Today we will be talking about two very important tools for planning and organizing your day.
**affiliate links included in this post**
Hi friends, last week I eluded to the fact that I have updated the daily tools I use for planning and organizing my day. But first let me tell you why I need to use any sort of tools at all. Well actually there are quite a few reasons:
My memory is terrible
I am easily distracted
Definitely get overwhelmed easily
I tend to procrastinate
Can you relate to any of those at all? Seriously, people think I’m organized because I’m just a naturally organized person. Umm no, I’m organized because I manipulate my environment so that it lends itself to living an organized life. If it weren’t for that, I’d be a wreck and nothing would get done. Honestly. That’s why I utilize all 10 of these solutions for living an organized life and I implement routines and rewards as well on a regular basis.
Today I’m going to talk specifically about solutions that I use to keep me on task with what needs to get done each day so I don’t get overwhelmed by it all. Please keep in mind that this is what works for me, but of course it’s not a one size fits all for everyone. Everyone has to find and do what works best for them.
Tool #1 – My List Notebook
Now I’ve talked about my list notebook plenty of times before but in case you aren’t sure what it is let me explain. Basically it’s a daily consistent brain dump of all sorts of miscellaneous randomness from my brain onto paper. I believe we get overwhelmed when our brains are trying to process and remember so much information. By getting it out of our heads and written down, it eases the burden and allows the brain to slow down and focus on one thing at a time. In the past I have used just a simple notebook (below) for this task and that worked amazingly well for many years.
But then I discovered the world of travelers notebooks and fell head over heels in love. Essentially a traveler’s notebook is simply a notebook cover (often leather) with strategically placed elastic bands that allows you to contain multiple notebooks in one space. An additional elastic band then holds it all together. The original Midori Traveler’s Notebooks are more on the pricier side but now you can get faux dori’s that are a little less expensive depending on the quality of leather. I purchased mine from FoxyDori on Etsy however this particular company is currently on a break. Just search for fauxdori’s on Etsy though and you’ll find quite a selection in a variety of sizes, colors and prices. Just be careful though, it’s so easy to get sucked into this notebook world with all the pretty choices and fun accessories, oh my! Here’s what mine looks like.
I purchased mine in the Pocket size. I absolutely love this size because I can take it with me wherever I go. The leather is so buttery soft, I love holding it my hands. Housing multiple notebooks like this is extremely convenient for me. It allows me to categorize my brain dump in an organized and contained way. One for my to do list items, one for notes, one for ongoing projects and specific posts, etc.
As I’ve always done, once I finish a line item, I highlight it as being done. I like to highlight because it looks pretty. Plus I often go back and reference things so this way I can still read what I’ve written.
Tool #2 – My Planner
A planner is helpful for taking the to-do line items from your list notebook above and scheduling them into your planner so they actually get done. I’ve used many different planners over the years which long time readers will know. I just love trying out new ones and most recently I’ve been using a Simply Yours Day Planner from Bailey Craft Planners.
Sidenote: I absolutely love these Staedtler pens for writing in my notebooks and planner.
I am absolutely loving the size of this one as it’s smaller (7×9) and therefore more portable. There are multiple days to a page as well which means the planner isn’t as heavy as others.
Regardless of which planner you use, here is how I make mine work. Since I use mine for business (I use a fridge calendar for our personal stuff), this is how I set myself up for the day. Each morning I go through my list notebook and source out THREE tasks that are my must do’s for the day. I may still fit in others as time allows, but first I select three items that are my top priority. I then jot those down in my planner along with any relevant sub-tasks required to make those three tasks happen.The beauty of the Simply Yours Day Planner for this though is that I can put my main tasks in the bigger box and then there is a task list (with check boxes!) on the side of each day to break down my relevant sub-tasks. Nice!
Most importantly, I’m realistic about the time I have available each day. This does get easier to predict the more experience you have with it. Sometimes I plan out for a few days at a time, sometimes I don’t. It all depends how ambitious I’m feeling and I don’t like to get too ahead of myself for sanity sake. Sometimes I even use little post it notes so I can do the task shuffle, less erasing that way.
Between these two tools I am able to:
Better retain pertinent information
Focus on the task at hand
More calm and at ease
Get things done
I hope you find taking a peek into my day and how I organize it helps you tweak a system for yourself. It’s all about identifying the problem and finding a solution that works for you!
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Gina says
Are we sisters? I have so many notebooks with lists around the house that my family thinks I’m a nut.
Laura Wittmann says
Oh my I love them so!!! And I love that the fauxdori’s are essentially a notebook for your notebooks hahaha
aarushi says
Hey!
Have loved your blog since since a long time. And all my pinterest wanderings invariably end up on an article by you 🙂
Kudos!
Also I hope you and your family are safe. I’m in edmonton and it’s unreal to see all the destruction .
Take care
Patty Murray says
I have just found your blog and am enjoying getting to follow you. I would love to try out this new planner.
Daria says
Great idea about picking out three tasks to do. Now that I’ve started blogging, my to do list has to do’s. There’s just so much to learn and do! You’ve inspired me to just pick three articles to read each day and move on. Otherwise I’ll drive myself crazy.
Janet says
I’m drooling at the sight of your notebooks and planner! I’d rather hang out in a stationery store than a shoe store any day!
Laura Wittmann says
Oh me too Janet, me too!!
Shaki says
How do you find your planner to be in regards to using all of the spaces, like for goals and tasks etc? I’m wondering if it’s just me that doesn’t always use the appropriated space. Great post!
Laura Wittmann says
No I totally know what you mean Shaki. I think that’s why I love this planner so much as there isn’t a lot of extra stuff like that. I’ve had other planners where there was a lot of pages I didn’t use but this one only has a few at the beginning and then at the end of each month there is a page to reflect on your goals. I often will use this section for other things like project work. I’m not a big goal setter myself.
KIM DILUGLIO says
Thank you for your blog… I have struggled for years since leaving the business world to find the right method to implement keeping track of lists and then getting them to an actionable schedule without having a million pieces of papers with lists or apps that don’t work. This “journal book of tasks/ideas” transferring to a daily calendar of 3 priority and doable action items seems like something I can implement and maintain over time.
Laura Wittmann says
It works so well for me, I hope you find that to be true for you as well. It definitely helps keep the overwhelm down that is for sure.