We’re back into the work week after the Memorial Day weekend; the short week means that I have less time to get everything done! Like many people, I balance a busy life. I work a full-time job, take on freelance writing projects, and run my blog.
In addition, I have family commitments, appointments to make and attend, home repairs and DIY projects to keep up with.
It’s a struggle sometimes. While I normally post about DIY projects and cooking, today I am going to write about what I’ve found to be a reasonable way to keep up with all these demands that pull at me…and you, I’m sure! Your specifics are different than mine, but we all have demands!
I try hard to stay organized. However, sometimes I do feel like I have more on my plate than I can eat in one sitting. A to do list breaks down all of this into small, manageable bites.
For the past year, I have committed to sitting down quietly each morning. I usually arrive at my job about 30 minutes early and organize my thoughts.
I make a list of everything I need to do…personal or business or blog-related. I usually have used a sheet of paper, with lines drawn to make three sections. I call them “Tasks to Accomplish,” “Errands & Appointments,” and “Calls to Make.”
Because a long list is overwhelming to me, the three sections makes the to do list feel more attainable. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to feel like I failed to be productive during my day.
I combine work and personal into one list for efficiency. Here is an example. If I go out to lunch on my break at work and pass my bank, it’s at the top of my mind to pop in and conduct business. Or, if I need to schedule a dental exam, I take a quick minute of downtime at work to do so.
The same goes for work. Many times, I’ve popped in to pay a bill on my lunch hour and run into a person I do business with. I take advantage of the happy coincidence and speak to them and promise a follow up email (which I mentally add to the “Tasks” list and do when I get back to my desk).
There’s something satisfying about being able to tick items off of my list, one item at a time. Having these things written down is like a commitment to myself to actually get them done.
I sat down over the weekend and decided to put together my “to do list” into an attractive planning tool. I guess I got tired of scribbling out my three sections each day. I left it unlined to leave plenty of room for writing, inserting extra notes, and doodling your thoughts. It’s 8.5×11″, no special paper necessary.
Download this to do list by clicking here.
Give this to do list a try. Getting organized and keeping on task is a discipline. It takes time. But in my mind, this is the best DIY you can do every day! When you’re able to set out small goals and complete them throughout the day, you’ll be surprised at how much time you find you actually do have!
