I'm Not So Good At Obedience

I have strict rules about what I put in my planner:

1. If it must be done by me and has a certain time attached to it, it goes on the monthly pages.

Example: My cousin's wedding is Friday at 7 p.m.

2. If it must be done or really should be done, but no time is attached, it goes in my week-on-two-days pages.

Example: I have to wash whites today to account for tomorrow's work shirt for my husband and the kids' karate lessons.  Normally, laundry would not go on the weekly list, but if something specific needs to be washed or we are running low on clothes, it gets moved there.

3. If it must be done this month, but not on a certain week, it goes on my monthly task list.

Example: My bar association dues are due at the end of the month.

4. Otherwise, things are captured elsewhere.

*Daily Capture Page - The "in-box" front page of my planner, used to jot everything before I have time to process it.  Right now, it has blog ideas, a list of grocery items that I ran low on this morning, and some notes from a discussion of an event that I am planning.

*Master Task List - A list of anything I want to do that is not on a deadline, like editing my novel.

*Projects List (and accompanying notes for each project) - Multistep projects.  The date the first remaining task is due is noted in my calendar.

*Routine List - A list of anything I want to do that is not on a deadline but must be done regularly, like doing the dishes.  I mostly just do these things, but if I get stuck, this note reminds me what must be done.

*Files - Anything else that is too active or portable for my home files goes here.  I keep things like my master packing list or list of meds here.

This system works because I know that anything on my monthly, weekly, and monthly task pages NEEDS to be done, deleted, or delegated.  

Well, it works when I am not a stupid head who writes "backup novel" six days in a row without doing it.  Because, then, my netbook dies and I lose hours of work on my second  novel.  Let's all bow our heads for a moment and mourn.

Do as I say, not as I do.  Backup your work, do what Mr. Filofax tells you to, and remember that obedience to your planner is a virtue.

Etcetera.