Write one project name per row, then use its single status circle to show the current state. Define your symbols before marking. Review waiting projects for a next action; do not read the circle as a percentage or a count of tasks.
Why projects disappear inside task lists
A project can remain open even after several tasks are checked off. Ordering photos is one action; finishing a photo album is the larger job. When both appear on the same list without distinction, it becomes hard to tell whether the project is active, waiting or finished.
A status overview answers “Where does this project stand?” It does not answer every question about dates, owners or dependencies. You can try the method on any paper by writing three project names and a single status beside each.
Choose this page if several small personal or work projects need a compact overview. A shared team with multiple owners and dependencies may need a more detailed system alongside it. Keeping fewer active project rows can also be useful; you do not have to fill every available line.
One project line and one current-status circle
The approved layout provides an open name area, a short divider and one 5 mm status circle per row. A7 has eight rows per side; M5 has seven. PROJECT and Status identify the two jobs without assigning a fixed workflow.
| Field | What to record | What stays elsewhere |
| PROJECT | A short project name | The full scope or brief |
| Status circle | One symbol for its current state | Task counts or percentage estimates |
| Separate note or task page | The next action and any detail | Not a hidden extra field on this insert |
Use a simple legend such as A = active, W = waiting and D = done. This legend is your choice, not printed product text. Keep it on a facing note or divider so the marks remain interpretable when you return later.
Set up a project overview in five steps
- Name the projects. “Photo album,” “Kitchen shelf” and “Travel plan” are enough to recognize the work. Avoid confidential client names in a planner you carry publicly.
- Define three states. Write the A/W/D key separately. Make “done” mean that the intended project result is complete, rather than that one task was checked off.
- Mark the current state. Use the single circle for one state at a time. Pencil can make updates easier; any removable sticker behavior requires a paper test.
- Capture the next action elsewhere. Under the photo album, the next task might be “Select 20 photos.” Put that action on your task page, with a date only if it needs one.
- Review the overview. For each waiting project, ask what you are waiting for and whether a follow-up is due. Update a state after the situation changes.
A filled-in example
Illustrative example: Photo album is A, kitchen shelf is W and travel plan is D. The kitchen shelf is waiting for a measurement; W is not a half-completed circle. The travel plan is marked done because the defined planning work is finished, even though the trip itself is in the future.
During review, add “Measure shelf opening” to the next-action list. Once that measurement is available, change the shelf status to active. The overview becomes useful because it prompts an action, rather than because every row looks complete.
Three practical project groups
Creative work: “Portfolio update — A.” Keep the actual selection and editing tasks in a separate list.
Home jobs: “Hallway hooks — W.” Record the missing information on a note page, then set a follow-up if needed.
Study: “Course presentation — A.” The status says that the project is underway; it does not report how much of the presentation is finished.
If one project dominates the planner, give it its own detail page. If you need equal-unit accumulation, use a goal record instead. A single status circle cannot perform both jobs without a confusing key.
Method scope and design notes
Project overviews and detailed schedules serve different purposes. Cloth & Paper's project-insert tutorial demonstrates broader project planning with chart layouts. This JOYJOY method deliberately stays at the current-status level. It makes no claim that a status mark improves project completion rates.
The approved October 3 design preserves an open project-name area and a single circle with short, separated dividers. No predetermined status labels are printed, leaving the recording rule to the user. The former Status Tracker name became Project Tracker; it is the same design family, not a second product. A7's eight rows and M5's seven keep the same overview function in different page sizes. These are documented digital design facts, not physical testing or an invented founder account.
Avoid stale states during your review
- Marking done after one small action: compare the result with the project's original definition.
- Adding several statuses to one circle: retain one current state and keep history separately if required.
- Forgetting what W means: keep your legend visible.
- Carrying finished projects indefinitely: archive or remove the page when its reference value has passed.
Review when you plan the next week, or whenever a dependency changes. The useful output is a short list of follow-ups, decisions or next actions. An overview without a review can quickly become an old snapshot.
Choose A7 or M5 for this page
Choose the size that matches your existing binder: A7 / Pocket is 80 × 120 mm with six holes; M5 / Mini 5 is 67 × 105 mm with five holes. Front and reverse keep the same page function with mirrored binding margins. A7 gives you a larger surface for handwriting. M5 makes the page smaller; it does not make every field larger or fit an A7 binder.
Compare the finished dimensions and complete hole pattern with a refill that already fits. Current listing specifications use 19 mm consecutive hole spacing; a matching number of holes alone is not proof of compatibility across brands.
Current listing prices checked October 6, 2026: A7 / Pocket $6.99 USD; M5 / Mini 5 $5.99 USD. The pack contains 15 double-sided sheets on 120 gsm paper. Binder, pens, stickers and other accessories are separate. Each side provides another page of this layout.
Allow 3–5 business days for processing where stated on the listing; processing is separate from transit. Digital product previews and public availability do not establish physical print, writing or binder-fit QA, or on-hand inventory. Check the current product page before ordering.
FAQ
Is this a progress bar?
No. Each row has one circle for a current status; it does not measure percentage completion.
Where should the status key go?
Keep a small legend on a facing note page or divider. There is no preprinted status legend on this insert.
What if a project has many actions?
Keep actions on a separate task or project-detail page and use this row as the overview.
Related guides and sources
Read what to keep in a pocket planner to place this page in a useful compact setup. Read planner size guide for size and system selection.
Layout basis: the approved JOYJOY Project Tracker digital master documented in this guide's image manifest; product information checked October 6, 2026. All filled examples are illustrative, not customer evidence or a product test.
Want a visual marker beside each task? Explore JOYJOY functional dot stickers and practical ways to use them, including the separate In progress, On hold, and Done Status sheet.