The Mighty Morphing Power Planner
December 17, 2008
(My title dates my kids, huh? lol!) For anyone who follows this blog, you know my love of sticky notes. Well, lately my system of sticky notes at work has morphed into something interesting.
I keep a my big work planner (a big black binder) open on my desk at all times. I have several sections for the different aspects of my job – projects, blogging, site banners, As-Seen-In items, information, etc. I keep my daily list of regular to-do’s on the left of the open section and blank notepaper to the right. I used to make my to-do lists on this paper, but found it annoying to always have scribble marks on it from getting things done.
Not that I don’t like getting things done and the satisfaction of crossing it off – that’s the best part! I just got tired of remaking my list every day. So I started writing all my tasks on small sticky notes and sticking them to the sheet of binder paper in the order of their importance. This way I can move items around and simply toss them when they are finished. Nice and neat. 🙂 [LG]The Memo Organizer is great for “to-do’s”![/LG]
How do you keep track of your to-do’s?
I also use post its and throw them away when the task if finished — what satisfaction!!
When I was a busy young mother (when post its were either not invented or I didn’t know about them), I would put all my errands on a separate index card, put the applicable ones in my purse till the errand was complete, then throw that away.
I never liked the messiness of crossed out lines on paper on a to-do list.
Nice idea, Kathy!!
I’ve used a Franklin Planner for about 20 years; however, for 2009 I had decided to make my own planner. I wasn’t sure it would work as I had envisioned it. Your method is very close to what I had in mind, so I’m especially gratified to know that it’s possible.
For an alternate viewpoint, I’m a fan of checkmarking or highlighting the ‘done’ items. It gives me a vicious satisfaction to see them accumulate! 🙂
Thanks for this timely post!
Cammy’s last blog post..HYC Week 50
It’s really fun, after having planners for years, to create your own out of all your favorite ideas that you’ve tried. Maybe your next step is creating one to sell, Cammy!
On my To Do list, I have two small columns on the left, then my list of tasks, then one small column on the right.
In the first column, I put a pencil mark (I draw a circle and color it in) on the tasks that must be done that day.
In the 2nd column I put a pencil mark on all the other tasks.
As a task is completed, I erase it’s pencil mark and put one in the column on the right.
As my must-do-today tasks get done, I can prioritise the 2nd column and move a couple of the marks over to the 1st column.
Every task will always have a pencil mark beside it; it will indicate either Must-Do-Today, or Can-Wait-Till-Later or Completed, so nothing is ever fogotten about.
I can see at a glance which are the important tasks to be done that day.
I don’t have to re-write the list each day, I only do it once the page is full.
Jocelyn’s last blog post..Naversom – another Whitework section done
What a great idea. I love post its but at times they get crazy and messy all over my desk. My to-do list is in my planner now but I do on occasion write on post it’s for reminders to do the next day. Thanks for sharing.
I love the post it idea. I used to use a notebook and loved it but for some reason got away from and now I am the list queen. I love your ideas of a list of regular to dos in the page protector and post its for the other items.
Pam’s last blog post..Our Mitten Kitten
Thanks! It’s fun coming up with what works just right for you!
I also have used post-its for many years; my favorite way is to put the many recurring tasks that I have on post-its and then put them on the appropriate page in my planner. When the task is finished, I move it to the appropriate page for the next month. This way I am not constantly re-writing the same tasks from month to month or week to week!