Scription

Chronodex Daily GTD in GhostWriter Notes iPad App "Paper" Format Released

For those of you who want to enjoy the everyday creativity Chronodex brings, but already moved on to digital note taking or scheduling, I've made Chronodex available for you in digital format.

GhostWriter Notes iPad app is one of the best digital notebooks you can find on a tablet.  Since the creation of Chronodex, many of you want to apply the idea in your own preferred paper and notebook size and format, some of you adapted it into stickers, printed on tracing paper.  Now you can have the same fun on your iPad, just download the Chronodex Daily GTD for GhostWriter Notes JPG, save it in your photo library, choose the image from your GhostWriter Notes "paper" setting, that's it. (Update: seems like the same JPG file works very well on another iPad app called Noteshelf too)

GhostWriter Notes is like a scrapbooking page with dozens of nice features you can play with your Chronodex core.  I love the choice of ink pen which gives you very fine lines to color your pies.  You can simply use the Chronodex core as your mindmapping center on GhostWriter as well.  If you look into the details of the format, I'm sure you will find your very own creative use of the core.

Chronodex Integrated with GTD, A5 Pages on A4 Paper

Thanks for all your enthusiastic comments about Chronodex, it will take me a little more time to respond to your comments.  As of today, there are 28,000 downloads of Chronodex!  Thanks a lot.  Honestly thanks to all of your prayers, almost like a miracle, my Dad smiled like a kid a few days ago, never seen him like that in the past few years.  I'm sure his regression brought his mind back to the old days before his illness, evidented by his choice of language (he now speaks Mandarin rather than Cantonese, he never spoke to us in Mandarin before, although it is the same written language).  He muttered "beautiful kid (漂亮的孩子)" to my son with a nice smile.  Thank God!  I think he is not suffering anymore although physically he is incapable of doing anything, it is a beauty to see him regresses to a younger age in his mind.

I realized many of you don't have Traveler's Notebook and may not like the format of a dated diary, so here you go an undated version of Chronodex fully integrated with GTD in mind.  It is to be used in A5 sized pages, the PDF file is to be printed on A4 paper giving you two A5 pages, the JPG file is just an A5 sized page.

The reason why I included a JPG file is that somebody would like to use the Chronodex core as a template on their tablet.  If you are a GhostWriter Notes iPad app user, I've created a specific paper sized correct to the app at 916 x 768 pixels, you can download and save the Chronodex Daily GTD for GhostWriter Notes JPG in your photo library, open up GhostWriter, press the Paper button, choose "Custom paper from photo album".  Enjoy!

Feel free to explore how to use it, I totally love this format and hope you like it too.  Remember to visit the Chronodex Facebook page.

How do you use Chronodex? Please Share

This is the week when you can start using Chronodex Weekly Planner for 2012!

Approximately 2500 people downloaded Chronodex!  Many customized it to their own system, and I'm glad it actually helped people the way I intended it to be.  Do exploit the fact that it encourages your radial thinking with the free space all around the circles.  If you don't know how to use it, please read the instruction I included in every page of the PDF files.  Once you get use to the radial thinking mode, it is like you are into another dimension being able to see things more clearly and that's an advantage over a lot of others.

I'm planning to share my own method of notation on Chronodex soon, but since this is a rather free system, you may have your very own methods and I'd love to hear about them.  So please post photos to the Chronodex flickr group, Chronodex Facebook page, comment here, or share your blog post about it.  I'm gonna gather your methods of notation and share to everybody.

Kate from Studio-Sweepings decided to print off the Chronodex circle on stickers and use them only when needed, a free diary idea very well executed on her Moleskine hack.  It becomes a way to track time spent on different projects.  Lovely colors Kate!

Boris has been using the undated version for a month and moving forward to the dated version in his Russia time zone. 

How do you use Chronodex? Can't wait to hear from you all!

 

Chronodex Mods by Folks at Fountain Pen Network

Here's an update of the Chronodex Weekly Planner for 2012.

I'm very happy to find like minded people who love the Chronodex idea.  Although it was first designed for the Midori Traveler's Notebook format, folks at Fountain Pen Network really took it to the next level.

Coronado took the time to modify it into a more popular portrait format and in half letter size for his Levenger Circa.  He also changed the grid background into dots so it is less intrusive.  You can download Coronado's version of the Chronodex here.

Coronado also made a Levenger Circa version of the bookmark I portrayed. Like minded.

jsButterfly, who has just started a new blog called Paper Spaces, made Chronodex her 2012 diary too, also following Coronado's bookmark hack.

If you are into radial thinking for heightened creativity, or simply want to have a little change of your scheduling method, please do try Chronodex and share with us fans here on Scription or the Chronodex Flickr group.

Lastly, Boris from Russia, how do you find using Chronodex?  I'm yet to receive any comments from people from Hong Kong and Japan.  どのようにスケジューリングのChronodex方法が好きですか？

100 Xmas Gift Ideas Catalog - Hong Kong

Since this amazingly good looking catalog is out of print, I'd like to share with you the PDF file here so that you can select your gift before you visit our shops (city'super, LOG-ON).  There will be just too many people shopping and you will have a hard time finding the right gifts in such a crowd, so enjoy the comfort reading this at home and pick yours - 100 Xmas Gift Ideas 2011

A to Z, Action to Zen

Desktop down, tube clock failed, Dad in hospital, Mom suffers from fatigue, couldn't update blog the way I used to, but it gives me a great space to contemplate.

To me, a rewarding life is never about balance and compliance (you achieve nothing), neither being an extremist too (you isolate yourself and achieve nothing too) IMHO, it is about switching modes at your own pace, examine and find a path worth living for, one path.

When you do radial thinking too much, you see big pictures but you are too much into a Zen mode you feel no motivation to act (think of top management guys).  When you do too much GTD/taks/goal/achievement and stuffs like that, you miss the point (think of those working hard day in and day out at the bottom).  What's out there that's worth living for?  One thing, just one thing, you stick to that and the rest don't mean shit.  What's that one thing you may ask. "That's what you have to figure it out".

Ok enough of the City Slicker thing.  What I'm saying is that, make sure you have time to think free, make sure you can be determined to act free.

Vintage Shop, Delayed Postage, Paper Plane

I don't know about you but I simply don't have the luxury to sleep much, life is too short I think I'm using up my time fast in this life.  Dad is getting better in hospital despite tons of worries in the past few weeks, my team at work is somehow mad at me for reasons I can't quite comprehend, Xmas biggest season for our retail chain is kind of stressful, etc etc.  But all these don't stop me at all to discover more.

I had a few hours of free time the last weekend and dropped by this very nice vintage shop called nLostnFound.  The owner Shirley opened the shop 2 years ago and has been traveling to collect interesting vintage stuffs for her shop.  We had a short conversation but I will definitely going back to interview her soon.  If you happen to drop by Hong Kong, do visit her shop and bring her anything owl related, it is her passion to collect owl vintage stuffs.  Do explore that area coz it is a new hip area full of gallery, select shops, and cafe/bar.  Some of the great shops there are Kapok, Monocle.

I got this cool corkscrew in the form of a huge key from nLostnFound.  Shirley was honest and kind enough to tell me that it is not really a genuine "1960's Germany vintage corkscrew", which I figured ahead from the replica features :)

Back two weeks earlier traveling in Shanghai, I found some nice stuffs.  Some of which was these washable kraft paper made pockets and document holders, durable and tough as your jean label/tag.

I also got a nice pair of scissors (I'm somehow collecting interesting scissors) at RMB 45.  It was labelled "Paris Church" but eventually I figured it doesn't resemble any of the Paris churches I found.  Moreover, the so called "stainless steel with titanium coating" is totally unacceptable.  Titanium or not it doesn't matter, the coating just came off pretty fast and every time I use the scissors my hand stinks.  Poor China products, sigh.

Here's something I'm proud of.  It was not about winning the Best Pilot Award AND the Best Design Paper Airplane Award for my kid.  It was a paper plane (I love paper you know) flying competition in his school and I was determined to make him proud of something.  So I Googled for supreme paper plane designs and found nothing interesting except one guide, The Paper Pilot, which costed US$8.95.  No regret for such purchase, it was a great guide and we won.  The reason I'm proud of?  My kid is proud of himself and his Dad :)

I don't know what the hack is that thing, but all of a sudden there are tiny caterpillars living on my wall, what are they?  Tell me if you know.

UNI from Japan just released new versions of their StyleFit pen barrels, absolutely lovely designs on the barrels.  I feel the sweetness already when I see them in person.  There are chocolate and ice-cream versions and I'm trying to put them in our stores soon.

Now here comes a very delayed package by post.  A dear old friend (by old I mean Scription's oldest reader Colin from Margate UK, 83 I assumed?) sent me this package months ago and it never arrived until a few days ago.  It was battered but I just love how it looks, handwritten, properly stamped and … battered.  Thanks to him, I got to read with my kid the letter he sent to him.  Lovely mail and I learned a lot more about his life adventures and Margate.  I hope I can meet him someday soon before he meet our dear Father (Sorry Colin, no offense), too bad my 2012 trip plan doesn't include UK.  Do check out Colin's new blog adventure.

Lastly, I promoted my Chronodex weekly planner for 2012 on Fountain Pen Network and seems like I've found new acquaintances.  An update of my bookmark idea, instead of having the bookmark in rectangular format in previous post, I trimmed off excessive part and it helps to reveal the content beneath.  If you wonder about the pens, they are made by Kaweco, the black on here is a new Kaweco AL Sport Touch, ball point at one end, stylus at the other.  I'm happy there are people out there perfecting their own life by sharing.

Shanghai, Toilet Messages, Peep Show and Moleskine

This business trip of 5 days is a little bit longer than usual, mainly because I haven't been to Shanghai for close to a year and I needed to update and catch up with the market, also scheduled to meet quite a few new suppliers and interesting people.

Before trip, I had a hair cut by my favorite "stylist" Jerry.  Because of the nice depth of the salon and floor pattern, I invited this handsome guy to pose for a Polaroid shot.  I was quite satisfied with that, done using a Polaroid 110A with Fujifilm.  Photo given to him on the spot.

In April this year, this world's first stand alone Moleskine store in XinTienDi was opened.  I finally visited it yesterday and …. I was not excited.

While I'm still here in Shanghai posting this, I visited 2 Hong Kong companies' Shanghai offices.  In the first one I found a strange laser-printed message in the men's room, which says "civilized man pee in civilized way".  I was puzzled, which way is it not civilized?  Sideway?

Then today I found out the meaning of that message, from the second company's toilet.  It says "one small step ahead, giant leap of civilization", and "forward, forward, further forward".  It was so funny I laughed peeing.  In both cases, the messages were posted by HongKongers meant to be read by our fellow compatriots from China.  And the floors were quite dry.

After lunch I visited a bike shop, the city'super Shanghai store and an Apple reseller shop.  On the way I passed by a famous tourist spot called Shanghai Old Street (上海老街).  I've never been to this place before and it is quite interesting, lots of small shops selling traditional Chinese handicraft, paintings, calligraphies, etc. Old structures half hidden by new ones imitating Qing and Ming Dynasties architecture.

Next time I should probably try to pay for and watch the Chinese peep show (西洋鏡, 拉大片) there.  Could be fun even if I don't fully understand what they are saying/singing/joking.

Well, last stop today was TianZi Fang (田子坊) which has changed quite a lot comparing to my last visit.  Again, it was a very brief visit and I haven't seen enough.

Scription Chronodex Weekly Planner 2012 - free download with the cost of a prayer

This article below is the jump start of the Chronodex movement.  You can read all the details here, but I strongly suggest you to take a peek at what's going on in these communities:

1. Chronodex Facebook Page
2. Chronodex Flickr Group
3. The Fountain Pen Network thread about Chronodex
4. Lifehacker's cover of Chronodex

Finally made up my mind to create my own diary for 2012 a week ago, here I go sharing with you all!  But first please give me a little support, my Dad recovered from prostate cancer but at the same time developed Parkinson's disease a few years ago.  In the past week he has deteriorated a lot, bed bound finally, no more speech, I'm the last person he can recognize.  It is so tough for Mom as a care taker.  All I ask for is your sincere prayers, as you download this creation, for my Dad and Mom, so that he can go peacefully proud of his sons, and she can start to explore this new world with us.  What a courageous woman she is.

Thanks to my Dad's dedication to Chinese painting and art, I had my implicit training early in life and became a visual person yet unafraid to look deep into the subject matters.  For years, I bought diaries but none of them satisfied my visual and creative needs.

Since the beginning of the diary making business, every single diary is made by representing time in fixed grids.  To challenge this rigid representation, after exploring in deep thoughts the essence of my own perfect diary, I present to you my Chronodex idea.

Come to think of it, the paper which makes up a diary originated from trees, when the sheets of paper are bound together in the middle, it is almost like foliages stemming from a tree's trunk.  Each page is like a branch, each opened page is a week, each day is like a beautiful flower grew from that page, consist of petals of your day's time slices.

You may argue that this format is still slicing time into blocks and far from the fractal nature, but soon as you start using it, you will find that time is no longer rigid, instead you will find fluidity through free notations.

The more important time slices can be drawn larger, activities can be dots or pies (petals if you will) depending on duration or importance, space on a page is no longer limited to grids.  Basically you can roam freely and be amazed how beautiful your week can be.

What's more is that your mind gradually deviate from the rigid format a typical diary imposes on you, creactivity soon flourishes.  Imagine the effect happening in weeks!  And I'm not kidding.

Scription Chronodex Weekly Planner 2012 (Jan - Jun) Download

(just remember to pray for my Dad and Mom, sincerely)

It is done with the Midori Traveler's Notebook size in mind, even if you don't own a Traveler's Notebook, you can still use it without the leather cover.

(UPDATE on 10th Jan 2012: Coronado made an easier version for people using ARC/Circa notebooks and have double side printing capable printers, thanks Coronado!)

(UPDATE on 9th Jan 2012: Just released 2 blank Chronodex cores on a blank A4 paper, so that you customize it to anything you want!)

(UPDATE on 8th Jan 2012: Just released a Chronodex Daily GTD in GhostWriter Notes iPad app "paper" format) 

(UPDATE on 7th Jan 2012: Just released a Chronodex version with GTD integrated.  It is A5 sized per page, printed double page on an A4 paper.  Loving it, best printed on cream paper IMHO, check out the download link below)

(UPDATE on 5th Jan 2012: Paul David Krishnan from Malaysia made a version free of dates, portrait mode, dotted grid.  Thanks for sharing)

(UPDATE on 31st Dec 2011: Thanks to Lifehacker's report of Chronodex, more people are enjoying this creation!  I'm so happy the hard work paid off touching thousands.  As of today, 14,400 people downloaded Chronodex!  I got a lot of your prayers and believe it or not, my Dad does feel a lot better despite the rapid decline.  I'm not religious but I always believe in the power of minds, collective consciousness, Gaia and perhaps in your own religious language it is God's mercy.  Mom had a body check and she seems fine despite being tired, I hope I can take the courageous her to travel in 2012.  Thank you everybody!  From the bottom of my heart)

(UPDATE on 15th Dec 2011: Coronado from Fountain Pen Network made an amazing modification of Chronodex into a portrait mode, half letter size, dotted grid, check the download link below)

(UPDATE on 28th Nov 2011: All PDF files should now be perfect for download and print)

(UPDATE on 23rd Nov 2011: Thanks to fellow Scription reader "nat" who told me that her downloaded PDF has no dates on it, I figured some of you may experience the same, simply because I carelessly didn't include/outline a font called "Eurostile" in the PDF.  I am in Shanghai for work until Friday and will be rectifying it whenever time allows.  Hopefully I will be able to replace the files in the coming Sunday.  In the mean time, no harm to try downloading it to see if it works on your computer.)

• Hong Kong Holiday version
• Japanese Holiday version
• Free of Holidays version
• Dated, free of Holidays version, modification by Coronado from Fountain Pen Network, portrait mode, dotted grid: PDF
• Dated, free of Holidays version, same modification by Coronado, particularly made for ARC/Circa notebook users, print double sided on Letter size paper, cut the pages in half and bind to your ARC/Circa notebook: PDF
• Undated version, modification by Paul David Krishnan from Malaysia, portrait mode, dotted grid, 4 Chronodex cores on A4 sized paper to be printed and folded in half: PDF
• Blank Chronodex Daily GTD, two A5 pages on one A4 paper: PDF, JPG
• Blank Chronodex Daily GTD in "GhostWriter Notes" iPad app's "paper" format, works for Noteshelf too: JPG
• Blank Chronodex core, two cores on blank A4 paper for any of your customization: PDF, JPG

To grow your own diary, after downloading the PDF version of your choice, print it out double sided (duplex) in landscape mode on A4 papers.  Be sure to print it out 100% without scale, left/right binding (try the first few pages on your printer and settings and you'll see what I mean).  Check the sequence after the print out.

Next, cut away the left and right portion of the A4 paper according to the cut line.

Now here's the interesting part of the binding.  Use a chisel to punch holes on both ends of the spine and stitch the pages up.  You can staple them together just the same.  This method will get you a bound notebook but ready for a cool bookmark which I will mention in a moment.

To create a bookmark, simple take a piece of hard paper, cut it the way I showed above. Slide it between the papers of the current week, the slide 90 degree up following the spine to have the tab exposed on top of the diary (I hope I'm describing it right).  There you go!  a bookmark with a tab extruding from the top of your diary.

This cool bookmark invention based on the way you bind your diary is so useful and flexible, you will find it amazing when you reach the 12th week of the year!  Tell me about that in a few months.

The last part of my Chronodex journey was to make a cool diary cover.  Thanks for my family's tolerance, I had a little free time in broad daylight having fun doing it, 2 cups of coffee, listening to audiobook through my iPhone/Jambox combo.

Small features are infused into the diary, I hope you will enjoy the little tibits, do explore the "Boarding pass to success" idea.  If you are interested, I will be sharing the July - December version, which is still in stage zero.  Fellow Scription reader Boris from Russia already had a taste of the Chronodex, so go ahead and try yours.  Your feedback and comment is what keeps me going, please do pray.

Boarding Pass to Success

I've been working on a weekly diary for 2012, soon to be released for free download in Midori Traveler's Notebook format.  At the back of the diary, I put this Boarding Pass To Success to help you focus your entire effort to a single mission, which is to be achieved in 6 months.  After the period you will need to score your result into "succeeded", "delayed" or "failed".