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Things I love: Episode 2 - Calendaring and Organizing for a Better Life
Welcome to episode 2 of Things I Love for the month of February!
I love planners, I love pens, I love calendars, I love lists, I LOVE IT ALL! I cannot simply just go to the store and NOT stop in the office/school supply section. It is a true addiction I have, but better than others I think.
When my friends buy a planner and they pick one out I feel so proud when they form the addiction. I live through my calendar. If it is not there, it does not exist. At work I have a planner where each day I write my "to do" lists, in my purse I have my goal and "to do" for personal, I have a note book with a calendar in it, and I have my personal one on my email and phone. It is a problem, but any planner loving friend will understand me!
I thought I loved planners until I joined a group on Facebook through a podcast we all love, and those ladies and gents are the true heroes of planning. But I want to get right to it, how do you plan and organize for a better life?
My world can get a little crazy at times, and my house or desk my not be the cleanest at all times, but at least I can keep my life together (almost) through my lists and my planners/calendars.
Step 1: Find your style!
Oftentimes people like to combine their worlds into one massive amount of stuff. Their work and personal life are all in one calendar, and that is okay! Others like to separate their worlds (like me).
Here are some types of planners:
- planners that go by time
- planners that go by month
- planners that go by day
- planners that go by year
- planners that are full of stickers
- planners that are colorful
- planners that are simple
- planners that are black and white
- planners that also serve as journals
- planners that are electronic
The list continues but I won't bore you with the types of planners out there.
Sometimes people don't even like to use a planner, they like to use paper or journals to write down their lists. I know someone who starts writing from the back to the front when using a notebook.
Whatever your style is, make it work for you!
Step 2: Cross it off!
One of my favorite things about lists and calendaring is crossing off everything I have done. Even if this is not your style and you are more of a "check it off" kind of a person, or even highlighting what is done - mark off what you have completed.
Step 3: Prioritize!
It is important when working with lists and daily tasks to prioritize what is important. If it is important and small, start with that one first. If it is important and big, start with that one. Whatever you feel is important enough to be number 1, do that. Sometimes people like to do their smaller mundane tasks first before tackling the bigger things, and that is okay.
I work in a constant of chaos or nothingness. Lately I have been given many tasks that all have deadlines, I prioritize this way:
1- When is it due
2- How big is the project
3- How many days/hours will it take to accomplish this project
Find a system that works for you!
Sometimes color coding your planner works. With my personal and work computer I have different categories.
- I have red for important or mandatory events on my calendar.
- I have orange for items that are just reminders.
- I have pink (personal) and blue (work) for items that are on my calendar that are not mandatory or my meetings.
There are other colors that I use on my work calendar so that I know if it is just a party, my boss's meetings, interviews, and other such items. But I won't make you fall asleep with that detail.
So why plan and why make lists? Well here is an example (I won't use real names).
Jennifer wants to hang out with Marcia after work. Jennifer uses no planning system and Marcia does. They both work in the same department. Jennifer is befuddled all day because her bosses keep coming up to her and asking her where things are and about due dates. Jennifer cannot remember what she even did last week. When Marcia is asked, she can look at her list and either add it or go back and state what she has done. When the end of the day comes around, Jennifer has to cancel her plans with Marcia because Jennifer is now behind!
Being a planner and organizing your tasks makes you a better and more efficient worker. More places will want to hire you, and you can answer the question of "how do you organize your work" without hesitation.
Currently I have to set up appointments with high level individuals three times a month for the rest of the year, and without a list and color coding system, I would be entirely lost.
So comment below with your advice for others!