Back in May I purchased a nifty item to help me get more organized and reduce the number of notebooks I have floating around. It was an executive/junior size erasable/scannable notebook from Rocketbook. You can read my initial write-up in My Latest Toy.

Since then, I’ve been through a couple of folios, bought two more Rocketbooks, found x-fine point Pilot Frixion pens, moved to a larger spiral coil, and finally, moved to a disc-bound system. Am I done? Probably not, but here are some pics as I moved forward to find what worked best for me.

Moving through the stages

First purchase – my red executive/junior size Rocketbook with dot-gridded pages. I was brand new and had no idea there was any choice other than size and cover color. I was quickly sold on it, joined the Rocketbook Facebook Users Group and discovered there was a lined version of what I got as well as several others. Oh my! Then I needed a folio for it. I tried several, returned them until I settled on this nice leather one, best of all I tried since it easily folded back on itself, a feature that was a must-have, and was sturdy enough to write on while in my lap.

I don’t remember why, but I even tried a Filofax refillable notebook. Nice notebook but not going to work. So it sits in a pile of unused notebooks to be given away at some point.

My next Rocketbook purchase was a teal colored, ruled notebook in the same size. I’d been reading in the group about taking out the coil and putting two books together. Hmmm, was I brave enough? I dithered, I dathered, I lollygagged, and I even watched videos (something I rarely do for instructional things).

I knew I wanted one notebook so I opted to move to a bigger coil and bought a pretty Erin Condren notebook. I bravely uncoiled all three, put my pages together the way I wanted and recoiled with the larger coil. I mixed in the paper pages at the back and I added my monthly planner to the front using adhesive Erin Condren compatible spiral snaps from a seller on Etsy. I got both the removable and permanent, easier to test with. In this pic, you can see the original Rocketbook coil on the left and the new notebook on the right before I merged things.


I added a great elastic holder for pens and really liked this system and used it for several months. But change is inevitable, right? I found I wanted to move pages around and there was no way I was going to uncoil-recoil every time. So it was back to reading in the Rocketbook Facebook Users Group and watching videos.

The hot topic seemed to be disc-bound systems. ARC by Staples, Happy Planner, Levenger Circa and TUL. From what I could tell, most were interchangeable systems and since I wasn’t interested in the planner aspect, just the binding system, I was off to search for the most economical choice.

This is what I have ended up with and am really happy with. I initially tried the 1″ expansion discs but opted to move up to 1.5″. The notebook came with 3/4″ and I’ve used those to make a small, separate notebook for current work.

I initially tried the 1″ expansion discs but opted to move up to 1.5″. The notebook came with 3/4″ and I’ve used those to make a small, separate notebook for current work. I also bought a slightly used punch (different brand) on eBay, used it three times and it hung up. I tried to get it to release and destroyed it in the process. Into the trash. I am extremely pleased with the Staples Arc punch!

Yes, I had to trim the Rocketbook pages since they were spiral bound but I cut as little off as possible so they would still scan if needed (the black border is part of what the Rocketbook app needs). You can see the scalloped edge and where the new holes were punched. Worked great and I did a scan to test. The white to the left is a blank piece of paper, not part of the Rocketbook page.

I punched my Rocketbook covers and use them inside as dividers as well as ordered some disc-bound dividers. Here are some of the accessories I am using – some from the beginning, some added on as I discovered I needed them.

I managed to completely mangle one of my original Rocketbook covers so when I decided to create a second smaller notebook, I ordered an Eagle Disc-bound Notebook, Junior Size, Poly Cover, 60 Sheets Ruled/Lined Pages and used it with some of the Rocketbook pages. It was a great, inexpensive option. This one holds my notes and notes for the current book I’m working on.

For basic Pilot Frixion pens, I have several kinds in different points. I love the x-fine but the fine works, too. While the basic pens are inexpensive and refillable, I wanted something a little heavier and thicker. I ended up with two of these, one in red and one in blue and I filled them with the appropriate colored refills. PILOT FriXion Ball LX Erasable, Refillable & Retractable Gel Ink Pen, Fine Point – RED, BLUE. I love the heft and feel plus they look really nice.

I also talked myself into a Rocketbook Mini for those quick notes (and to carry in my purse). It’s a blast and I love it.  I asked myself why didn’t I get it sooner? I used a rubber band around the back cover to hold the mini-cloth and hook my pen over it. The pen nestles into the side perfectly!


 

*As an Amazon Associate I may earn payment for qualifying purchases, maybe even enough for a cup of coffee! ☕
Thank you.

4 thoughts on “Update on my New Toy – Rocketbook”

  1. Boy, this sounds like a lot of work! But I should talk….I receive, as retired clergy, an 18 month planner made for active ministers, and I like it, but it feels too big fore retirement and too small for lists and the like….

    I got a Chromebook this year. Since retirement, I read 200+ books a year and try to review each one truthfully. However, their Redium program doesn’t allow for highlighting. I went to one of the may lined notebooks I have gotten over the years and began to make notes on each book, until I found pocketbook.de which allows for my way of reviewing in an e format. Then, this summer I separately took on a #summerchallenge book contest and had to keep track of my #, so out came the notebook, and I also began to keep track of Covid19 cases in the US in conjunction with a pinterest board I set up.

    So, the planner sits, the computer calendar keeps my telemed appt, and I’ve made use of an underutilized blank notebook.

    Whatever works…right?

    1. Isn’t it amazing how we end up needing to track so many things AFTER retirement? LOL! I have found I need written reminders as well as computer ones as I age. The mind seems to need multiple stimuli to function adequately. I am glad to have finally gotten to the, hopefully, end point in my Rocketbook saga. I really do enjoy the erasable ability, quick wet/wipe and the page is clear (or a section/line/word). I’m now using it for personal as well as professional.

      Thanks for dropping by and taking time to leave a note!

  2. I felt I needed a nap many times in reading. I got wore out thinking all the work done in each stage! Wow. When I retired I said I would no longer need binders, notebooks, or journals as I wouldn’t be doing very much outside the home. I miss my binders, notebooks, and journals! I end up writing on little pads lists for grocery shopping, appointments, and other things I need to remember – that was exactly what I was doing before only the content has changed!

    1. The first time I needed paper for tracking, it was in Ecuador. I needed one of those pocket-sized date books since internet access was always iffy. Now I find I need both digital and paper for my brain to best process things. Aging, I guess. But the grocery list is always digital. Hubby and I use AnyList app on our iPhones/iPads. It’s great for that as well as shared To Do lists.

      Oh, and this transition was done over many months. LOL!

Comments are closed.