Sunday 8 April 2012

Plan Plan Plan

Week fourteen of the SYL Challenge, is all about Time Management and Planning. One of my favourite subjects!!! I think generally I plan too much J But, I feel more in control and calmer if I have planned. I plan big things like holidays right down to housework..... mmm yes I am telling the truth, I quite often plan and write lists for my housework, which is a little silly as I undertake the same tasks........ BUT I feel I have to plan otherwise I might miss something!!! My (over)planning can sometimes make my family laugh, especially as I rewrite the same list over and over in preparation for something....... and the worst thing is, even as I am rewriting(updating) these lists, I think to myself “why can’t I just cross each item of the list.......” Arghhhh so hopefully, by working through this week’s challenge I may lighten up J
As I am already a BIG planner, this week was quite easy, but I gained a lot of knowledge and ideas from Deb, and these ideas will definitely make my life easier! I love the idea of a ‘Monster List’ and a ‘Brain Dump’.
So, that is where I started. I sat down and wrote a monster list for 2012 and then, relooked at my goals to see if they were similar.... they were close, but my monster list sounded more fun and more rounded! My goals were more like what I have to achieve, and the monster list was perhaps what I might like to do.....
I then broke everything down to monthly, weekly and daily tasks...... This was quite easy and really makes everything feel more attainable.
In doing all of these lists (which I actually said in week 6 I wanted to stop doing!!!) I was able to better organise my already quite organised calendars and my head space.
The main thing I took away from Deb’s tips was that it’s ok to still have a paper diary even though we have the technology at our fingertips. I love having a paper diary, but because everyone uses their phone I always felt funny or different getting out my diary..... So thank you Deb for pointing out that IT’S OK!!!! I have now filled out my diary and it’s all up to date YAY!!!
I have set a few extra goals to maintain these weekly and daily lists, and the main one is to make sure I keep my family organiser, my phone diary and now paper diary all up to date and in sync, so I don’t over book or forget something. And to get back into Meal Planning. I really love monthly meal planning and I know it makes my life so much easier, but for some reason - I will blame the school hols :)   - I have let this slip and not kept up with it.
I feel more in control after this week’s challenge, and I feel as though we are organised..... even though we have a very chaotic life!! Bring on time management next week as I think I could learn A LOT!!!!!
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14 comments:

  1. Rita9 April 2012 at 00:45

    Fantastic post Paula. I loved the fact that you make lists, I do to. Especially about housework - the only difference is that I don't complete any thing on the list. Ha Ha. Isn't it great to feel organised. You seem really happy this week, so glad things are going well for you. I like paper lists too. Take care :)

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    1. Paula9 April 2012 at 01:58

      Thanks Rita - haha i am a bit like that too, write lists and may not do it, but by putting it on the list because I SHOULD be doing it i actually feel better :) Thanks for reading, i hope your break is going well x

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  2. Kate9 April 2012 at 03:45

    Yep. I write and rewrite and rewrite. Something soothing about writing lists! All for paper diaries too. Electronic? No way! Also looking forward to time management! Perhaps we'll no longer allow ourselves the time to write and rewrite those lists…?

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    1. Paula12 April 2012 at 14:26

      Its funny isnt it kate, that we know its probably a waste of time writing and rewriting, but we still do it!!! I am glad someone else does the same, makes me feel not so different!!! :)

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  3. Deb @ inner compass designs 9 April 2012 at 03:52

    So glad you feel better about the paper diary - you can tell by how many are stocked and sold in stores still that it is not going anywhere!

    The trick with lists is not to overload them and to get rid of all those things you never do -unless of course it is an essential like clean the toilet every once in a while ; ) If something continues to sit on your list undone - try to figure out why and decide if you really need to do it or can you let it go.

    Deb @ home life simplified

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    1. Paula12 April 2012 at 14:29

      Thanks for reading Deb!! Yes i am happy i have picked up my paper diary again, and i have actually decided that i want a really pretty one so i am on the lookout for a new one :) ahhhhh the one thing that always goes on my lists AND NEVER GETS DONE - is ironing!!!! Sometimes i can just sit there and do it and i wonder why i have been putting it off, and then there are other times that it just piles and piles and piles up!!! Mmmmmm but its like cleaning the toilets, it has to get done......

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  4. Bec9 April 2012 at 04:55

    I love my paper diary and calendar too - I tried using my phone but there is nothing like having it written in paper and being able to cross it off - the technology just didn't work for me in this either.

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    1. Paula12 April 2012 at 14:30

      Thanks for reading Bec!!! I know what you mean about being able to write it all down, i think i actually remember appointments etc better when i have written them down as opposed to putting in my phone...... i am glad that there are others who feel the same :)

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  5. Anonymous9 April 2012 at 19:18

    I am totally the same - I need my paper list!! There is nothing like being able to sit down and put the pen to that paper. It's not quite the same doing it all on the computer. How ironic!

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    1. Paula12 April 2012 at 14:31

      Hi Lyndaal thanks for reading :) Yes its definetly alot nicer to write things down, and i just said to Bec, that i think i remember things better if i have written them down...... and it looks nicer in handwriting not typed!!! :)

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  6. Casojaha14 April 2012 at 22:29

    I love a paper list. I'm just not very good at picking them up again to check them! That is about to change though! I'm looking forward to getting paper lists and diaries back out again and getting this show on the road! So glad you feel more organised already :)

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  7. bethmarie18 April 2012 at 05:01

    I'm another big fan of the paper trail too! Nothing better than checking things off!! Sometimes I write lists of things I've already done just to be able to check them off!! ha ha! (and maybe show them to my husband so he can "see" what I do all day!) I have started going for "pretty" too. There are lots of beautiful diaries and paper things out there and it just makes you want to pick it up and look at it (or rewrite it) again and again!!

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  8. Bec29 May 2012 at 17:53

    Hey Paula - just checking in to see how you are going? I've missed reading your posts.

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  9. Anonymous10 June 2012 at 19:34

    Catching up on SYL12, stopping by from the week 14 links. I am another list writer and re-writer. Writing it out is therapeutic but I lose said list and start over many times. Not productive at all, I think the time management module of SYL12 is going to be a valuable one for me. Hope you find a suitable pretty diary, would love to hear which one you went with

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