Daily Planner

When I first got my daily planner, I thought I had to keep it faithfully. If I wrote it down it had to be done on the day it was written. I also overdid ever list I wrote so that it made me not want to even try! Now, however, it's become my lifesaver, my brain outside my body. Like transferring computer files to a disk, it frees up memory and creates more order and less stress in my life which is good! Let's discuss the different parts.

It has a pink cover. This is nice because it makes it "mine." Even though I keep tabs on my family, having some ownership over it allows me to let go of my thoughts and trust it to this keeper. I will keep personal notes, letters, thoughts, ideas on the pages and in the slots. It is a piece of me.

The inside is a two pages a day format. I like it because it gives me enough space to write. I use the "to do" list for daily stuff, the appointment calender, on occasions that I have a scheduled time, and the free page for thoughts, dreams, goals, ideas, or tentative plans. This way I am allowed to pour out my heart and empty my head.

For the "To Do" list, I have it in three parts.

Reoccurring Schedule:

Make Bed

Dishes

Laundry

Sweep/Tidy

Odd Stuff:

Sometimes Personal Such as Blogging, Reading, Uploading Pictures

Sometimes Husband Stuff Such as Finding Papers, Running Errands

Sometimes Kids Related Such as Schoolwork, Going to Park, Library, etc.

Calls to Make/Things to Mail:

Appointments

Bills

Catch Up with Friends

I find if I keep up with the reoccurring stuff, the other stuff is easier. Just making the bed makes my room look that much neater. A load a day of laundry and keeping up with the dishes keeps them from piling up. And I can work on the clutter if the floor is clean. I don't always accomplish everything, but my planner also came with handy little symbols to use other than a check mark such as an arrow for things forwarded to the next day and a dot for things in progress. It keeps me from getting overwhelmed and helps me jump in the next day right where I left off. I also feel good at being able to get something marked every day and am encouraged every time I do.

I've come to realize some of the other stuff is necessary and some of it is more wishful thinking. I try not to forward things more than a day or I lose motivation to get to them, but sometimes I'll put more on my Monday list than I know I can finish with the idea that I will be able to get it done that week. It allows me to see some of my goals for the week and get to them in a timely manner (not just whenever I remember them). I still don't always accomplish everything, but allows me to get more done than if I had to remember from scratch.

I group making calls and mailing letters together because they are both tasks that require some focused attention, but not too much. I try to get the mail ready before the kids get up and calls made during naptime. Giving myself a time frame within which to accomplish these tasks keeps me from "panic mode" where the kids are screaming for my attention and I'm under pressure to get something done. It also keeps me from worrying about it because it's already been worked into my day.

The biggest thing is not taking myself too seriously. Enough that I can work with it, but not so much that I am a slave to it. The biggest thing is working it into how I accomplish things and being realistic into what my time is truly going to allow. But on the overall, it's been a very amazing and helpful thing!