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apps, calendars, Cozi, Excel, exercise, family, Flylady, goals, Google, planners, Raelyn Barclay, time management, Tools4Wisdom
The Fireman – For you, every event is a crisis. You’re so busy putting out fires that you have no time to deal with anything else – especially the boring, mundane things such as time management. Tasks pile up around you while you rush from fire to fire all day.
Typically seen – Running to car.
(Source)
I’d love to be able to laugh at that but it is sadly apropos.
I’ve tried the Google calendar but gave it the boot after a series of syncing issues.
I’ve tried Cozi based on the Flylady, who keeps my housework sane (or at least as sane as it can be in my male dominated house), but it didn’t resonate with me.
I’ve tried every free app in the Google Play Store and uninstalled them all for one reason or another.
Paper to the rescue. A couple years ago I found this planner. I loved the blend of goal setting and detailed weekly grid. When it came time to buy again I stuck with the company but oped for their Super-Mom Planner
It’s not enough to just jot down appointments though. I have goals I want to reach and somehow must block out the time for the needed steps.
Enter Excel. I’m a geek. Sue me.
I wanted to create a template where I could play around with blocking out time for different activities, something I could fall back on when life got crazy. (I know, when isn’t it.)
I ended up with this–
Saturdays were left more flexible due to football games. Plus I try to keep that a family day as much as humanly possible.
I’m on week two of using this template. Wish me luck 😀
What’s your time management tool of choice? Do you make an appointment with yourself each week to plan/schedule the upcoming week?
I haven’t exactly used an organizational planner tool. Each day is sort of plotted in my mind: work, time with Chipmunk, Chipmunk to bed then writing time. Weekends I sort of fly by the seat of my pants, but the first things I get done are house chores and time with my daughter before I dive into the writing realm.
You’ve got so many activities I can understand your need for a planner. I’m hoping this new organizatonal format works out great for you 🙂
When it was just me, even when it was just That Man and me, I’d have my handy-dandy to-do list for the day and I’d be set. Like you, first things first. It kinda blew up in my face though as the wee beasties came along, then their school and sport events…
Thanks Angela. I’m really hoping it’ll help with productivity.
I sure wish I could put my husband on time management. It’s worse now that he’s retired. LOL!
Me? I’ve had the good fortune of always being good with my time. I even used to give workshops at my job on time management.
Every person is different but the real trick is prioritizing. If you can do that, you’ve mastered the hardest part.
That can be a challenge when everyone’s this or that is a priority and competing with my priorities. But you’re right, setting priorities is key. And making better use of “down” time.
It’ll come. I hope. Thanks Maria.
Gah. Time management. I’ve tried so many things, too. I’ve even tried a paper calendar, but not an official planner. I might have to look at yours. The only thing that gives me any kind of success these days is a boatload of reminders on my iPhone.
With so many people and activities and stuff, I’d be afraid the reminders would have me running even more crazily than I do now unless they were somehow connected to a weekly calendar of some kind. In fact, that had been my hope with the Google calendar because you can set reminders. Sigh.
Paper seems to be working… Thanks Nicole.
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