklin Planner isn’t necessary; an A5 notebook can work similarly. Put tasks and meetings on one side and leave the facing page for notes, while continuing to use digital tools for information that needs long-term tracking.
• Reduce task switching: Keeping the day’s tasks, meetings, and notes together can prevent repeated screen checks and the temptation to open email or messaging apps. Pullein says frequent switching can be tiring and disrupt focus.
• Make the system personal: Paper allows changes in handwriting, layout, and ink color, which Pullein finds keeps the planner engaging.

Presenter and sources mentioned

• Presenter: Carl Pullein
• Sources and tools: Franklin Planner; Getting Things Done by David Allen; The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; Todoist; an interview with Christian Horner.