The picture above is of my desk in my home office. I have spent hours at this desk in the last few months. In these months, I have create my own planning system that has helped me to keep up with all the work I have to do and keep track of my time. Yes, I need to keep track of my time. Each day, I need to know where I am spending my time and if I am wasting any time. Time is precious. If I am using it to do things other than what I feel is important, I am wasting a precious commodity.
There are a lot of planning systems. As you see, I use a Franklin-Covey planner. I do not use the system in its entirety, because I have to plan the way that works for me. This is the way it should be for everyone. Just because it works for someone else or is really expensive does not mean it is for you. I actually love the Franklin-Covey planning system and use most of it, but I put a twist on it.
If you are interested in learning more about the Franklin-Covey Planning System click on the link below:
There is another technique that I really like and use a lot of in my planning system. This technique is color coding. I use highlighters or colors on the computer to label what category/goal the task lands under. This is something I kind of picked up from another YouTuber and Coach named Erin May Henry. Again, I did not follow her exactly. I actually love the fact that she color codes and plans out all her content in advanced. This is something I have started to do and it is so much easier to find what I need to do for each goal.
If you would like to see more about Erin May Henry’s planning, please click on the link below:
Some people only put on their list what they absolutely know what they need to do that day. Several years ago, I started working on a program by a woman named Brook Noel. She talked about writing what she had to do each day and transferring every task that was not accomplished from day to day. At first, I could not believe this concept and thought it was too much.
After awhile, I realized how important it was and decided to make it part of my daily routine. If I do not do this, I tend to forget tasks I need to do for the week and they do not press me to get them done. Why? They are not staring me in the face each day saying, “Huh, you didn’t get me done again. I guess you will never get me done!” This makes me want to get them off my list immediately.
If you are interested in learning more about Book Noel, click the link below:
Now, I know you are asking, what exactly is your planning system, Tina. Well, this is where I tell you.
- Of course, I have short term, mid-term, and long term goals, but I will do that later. This planning system is long enough to go through without adding that in.
- At the beginning of each month, I write down all the goals that I need to get done by the end of the month.
- Every month, I break down my goals into what I need to do monthly, weekly, and daily.
- I decide what days I want to complete the monthly goals.
- I decide what days in the week I want to accomplish the weekly goals.
- At the beginning of each week, I write down what goals I need to get done on Monday (that is my start of the week, but you can choose Sunday if you want). Yes all of them.
- I mark off all the goals I get done that day and before I go to bed, I transfer the ones I did not get done to the next day (I do this every night).
- In the morning, before I do anything, I sit down and take my highlighters and highlight my tasks according to the goal they help me accomplish.
- My color code is as follows: personal (pink); My Map to Success Business (orange); Teaching profession/classroom (green); Doctoral Program (Yellow). You can use any colors you want for your goals.
- When I am at home, I create cards that I also color code (if my mind is especially frantic that day and unfocused) and I put each tasked neatly written under the color coded goal. I then take them up on the object in front of me (when Brenton is working in at the desk across from me, I use his computer).
- Every time I get everything checked off my list, I celebrate!
- I also make sure that I have tasks in each goal, so that I am working evenly in the goals that matter the most.
Now, I know this is not completed. There is so much to my planning system. I will continue to explain each of my bulleted points and give you my trips and tricks. Part 2 will come next week.
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