I've never been efficient with my time. My husband always says I run around a lot but I don't accomplish too much. OUCH! But I've finally come to realize that he's right. (It's hard to admit!)
How many times have I gone to the store three times in one week because I left my list on the fridge and I've forgotten an essential ingredient? Or how about all the time I spend repeatedly searching for something that I know I left on the counter, instead of just putting it away in the first place. Or how I make lots of lists in different places and then misplace the list and forget what was on it. Then I search for the list!
Anyway you get the idea. I'm time challenged. But it takes precious time to be more organized! I felt I couldn't spare a moment. But I wasn't getting any closer to attaining my goals.
This year I knew I had to change if I ever wanted to finish my novel and accomplish everything on my 2012 goals list (which I put on the computer, so I can't lose it, hopefully). So finally today, I enlisted the help of Google Calendar. I made a list of all the weekly items I wanted to have and some that were simply necessity, like making dinner. I carved out time for each one, starting with the my most important item. I couldn't believe that after I put everything in, including an hour each day to do a quick clean up and 1 hr each week to plan, I still had some pockets of time that were free. In fact on Tuesdays I have 4 hours open! I don't know how that happened!
I'm not sure this system will really work for me, because I've never found any schedule I can really stick to. But at least I know that I really do have the time to get everything done. Now it's up to me to make it happen!
How do you schedule all you need/want to do? I'd love to hear your tricks!
Kathy
How many times have I gone to the store three times in one week because I left my list on the fridge and I've forgotten an essential ingredient? Or how about all the time I spend repeatedly searching for something that I know I left on the counter, instead of just putting it away in the first place. Or how I make lots of lists in different places and then misplace the list and forget what was on it. Then I search for the list!
Anyway you get the idea. I'm time challenged. But it takes precious time to be more organized! I felt I couldn't spare a moment. But I wasn't getting any closer to attaining my goals.
This year I knew I had to change if I ever wanted to finish my novel and accomplish everything on my 2012 goals list (which I put on the computer, so I can't lose it, hopefully). So finally today, I enlisted the help of Google Calendar. I made a list of all the weekly items I wanted to have and some that were simply necessity, like making dinner. I carved out time for each one, starting with the my most important item. I couldn't believe that after I put everything in, including an hour each day to do a quick clean up and 1 hr each week to plan, I still had some pockets of time that were free. In fact on Tuesdays I have 4 hours open! I don't know how that happened!
I'm not sure this system will really work for me, because I've never found any schedule I can really stick to. But at least I know that I really do have the time to get everything done. Now it's up to me to make it happen!
How do you schedule all you need/want to do? I'd love to hear your tricks!
Kathy
After years of doing the daily planners that never worked and got lost somewhere I finally made my own. I'm nerdy that way. So in my planner (Oh man, that sounds nerdier than collecting microprocessor chips) I have two facing pages per week. the pages are quartered into eight sections. In the first section I write down everything I need to get done that week (if I have to make dinner five times, it gets listed five times), then as i complete the tasks, I write them on the day I do them and viciously cross them out of the "goal" area.
ReplyDelete*sigh* that sort of shows how sadly anal I am, but that's how I do it. (and for the record, I can still only sometimes get it all together).
DGM and I follow a program called Monthly Mentor. I can tell you about it in detail when we get a chance but, basically, we have six categories of goals that we list out monthly – and check their progress at the end of each month. The monthly goals, by the way, are developed based on my life mission and annual goals. The six categories are called, MAINLY. They stand for:
ReplyDeleteM for mess.
A for acknowledgement.
I for increase in wealth.
N for something new.
L for learning.
Y for something just for yourself.
Although it may sound like a lot to accomplish in a month, it makes you THINK what’s most important to you and what you would love to do. Amazingly, you get most of them done - as the program founder says - "auto-magically." It is also proving to be a great communication tool for DGM and me because, through the review process (which we usually do weekly as part of our business review), we find out what’s on the other person’s priority list.
I might have to add something like that eventually.
DeleteMy process is as follows: When I get hungry, I eat; when I get tired, I sleep; when I wake up, I start all over again. That's how I get things done. Hope this helps. :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! I love it!
DeleteI LOVE google calendars. Did you know you can also have certain events send a text message to your spouse to remind them they are supposed to be somewhere so you don't have to? BRILLIANT!!! Hope you find a system that works for you.
ReplyDeleteI love that idea! I'll have to check that out! THX :)
DeleteNo tricks here. I scratch and claw to write whenever I can throughout the day, and at then end I add up what I've accomplished and usually I've done something significant. And thanks for downloading OPENING ... enjoy!
ReplyDeleteYour welcome! I'm looking forward to reading it!
DeleteJust found your blog thru your daughter's :)
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on this, too. Good to know I'm not alone. I have some tools that I'm trying and I'll be posting about them on my blog at some point, so stop by once in a while to see if the info is up yet. I'd be interested in seeing a sample week of your calendar if it's not too personal to post.
Well I write a list of the things I need to buy and before I go running off to the store I out it in my pocket. Works for me. :)
ReplyDeletethats awesome! and when you get a rhythm w/your calendar, you wont need the full hour to update it =)
ReplyDeletegood for you!