Plus, using a paper planner keeps you from bouncing around from app to app; you can have a to-do list, long-term planner, and an appointment calendar all in one place.
Browse the planner section to see what speaks to you and your lifestyle!
The bonus of using an app is you can set reminders to ding you throughout the day.
However, make sure that you don’t write things just on your desk planner that you need on your smaller planner.
It’s also a good idea to pick one that has room for long-term goals and notes, too.
The more you plan out your time, the more efficient you’ll be.
Try to schedule your most demanding tasks during parts of the day where you naturally feel more productive. [5] X Expert Source Adina Zinn, MPACertified Career & Life Coach Expert Interview. 30 March 2022.
For instance, you could schedule time for having a quiet evening at home with a bath and a good book. Add time each evening for winding down before bed so that you get an adequate amount of sleep. It’s important to be realistic about what you can accomplish in a day. [8] X Expert Source Adina Zinn, MPACertified Career & Life Coach Expert Interview. 30 March 2022.
For instance, you could keep a running tally of what you spend each day so you stay under budget. You could also write in reminders to save money or to budget for your vacation coming up.
Plus, reviewing your planner helps keep your mind from racing while you’re trying to go to sleep. You already know and have a record of what you’re going to do tomorrow, so you don’t need to think about it as much.
For instance, you may forget that you had planned to go to the grocery store after work; glancing at your planner will remind you.
If your week doesn’t start on Monday, pick the day before it starts for you.
For instance, maybe you’d like to learn how to paint. Write that down in the monthly section. Then, add time to your weekly schedule to research classes and register for one you can take. If you forget to take time to look at the bigger picture, add it to your planner once a month!
For instance, maybe you want to clean the whole house before your relatives show up for a certain holiday. For 1 week, make your goal decluttering the house, and set a different room to do each day. For the next week, aim to put clean sheets on the guest bed and air out the room. Breaking the project into smaller tasks makes it easier for your brain to complete each small step.
For example, instead of writing, “Greg 12:00 p. m. " or “Church 6 p. m. ,” write “Have lunch with Greg at La Luna, 12:00 p. m. " or “Attend church meeting on finance at 6 p. m. "
For instance, you might use “Appt. " for “appointment” or “MT” for “meeting. " Just be consistent, and make a key for your shorthand so you don’t forget.
For instance, you might write things like “Take a walk around the lake,” “Have a weeknight picnic with the family,” “Read a new book,” or “See a movie. "
For instance, maybe your focus word for the month could be “joy. " Look for quotes and pictures online or try cutting them out of magazines.
