When you finish your day’s work seriously, you find that you forgot something. Or on a holiday, you forgot to have an appointment and were late. Even though you always remember to write down your to-do list on a small piece of paper, it always ends up being a mess!
Consider starting to use a planner! It not only helps achieve an organized life but also aids in accomplishing set goals and dreams (excluding unrealistic daydreams, of course).
At the beginning of each year, everyone (or just me) always sets achievable goals and dreams that require serious effort to track. However, I always seem to mess things up, which prompted me to give using a planner a try.
Why Use a Planner?
There are numerous articles highlighting the advantages of using a planning sheet, and I’ve experienced its benefits firsthand. I’ll share the advantages I’ve gained from using a planning sheet to help you consider incorporating it into your life.
- It reduces the likelihood of missing tasks before deadlines, both for work and daily life.
While it’s impossible to completely avoid forgetfulness, using a planner can help minimize oversights and accidents. - When scheduling daily appointments, it allows for quicker confirmation with the other party.
Eliminating the need to struggle to recall or search for notes. - Organizing tasks brings a sense of satisfaction.
When seeing a page filled with project content feels fulfilling. - I enjoy the process of selecting a planner.
While the temptation to indulge in shopping for a beautiful planner may seem enticing, it could be a bit impractical. However, the act of imagining using a beautiful planner to write down plans brings happiness, and consulting the carefully chosen schedule helps relieve stress during busy workdays. - Completing planned tasks brings a sense of accomplishment.
This brings not only spiritual satisfaction but also tangible benefits. As completion rates increase over time, satisfaction grows, ultimately bringing one closer to achieving their goals. - Learning to write a planner has improved my organizational skills and increased productivity.
Personally, it benefits me by enhancing my abilities and productivity, facilitating a better balance between work and life. - Reviewing and preserving memories.
The planner not only tracks work tasks but also documents social engagements with friends. Flipping through its pages allows me to reminisce about outings and easily locate photos from those days on my phone.
How to Choose a Planner
There are two types of planners: paper and digital, each with its own advantages. Paper planners offer a more focused experience, while digital ones provide flexibility in layout, among other benefits.
In my personal experience, if you don’t have a tablet and a stylus, using a paper planner allows for better composition and writing. (Alternatively, mobile phones that support a stylus can also work well).
Secondly, consider the format. There are daily, weekly, monthly, or all-in-one versions available. (There are also various specialized planners such as health or exercise plans, but it’s recommended that beginners start with the basic ones.)
Thirdly, consider the layout. Horizontal or vertical design, with or without grids, etc. Particularly for digital planners, many free resources offer attractive layouts.
Next, consider the size. For paper planners, options range from pocket-sized to about A5. For digital planners, it depends on the size of your tablet or mobile phone. Take into account other uses of the device at this point.
How to Use a Planner
There are numerous ways to utilize a digital planner. Of course, the simplest approach is to open it, record every task and appointment, and continue updating it regularly. This includes reviewing what’s been done and confirming upcoming tasks.
Alright! It may sound quite general, but at least you’re getting started!
Determine goals and create your systems
The goal will determine the tracking system you need. For instance, if your aim is to create a work-only planner, here’s a rough outline:
Calendar: Includes company meetings, events, interviews, etc.
Goals: to-do lists, actions, projects, timelines
Projects: Involves tracking tables for each ongoing project.
Business: Incorporates business mind maps, statistical analysis, and so on
List goals and tasks, breaking them down from broad to detailed
Segment the time into intervals, such as 1 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months, etc., and create an overall list of goals. Then, input this list into your planning table and begin the process of breaking it down into stages, organizing it by month, week, or even day, and outlining specific steps.
Add weekly and daily details next.
For a weekly planner, simply list items in the daily columns. With a daily planner, you’ll have extra space for daily diary entries, gratitude lists, or mental notes. Don’t forget to capture sudden inspiration!
If you’re still feeling confused, seek out an example of a planner that you like. Then, proceed step by step, aiming for improvement as you go. Once you’re familiar with it, you’ll be able to develop your own planning system.
Why Use a Planner?
- To establish a habit:
Make it a part of your daily routine to open your planner, regardless of whether you have anything specific to write down that day.” - Stay flexible:
I anticipate this will be one of the hurdles. For example, I’ve faced many failed plans due to my struggle with flexibility. Whenever the plan veered off course or didn’t unfold as expected, I felt disheartened and tempted to abandon it.
However, plans aren’t set in stone. Remember to remain adaptable. It’s okay if today doesn’t go as planned; you can make up for it later. Embrace modifications without fear.
If you are bothered by the presence of modification records in the planner, it is recommended that you use an electronic planner because it can clear traces and keep the planner clean and tidy. - Set task priorities:
Setting the urgency of tasks helps prioritize your focus. Even if certain planning systems require you to list them, consider establishing your own task and system to create more detailed and obvious priorities.
– Using color code
– Assigning numbers
– Creating categorized lists - Allocate Buffer Time:
When estimating task durations, avoid being overly precise and allocate appropriate buffer time between tasks. Surprises can arise at any moment. - Schedule Rest Breaks:
This doesn’t pertain to planning your leisure time in the evenings or after work, but rather to incorporating breaks between tasks. Overly tight scheduling can lead to fatigue and reluctance to consult the schedule for the next task, which is counterproductive.