NewZealandCoach’s Weblog

Do you plan what you’re going to do each day?

I never used to be a fan of lists. I think this was because I liked ‘freedom’ and making a list would interrupt what I *really* wanted to do, it would make me feel pressured, and if I didn’t get everything done I’d feel bad. Weird reasons for not doing it?! Making lists can work. Just make sure you dont put undue pressure on yourself to complete it in one day, if that won’t work for you. Just the act of writing it down will consolidate it. If you look at the assortment of jobs you have to do, you can prioritise them. What absolutely needs doing today? what can safely be left until tomorrow? What will annoy you if it’s not finished by evening? You can also categorise things and plan it out so you’re not wasting time and energy rushing all over the place. You have to meet someone at a particular place. You look at what you’ve written and you see you also need to pick something up/drop drycleaning off/buy groceries, so you incorporate everything. You’re not wasting petrol or time, you plan it so you get these things done and get home again before the 5.00pm rush.

Sometimes when you’re lacking motivation it’s because it just all seems too much. Writing it down gets it in perspective. Many times it won’t look like such a burden or so impossible when it’s in a linear form. A rush of things to do all at once will immediately put the pressure on. Taking the time to organise it and put some structure into your day will be calming, and help your brain start to come up with ways to do things efficiently.

I use a couple of different strategies – I have a Palm which contains a LOT of information. It has yearly events, birthdays,contacts (all categorised so I can find things easily), and daily events colour categorised for each person in the family, and for business(es). It sounds over the top, but it makes me feel better when things are organised. I set the system up, so it works for me.

I also have a whiteboard, which has the day-to-day unexpected events on it. I use it to write notes to the kids for the next day (don’t forget dentist appointment etc), write phone numbers if I don’t already have them if the kids are going somewhere, an ongoing points system and also the jobs that the kids are scheduled to do. I use different colours, I draw pictures, I stick things up with magnets. Lots of my magnets are from trips so they bring back happy memories while I’m busy organising the rest of the household lol

Just some ideas, tell me what you think

dawn (at) mirrorconsulting.co.nz