Hey! Look what I got! Crazy, right? Thanks to all of the amazing comments on this post, I came to (at least) two conclusions: (1) iPhones are great, and (2) I should just go ahead and buy that planner.
I feel a little weird about the iPhone, honestly. I was very late in even owning a regular cell phone, and phones in general make me uneasy. I find it hard to have verbal conversations with people when I can’t see their faces or get a read of their body language. I also really don’t want to fall into a “gadget cycle”—you know, where you start feeling like the thing you own is obsolete and you’re behind the times so you’d better throw your thing in the landfill and buy a newer, better thing. You know I love me some Apple goods, but our friend Stevie J (yeah, he lets me call him that) is really good at releasing NEWER! BETTER! FASTER! products at just the right pace that you never really feel like you’re caught up. I already feel like that about my desktop computers, my laptop, and my MP3 player. Do I really need to feel like that about my phone, too?
Apparently, the answer is now a resounding yes. I love my new white iPhone! I still kinda feel like a 3-year-old trying to handle chubby crayons, but it’s great. (And yes, of course I joined Instagram. You can find me under an unexpected username…doorsixteen.) I’m particularly excited about having constant access to maps, since I have the sense of direction of a dizzy earthworm (head for the light!).
And the planner! I’m doing this! Yes! Okay, so I just got it on Friday, but the first thing I did was write down my plans for the night—dinner and an Echo & the Bunnymen concert* (yes, they were awesome) with Jenna. And then I did both things, so it must be working already! Plans! In a planner! With dates!
No, seriously. I’m excited about this. Tonight before I go to bed I’m going to make some loose notes for things I need to do this week and appointments I have to remember. Then I’m going to put the planner in my bag (with a pen!), and remember to look at it tomorrow. And the next day. Because that’s how it works, right?
*EDIT: Want to know how the Bunnymen concert was? Jenna wrote a funny synopsis that says it better than I could!
76 Comments
I was a late comer to the iphone revolution also, but now I’m totally in love with it’s oh-so-handy cleverness! Love me a good Apple 🙂
However, being the biggest fan of white ever, I am now suffering ever so slightly from iphone envy as mine is black… Luckily, I got a white cover for it, so there are no desperate computer screen licking times ahead!
Hi Anna! This is greatness. You will do very well with these tools. Now it’s diligence! I’d like to make one suggestion that helped me.. I got a about 3-4 different colored pens/markers to help me visually see what was for what, for example, purple was for school-related, blue was work-related. But save the BIG FAT RED MARKER for the most important, “you would die if this doesn’t get done” items!! Then you won’t miss them! Hope this helps! And yes, write EVERYTHING down, and remember to save a space in the back for your spur of the moment, inspirational ideas. : )
I’m a big fan of highlighters. Gotta get me a color-coded set. 🙂
write in there – TUESDAY: meet victoria. 🙂
I already did!!! 🙂
Ooooooo! Getting an iPhone is so exciting. I went straight from a super old/dumb/big cell phone that I left at home 75% of the time to an iPhone at the beginning of last year. It’s totally become my 2nd (and generally smarter) brain. 🙂
Enjoy!
P.S. Did you make yourself wallpaper? Or did you somehow find perfect wallpaper in 2 days?
The very first thing I did was select the perfect wallpaper, of course! It’s Nama Rococo paper wallpaper (Chateau 66) cropped to size. 🙂
That’s SO SMART. Why didn’t I think of that?! Clearly the iPhone is the smarter one. 🙂
You’re clearly a genius!! Mine currently has a photo out a Paris window, which just makes me wanderlust when I do to do something on my phone. Clean and graphic seems like a better plan…
Love them both! The calendar app on the iPhone is really good too, it keeps me more organized than anything has in a long time, I no longer double book appointments or miss things! How was the Echo & the Bunnymen concert?
The Bunnymen concert was great! I’ve seen them a few times before, but this was definitely the best. They did Crocodiles and Heaven Up Here all the way through, and then a double encore of assorted hits.
Wow, I hadn’t seen a white iPhone 4 yet. Gorgeous.
I’m late to your organize me party, but since you got the iPhone, I am really really in love with Wunderlist, which is a free to-do app you might like – it has cloud syncing so I have my desktop, iphone and ipad all connected. I’m a writer downer, but I always lose the papers… this lets me make lists, date them, and have that big number reminder of what’s left to do.
For the calendar, I paid for mobile me, which also cloud syncs and pops up reminders every time I have to be somewhere. It took a while to get in the habit, but I check my calendar every Monday to see what’s on for the week, and I’ve been a lot better at staying on track. I also don’t make any appointments unless I have the calendar open in front of me.
Is it weird that I buy cute notebooks and planners and great pens, and then I can’t write in them because I don’t want to spoil them? 🙂
I do that too, Laurie! The first pen mark is always the hardest. 🙂
I know how you feel about the gadget cycle, but luckily (heh) being locked into cellphone contracts could help us slow that down a bit. As far as all the Apple products goes, why not consider selling your mp3 player, assuming you don’t carry a vast amount of songs? My iPod actually crapped out right before I bought my iPhone (7 years—pretty decent), and my phone’s been a really great surrogate. That might help assuage the gadget-guilt (sorry, I know you didn’t ask for advice! Just thought I’d share).
I really do carry a vast amount of songs, though! I briefly considered doing what you suggested, but it would make me crazy trying to pare down 80 gigs of music onto a 16 gig phone. 😉
Dang! That is a ton of music. Playlist post? ;]
Haha! That would be a long post. 😀
You are in thee future, Anna. It’s exciting.
Though I have to admit when you showed up with directions on a scrap of paper I was like !! Adorable,
Also, I wrote that on my iPad. The future does not like my fumble fingers.
Haha, yes, and often there’s a little map drawn on there as well (or “turn left, three blocks, go right, walk east…”). I thought I was REALLY progressing when I started printing out Google maps and writing my notes on the back!
I can’t imagine life without my planner and iphone. I carry both with me wherever I go. They are my security blanket. In fact, I would like a physical planner with a recessed slot for my iphone.
By the way, my strategy for not getting caught up in the next big thing is to just avoid playing with other people’s newer phones. Mine is 3 years old and I plan on staying oblivious to what I’m missing out on until the iphone5 comes out.
“a physical planner with a recessed slot for my iphone”
YES. I want this, too. Hard Graft used to have something that was almost right, but not anymore. I’m thinking I might have to nudge Matt (W&F) to design something, because I’m sure he could do it just right…
App sharing is so much fun!
HatchiCal2Lite calendar is great because 1: it sinks up with the iPhone calendar and when you open it is easily read like a handwritten planner… you can easily see whats scheduled throughout the month… the iPhone planner not so much…
Diary Mobile is great for keeping track of birthdays, weddings, special events.
Fliq Notes seems great but I haven’t used it yet, waiting to break it in when I start my new job on the 30th. Basically you can keep track of notes by date, by category and/or by name.
Finally, bloglovin keeps great track if all my favorite blogs. Just one click and I see whose written a new post. Many more apps but thought you might enjoy these.
Still no Iphone or HTC here! Nokia 3310 vintage collecters item to be ;P
Best of luck with you iphone. Lovin’ it in white!
And thank you Anna & Laurie, i thought i was the
only one who buys beautiful planners, but looks
at them lovingly instead of actually using them.:-)
Enjoy organising!!!
I bought my iPhone when they first came out and have yet to upgrade to a newer, faster, quicker, shinier, better model…and it’s still 100x cooler than my last cell phone and it still amazes me. That’s another great thing about an Apple product, it might be old but even old it is still pretty awesome.
Very true, Donald. I had my 2nd generation iMac (you know, the cute plastic bubble kind that came in different colors?) for almost TEN YEARS. Granted, it was really not cutting it by the end because of all the Adobe apps I need to run, but it was still pretty good considering its age.
And of course I upgraded to another iMac when it was time. 🙂
It IS tricky when you want to use new clever technology, but not be sucked in by the crazy gadget frenzy.
I am by nature against “new things” (I’ve done fine without them before, so I don’t need them now thank you very much!)
Yesterday was the first time ever (!) I sent a photo by mobile. And that was only because my operator automatically installed that service when I used the camera on the mobile. I wouldn’t have bothered, even though it is something I would actually use, so I’m cutting off my nose to spite my face by being so anti-tech.
It’s silly, because once I get used to a new gadget, I’m amazed at how good it is.
As it is now I use my partner’s old phones, just “until I get a better one”. But by the time they crap out, he has already upgraded again, so I just end up going with the nest cast off instead.
But think it might soon be time I bought one with Internet and GPS. Next year, for sure…
I don’t have an iPhone, but I do have an iPod touch. After spending a good 18 months looking for a to-do application, I discovered 2Do, and it is *amazing!* Recurring tasks (for chores), deferring things you didn’t get to today, high priority + stars—I love it!
Do you mean Tina’s app, TeuxDeux?
I have a really hard time keeping lists/dates digital (and I still use a Rolodex for addresses!!) but we’ll see…
I used TeuxDeux for a while, but found I needed more features (especially recurring tasks). But you’re totally right–if you say them out loud they sound the same!
Oh! I didn’t realize it was a different app, I’ll have to take a look!
There’s also ToDoist, which syncs with an iPhone app called “Doings” (available in the app store). I use both constantly.
Teehee, “dizzy earthworm”! That made my Monday morning.
Congrats on joining the world of smartphones! I am totally envious of your previous lack of a cell phone though. I miss not having one, and if I didn’t need my blackberry for work, I’d really consider going wireless-less. I’m with you though; I can put appointments on my phone calendar, but until I write down a list on paper, I feel like I’m going to miss something.
Despite my iPhone, and various note taking apps, I still use legal paper and post it notes about 50% of the time, but the thing that really helps me is taking a picture of my handwritten grocery or to-do lists, if it’s something important that could get lost.
Written from my iPhone, good luck with your personal organization plan!
hooray!! i absolutely love my iphone. glad to hear you’ve already picked up instagram. as far as maps go, obviously google maps is awesome, but NYCmate is a nice subway & bus map app.
enjoy!
Ahhh!!! Good for you! I love my phone and you will not regret the purchase! We used the GPS app this weekend and it helped to remove so much driving stress.
Enjoy the freedom it brings, it will be a whole new world!!!
P.S. I got the white on too. 🙂
Aww, you can’t fall into the gadget cycle when you have such a pretty iPhone. It’s white, glossy, sexy, cute, pretty. I want one!
Once I got an iphone, I never used my planner again! Now I write everything in my ical and sync it to my computer. The GPS is the greatest thing ever!!! I am never lost.
The two things I love the most about my smart phone (I have a Droid – not an iPhone) is easy access to all things google especially the maps. I am extremely direction-challenged so it’s really great!
I have had my iPhone for about a year and a half. I don’t use it for the SmartPhone it is though. DANG!!!
I also use a planner. The old fashioned one as my husband would say.
So, recently I have been trying to use them together. I have been adding everything to my calendar. Maybe I can eliminate the planner, don’t hold me to it though.
I also recently found the Grocery IQ app which lets me keep my grocery list on the phone. So, no matter what I always have the grocery list with me. No more running to the store everyday. Well, at least in theory.
So, maybe this girl can start using the phone for all it is intended. It is a hard habit to break though. I love being able to open my planner and look at it.
I think it’s okay to use both! Or at least I hope it is, because that’s what I plan to do. 🙂
I’ve been seriously considering that Tomorrow planner; any chance you could take some detail photos of the inside pages? I can’t see the photos on the website clearly enough to make a decision!
Sure, I’ll do that tonight. 🙂
Thought about the Iphone forever! Still resisting but will check back and see how you are liking it! 🙂
like this! but still i love more my blackberry baby..
I’m the same way about cell phones! I was the last of all my friends to get one and I still have a slider phone with no internet access. I have been dragging my heels when it comes to getting a smart phone, but lately I’ve been considering the iPhone. I’m glad to hear you like it! I’m sure if I get one, I’ll wonder how I ever lived without it! 🙂
Yeah, I kind of feel like that already!!
I find it fantastically interesting that you are excited for the most simple untechnological thing; the planner. And one of the most amazing pieces of technology ever…practically in the same sentence! Awesome.
Yes, I realize there is some irony here!!! I think it’s true for a lot of designers, though—that line between digital/manual gets a little fuzzy. Personally, I have a hard time thinking about time lapses or priorities without putting pen(cil) to paper.
Would your subject line happen to be from Morrissey’s “Speedway”?
Actually no, it’s from “Hairdresser On Fire”! The previous post on this subject (Can you squeeze me into an empty page of your diary?) was titled with a line from the same song. 🙂
“Speedway” is one of my favorite Moz songs, though!
I have a daggy old phone but really just wanted an iPhone fir the camera apps. I then discovered the iTouch is like an iPhone without the phone bit so that’s what I got. I just love it!
Goodlyck with remembering to write in your agenda. I like to see things written by hand too 🙂
Just spotted this handy must-have pen nerd tool to add to the fun of getting organized. http://www.etsy.com/listing/65324428/journal-bandolier-spring-inches
Cute!
Super GOOD LUCK with this! You’ve totally motivated me to start writing things down again, and I know I will be good for the first couple of days…writing EVERYTHING down (including things that i’ve already done, so i can cross them off) but keep your fingers crossed for me that I can go longer than a week, and i’ll do the same for you!
Thanks, AT!! I’m trying, I promise! 🙂
Anna,
I was also late to the cell phone bandwagon. We had TMobile’s pay-as-you-go monsters for a looong time. But when we were renovating and living in two houses, neither of which had landlines, we relied heavily on cells. About a year and a half ago, we upgraded to IPhones and now I really love it. Very useful. I think it’s one of those creative technologies that you figure out what you can do with it (and that you can’t do without it) once you have it. In other words, the need comes AFTER the acquisition.
And, how much do I love that you went to a Bunnymen concert? I haven’t seen them since high school (oops, did I just reveal my real age) in Denver. One of my favorite bands of all time.
Tamisha, you defined exactly what I’m like with technology. Need comes after aquisition!
But jeez, I’m really getting tempted to get with the times now.
And Anna, do share what you think about your new phone.
I’m off to google “Android” and “Smart phone”…
I feel you — I keep thinking I’m going to get an iphone, but then I wonder what the hell I would do with it. I’m a total technophobe, but just typing that makes me feel so OLD.
You may have inspired me to go for it… the phone, anyway. I know I will just keep writing my “plans” on folded up pieces of paper. Jeez.
I’m a day planner lover. I usually have two, plus my phone’s calendar, computer’s calendar, and now that I have a tablet, there’s planning on that device as well.
My iPhone changed my life. Mostly because of the visually organized voicemail though. I used to hate checking my mail and my mother could never ever get me to listen to her VMs, since they were lost in a stack of 15-20. Now I can delete all of the voicemails I don’t want to listen to and actually communicate with my mama.
YES! iPhone’s ARE great… I cannot live without mine 🙂
I want both!
It’s lovely to see you so positive Anna! Your IPhone looks cool with that wallpaper too!
Oh, me too like your IPhone’s wallpaper. I’m totally in love with mine, IPhone. Have a planner in my bag though, and a pen 😉
I’ve been wanting an iphone for oh so very long. I am like you. It took me a while to jump on the cell phone bandwagon. I kind of like having a junky phone that I don’t care about. I also like having such a small phone bill. But I am an Apple lover and I’d like to have a smart phone… Someday.
Oh, I left my iphone on the roof of my car a few weeks ago. I’ve switched to a blackberry torch (in all white, i love the all white) but have to say i do miss my iphone.
i hope you got your book back last night! complete with our ‘menu’. 🙂
I did! I think I need to photograph the menu. There’s something very funny about it. 🙂
Not that you want to cover that white beauty up… but here are some great covers:
http://www.grovemade.com/
you can design your own! (this is what I have – but my iphone is black and needed a little prettifying)
Also these cool cutomizable ones:
http://www.getuncommon.com/
Thanks dee, I definitely do need to buy a case—I’m just having a hard time choosing exactly the right one. I’ve had my eye on the Marco Cibola one! 🙂
lol You amuse me. I’m planning to get my iPhone after this month 😀 I hope I won’t get uneasy
i don’t know why, but that photo just makes me happy. maybe it’s something to do with technology versus traditional pencil/paper deal. and i totally want the white iphone 4, but alas, my iphone 3g is still kicking so i might as well use it until it dies. and besides, like you say, the next best thing is just waiting to hit the shelves.
I went to Philadelphia to catch the Echo and the Bunnymen concert. so, so good. I might have had a tiny spastic episode of pure joy when they played ‘With a Hip’, but I knew I was old when I complained about some dude spilling beer down the back of my shirt and into my shoes. I guess the 20 year old version of me wouldn’t have complained.
“A sense of direction of a dizzy earthworm” … I want to live inside your head for 5 minutes.