In my planner, the monthly area is guarded carefully so that tasks almost never end up there. As a result, it gives a great overview of my actual schedule.
.png "Anatomy of a Monthly Planner Page")
Monthly Spread Tips (clockwise from upper left corner)
*There isn't a lot of room, so write times as simply as possible.
*Sometimes, a task is particularly time-consuming and worth scheduling. Those entries should be rare, but grocery shopping is definitely one of those in my planner.
*When there is a month-long plan (like my blog plan), track it on the monthly page.
*Use a question mark for uncertain events. Otherwise, you won't consider those when scheduling something else.
*Mark out undated squares completely.
*Key due dates that affect the schedule go on monthlies. For example, my time sheets are due every two weeks. Since they dictate the days that I work or don't work, TS goes on my monthlies.
*Use a bar to cover several dates with travel or one event.
*Include locations of events, where necessary.
*The monthlies are the best place to track workouts or billable hours that count toward a monthly goal.
*Circle repeating events so you know to recopy them once the event passes.
I'd love to hear how you use your monthly spreads, especially if you do things differently than I do!
Etcetera.
I definitely need to have you come and organize my life! Great read!
ReplyDeleteNo matter how many times the weeklies or dailies change, my monthly format is the one static component. My monthlies are sacred ground. Recurring and special events, due dates, and travel dates (in code -those boxes are small) go on there. Overnight stays are noted with a line drawn to the departure date. Details go onto either the weekly or supplemental daily page.
ReplyDeleteOnly my handwriting is "real". Anyone else's, is just a suggestion, because only my handwriting is real. Actually, that applies to any part of my planner. "Suggestions" go on sticky notes.
My monthly is so boring compared to yours!! I keep birthdays there, as well as the date I need to give my pup his heartworm pill. Everything else is places I have to be at a certain time - which was handy for December, not so much for January or February so far!
ReplyDeleteLots of helpful tips here. Thanks for putting it together so well.
ReplyDeleteI keep schedules for my family on my monthly. There is definitely no room for workouts, shopping or other chores on the monthly. I color code to save space. Rather than write Billy/Dentist, I write dentist in Billy's color, and it saves a lot of space. I use a dot/symbol system to remember recurring events(I have a multi point frixion pen -- no stickers.) Cancelled items get erased and don't take up space. I can look at the colored circles or squares and know exactly what happened without clogging up my monthly with recurring events.
ReplyDeleteI don't put much on my monthly pages. Just birthdays or anniversaries, and "comings and goings." (We live at a mission hospital, and there is lots of travel going on all the time.) That way I can quickly see the names of those coming & going b/c there aren't other things to distract me. Then during the month, I write down the ladies who work on each day- cook & laundry. Their schedule varies sometimes, so it's too hard to remember. On the side, I'll write potential travel dates ahead of time, and salary advances I give my ladies so I know what to pay them at the end of the month. Everything else goes on my weekly pages- meetings, tasks, schedules and other notes.
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