How to Get Everything Done

Sometimes it feels like whatever I do and however hard I try, I get nothing done.

The day passes by without accomplishing anything.

Then there are days like today, when I get everything done!

The difference doesn't come down to whether or not I have a plan for the day (though that helps), but whether I work the plan.

It's a waste of time to make a plan and then not do the things on it.

For those who want to peek into my process, here's my daily plan.

I'll talk about the marked areas in detail, complete with tips for using your planner.

TIP: Highlight things as you complete them and other stuff, still to be done, will pop out at you.

A) Note that A is highlighted.

TIP: Write "CANCEL" over thing that are cancelled if you need to make a record.

I included a schedule with the time sensitive stuff. A sick kid meant Mass got cancelled, so I wrote CANCEL over Mass.

TIP: Use an arrow to show moved items, tasks, or appointments.

B) When Mass got cancelled, I needed to move "envelope" to the next week, so I can bring it to Church with me then. So I drew an arrow over it, copied it on next Sunday, and then highlighted it.

TIP: Have a consistent way to label planner pages.

C) I label planner pages in the top right corner. The consistency means I know just where to look to see what a page is about and where to put it in my planner. (I do the same for files.)

TIP: Your plan can change whenever it needs to, as long as you keep working it.

D) I realized that I needed to use some ground beef from the freezer (um, because the freezer was so full that it wouldn't close properly), so I added spaghetti to the lunch plans.

E) I added "meds refill" to my list late, too.

TIP: An "in progress" square around a task that is started but not complete lets you show you've accomplished something, but have more to do.

F) I put a square around the laundry task after I started the laundry, but I won't highlight until the laundry is put away.

TIP: Circle repeating tasks.

G) Once I took my morning meds, I rewrote taking them on tomorrow's plan.

TIP: Have codes for completed items (check mark), delayed items (arrow), delegated items (@), and deleted items (X).

H) I checked off my RSVP once I made it.

TIP: Use codes for family members.

I) I put a square around L for one kid, The Loki.

TIP: Use context codes to designate WHERE a task should be done.

J) H means do the task at home.

TIP: For repeating tasks that are not critical, use sticky notes.

K) I check Philofaxy every Saturday, so that reminder moves from week to week.

Etcetera.

If you enjoy what you read at Giftie Etcetera, please share on social media. Click here to join the Giftie Etcetera Facebook group.

Partied at: Worthwhile Wednesdays, WayBack Wednesday, Creative Princess, Happy Homelife, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Think and Make Thursday, This Is How We Roll, No Rules Weekend, Momma Told Me, Weekend Blog Hop, Grace at Home, Friendship Friday, Friday Favorites, Coffee Break, Home Matters, Pretty Pintastic, Weekend Retreat, Friday Features, Foodie Friends, Best of the Weekend, My Favorite Things, Saturday Sparks, Simply Sundays, Making Your Home Sing, Inspire Me Monday, Sundays Down Under, Small Victories Sunday
Featured at: Happy Homelife