An associate asked me that the other day. I have a lot going on – a multi-faceted business with 350 employees, multiple construction projects right now, new products, books, videos, and I work on our School of Entrepreneurship training programs. It can get away from you if you don’t have a system.
So here’s what I have developed over many years that works for me. For long term planning, I use paper calendar sheets. One page for each month. I print them off the net. That’s just a big overview look of dates. I put these dates into my phone calendar along with appointments.
For short term planning, like a few days ahead, I use a small 5″ x 7″ spiral notebook. I write Monday, March 11 at the top of the page. Things I need to do go on the left, calls I have to make go on the right. Morning stuff towards the top, afternoon stuff towards the bottom. Different color ink.
More important stuff written bigger and in capital letters. Small stuff, small letters. I get to work on the most important stuff first. I save small stuff for smaller time slots I find as the day unfolds. I work on thinking projects when I am sharp and not distracted – I ensure I am not interrupted in the morning until I make myself available.
Once I get something meaningful done, I feel I can do the rest of the day – calls, meetings, hit and run stuff, and still feel like I made progress on my most important projects. At the end of the day, I look at my notebook page. Anything I did not get done, can go on the next page for the next day. Some things it’s ok I didn’t get done. They were less important. Other things I kick myself for not getting done, and am sure to get on it the next day.
A lot of people have their little time management/organization systems they have created over the years.
That’s what I do. What do you do?
Reminders app on my I-phone(its on all I-phones)
Multiple categories/colors and the ability to move the most important stuff to the top.
My system very similar to yours. I save my best time for thinking and highly important activities. I have.a “3 Most Important” list that I take extraordinary care and effort to finish – each with allocated time to complete. The other key items and activities for the day go on a “next in line” list that I use the white spaces in my schedule to complete as many of those as possible in between the highest priority activities.
I used to make to-do lists but now I schedule right on my calendar. Great tips-thanks Larry!
I reinvent the wheel. I take exception to this and you! ????⚓️
I use much the same but I do it on the Franklin organizer.
Short term works great
Gives me a new page everyday for notes.
I have phone calls to make up top and things to do (Big 3) at the bottom
Then I use the yearly calendar to book ahead.