More Top Tips For (Wanna Be) Planner People

 

 

Last Friday, I posted the first 3 Top Tips for Planner People (here is a recap):

1. Use One Planner primarily for optimal planning.

2. Check in regularly with your planner, especially morning and evening.

3. Keep your planner set-up simple for success.

Today, I am sharing the next tips…

 

 

Top Tips For (Wanna Be) Planner People (#4-6)

4. Master Your Tasks: Or at least make a weekly master task list. There are a number of ways to do this but one way is to just let loose with one giant brain dump. Then use that list to pull into scheduled tasks or tasks to do after the scheduled items for the day.

5. Schedule “Renewal” Time: Renewal is my One Word for 2014! Scheduling daily renewal to me means that I make an effort  to include myself in my To Do list, in the way of planning at least one renewing activity for the day. What does Daily Renewal look like? Well, it can look like a lot of different things on different days. Let me ask you this what is the most neglected part of yourself? Is it, physical, spiritual, mental, intellectual, creative, emotional? My advice for you is stop looking for other people to fulfill you in these areas, and be pro-active about planning for them daily, weekly , monthly and yearly! One area I tend to be very neglectful in is my pampered self. I get busy, and my outer girly girl longs for some attention. I need to be more pro active in making time for a few things I love (I used to do these all the time before marriage, life and child). A day of night of nail care, bubble bath, facial treatments does wonders for me. BUT I have to purpose to do it. How about you? Stephen Covey calls it sharpening the saw. I don’t call it me time, because I believe as women, we sometimes feel guilty taking care of ourselves. So we put ourselves last…and end up a little less for it. Less loving, available, slightly diminished. Don’t be guilty of that, friends. Make time for yourself. It is needful. Renewal time will help you SHINE!

6. Don’t Plan to Eat an Elephant:  Planner people can be guilty of biting off more than they can chew. Consider you have 168 hours in a week. This breaks down into 120 hours Monday through Friday and 48 hours on weekends. Time for work, recreation and rest all need to happen. When planning try to leave some white-space in that calendar. Rome wasn’t built in a day…but it may have been destroyed in one…don’t be Rome! Seek balance and plan realistically. Give yourself wiggle room and make sure that your One Thing gets done…weekly Master Task lists help allow for flexibility in this way.

 

A Practical Tip: I make a weekend Master Task list to help me review anything that got overlooked earlier in the week, and to wrap up and prepare for a fresh week post weekend. If you feel like your week got busier than planned and that some things may have gotten overlooked…or added, then try making a Weekend Master Task List. I absolutely plan extra Renewal into my weekend! One more thing: If you have never pondered choosing One Word, here are two wonderful places to help you explore how one word can frame your life beautifully in one year: One Word 365; My One Word

Quotes to Ponder: 

 

 “Be realistic about what you can actually do and avoid the no-win situation of trying to know, do and be everything in your 168 hours.” Roberta Roesch

“Lost time is never found again. ” ~ Benjamin Franklin

“You can be very busy without being effective. What’s important is to learn how to do what matters most. ” ~Hyrum W. Smith

“Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It’s all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. You can pamper yourself mentally and spiritually. Or you can go through life oblivious to your well-being. You can experience vibrant energy. Or you can procrastinate and miss out on the benefits of good health and exercise. You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy because your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal–a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall.” ~ Stephen Covey 

 

A  Prayer for  Today: Lord, you are an Everlasting God. One who never changes. You hold time in your hands, eternity is found in You. Give me discernment to recognize what matter most, focus to plan with purpose and  follow through and wisdom to know your good and perfect will, moment by moment, hour by hour and day by day. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

This is Day 17 of the series Planning with Purpose: 31 Days of Planner Tips

I wrote an INTRO POST here explaining everything!

I have also made designated a PAGE for it. Hope this makes it easy. I am happy to tackle a topic, or issue with regard to your planner habits.

Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me. 

I pray this series is a blessing to you. 

 Linked with Missional Women