Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Closing Time - When to Stop Working the Planner at the End of the Day

***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***

I use my planner all day long.


planner, time, time management



Upon waking, I start working my planner.

I take morning meds and check them off on my daily goals. (They aren't part of my routine because I have routine meds, in a med sorter, taken immediately at wake up. This is round two, taken with food.)

I check my calendar to decide what to wear if something isn't already set out.



I do all the things listed on today's task list and daily schedule.


That's how a planner works, right? You write it down, do it, and check it off.

But when the sun goes down, I stop doing anything that is not on the planner's schedule for specifically after dark.


I don't stop putting things in the planner. Obviously, I will think of things that need to leave my brain.



Without my planner, I'd forget those things. And forgetting is hard work and it makes me tired as I try to remember.


I don't like it.


But I stop the doing part of my day when the sun sets.


I don't fold laundry. I don't put stuff away because it is listed in my planner. I don't work on a legal assignment.

The sun sets - and I start resting.

I read a novel. I play the piano. I watch tv. I chat with my husband.

Lots of diets say to stop eating after 8 p.m.

Stopping working at sunset works on a similar theory. I am short on free, self-care time.

By stopping all planned work at 8 p.m., I find free time for me.


Etcetera.


Save 15% With FranklinPlanner


Save 15% On Your Entire Order. Use Promo Code: 22220. Shop Now!

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

4 comments:

  1. I think this is a great idea and one I will remember. As a busy working mom, I am often cleaning, doing laundry etc. late into the night. Just last night I was washing down cabinets and cleaning the bathroom at 9:00pm. As a result, I did not sleep well at all. It was not worth it and could have waited until I had more time over the weekend. Good advice.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's a great idea. I haven't really thought about it, but I don't usually open my planner until after breakfast. I have part of a routine that I go through, and some of that is reading my "devotional books" with breakfast. I don't want the details of the day to intrude too soon. Then at night, I usually have a point where I turn my computer off, and don't look at my planner anymore. I like to have some time to relax, take a shower read, etc- wind down from the day before sleeping.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I leave my planner on my desk and stop working it usually after supper. I make sure that my tasks were completed, fix supper, and then the rest of the day is planner free. Get up the next morning and start again.

    ReplyDelete

Comments Welcome and Shares Appreciated