My planner - Part 1
Since so many of you requested I post specifics on my planner, for the next few days, I'll be doing a quick overview of the pages I currently use and what has worked for me. Hopefully it will be helpful to some of you.First off, I need to begin by telling you that while I've used some sort of planner for over ten years now, I fell of the bandwagon for a few years after having children and only used daily planning pages. So I'm still tweaking some of what I'll be sharing with you. And I'll probably continue tweaking things as time goes on, and children go older, and so forth.
In February, I devoured Get More Done in Less Time and was thoroughly motivated to once again get my act together and become more organized in using a planner to improve in the area of time management. After just six weeks of using a planner again, I've already seen a marked difference--and my husband has, too!
The best thing that has helped me to really utilize a planner again has been to take time to plan. (Yes, I know that is a no-brainer, but I'd be the person who would buy all these planning pages, have all these grand ideas of how I was going to get organized with them, and then never make time to actually use them. )
With my husband's blessing, I've begun going every Saturday morning by myself to a nearby coffee shop to spend two hours praying, reading God's Word, and planning out the next week. This quiet time alone allows me to focus on reviewing the past week and making goals for the next week. (And the girls get some special Daddy time at home!)
Sitting down and mapping out a plan for the week using my planner pages has been a huge help in aiding me towards being more efficient. Maybe you don't have two hours to devote to quiet prayer and planning for the week, but I encourage you to set aside a little time to sit down with a cup of tea and your planner (or a notebook even!) and write some goals for your week. Having a simple plan and a place to write down things to remember and reference can be a great asset in your quest for organization.
With that said, here's a run-down on the planning pages I'm currently using:
Daily Planner Pages - These are first up in my planner and my most-used, can't-live-without pages. I use these original pages from Franklin Covey. (And yes, they are pricey, but the peace of mind and organization resulting from them has been worth every penny.)I keep one month of pages in my planner at a time. These are disposable pages--once they are used for a day, I throw them out.
The Prioritized Daily Task List holds my daily to-do list. I normally have a few things assigned for each day when I plan out my weekly goals on Saturday mornings and then each evening, I transfer whatever didn't get done off my list to the next day (or sometime in the next week, as applicable) and add anything else to tomorrow's list that I need to accomplish. One of my favorite things about this list is that there is not a huge area to write. This ensures I don't plan way more to do than I can accomplish in a day--as I'm prone to do if I'm not careful!
The Daily Notes section is where I jot down my planned posts to blog and any notes to remember on those as well as business projects or tasks I need to accomplish. On Saturdays, after planning out my week, I normally roughly plan out a blogging schedule for the next week as well. I've found it extremely beneficial to have posts semi-written and planned out in advance rather than blogging "by the seat of my pants" as I used to do.
Dividing up my homemaking tasks from my business tasks while still being able to see both lists on one page has been extremely helpful to me. I still wish I could find planning pages which were designed for the homemaker with a home business, but I have yet to come across something like that. So I've found that with some adaptation these FranklinCovey pages suit my needs at present. (I'd love to hear if you've found anything better, though! I've looked and looked and come up empty-handed.)
I keep my planner open on the kitchen counter to the Daily Page all day long and cross things off the lists as I complete them. This helps me keep on track and stay organized.
I'll share more about the other pages in my planner tomorrow...
Do you use a planner? If so, tell us about it! Have you found it to be useful? Do you buy your pages or make your own?
posted by Crystal Paine at 5:00 PM
23 Comments:
I too fell of the planning wagon a little while ago, and did a bunch of research this winter and came up with what I think is an awesome planner for mom. The MomAgenda. What I really love is that on the daily pages I have a separate section for each of us, so that I can keep each of us on track with where we need to be. It could get pretty pricey, but I opted for just the refill and it has a wonderful plastic cover so it is quite durable.
Blessings!
Lori
So do you use this planner AND a homemaking binder? Or are they basically one in the same?
There is a "tutitorial" going on as to HOW to MAKE a Homemaking Binder-- see my blog for more info--
Denise
http://homschoolblogger.com/mominpa
I am reading the book Get More Done In Less Time. After reading your review I knew it was something I needed to read. I am about half through it and really enjoying it. I was also curious if you do your household planner and financial planner all in the same binder as you regular planne?. I was thinking that would be a lot for one binder. I guess maybe it is an individual preference. I was curious what has worked for you?
I print my calendar off w/my schedule preprinted. I am making changes to mine at this time.
I have been using a FranklinCovey planner since December and have found it very helpful in my life as a senior in college. Taking a little time to plan at the beginning of each week is the key, I think.
Also, the tip that I have most benefited from here this week is your mention of keeping your planner open on your counter all day. I have tried keeping both my planner and my Bible open on my desk recently, and that has helped me to use them both so much more!
I made an attempt at a planner (I call mine a Household Notebook), but I really use it as more of a place to store stray papers (at least they're categorized! lol).
I actually use my Palm Pilot for nearly everything, and while I like the idea of a Notebook, I find I don't really refer to it very much. I guess my Palm is sort of a digital Household Notebook of sorts. :) It goes everywhere I go. I'm still trying to figure out if I still need a Household Notebook in addition to my Palm, and if so, what should go in it.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow's post!
great post! look forward to viewing more!
http://adlynmorrison.blogspot.com/
I need to get back on the planning bandwagon too, thanks for your encouragement :D
Great Stuff ! If paper is not your thing FranklinCOvey has a new Online Planner . (see free test drive link below)
FranklinCovey is a worldwide leader in organization effectiveness and proven productivity methodology allowing end user the ability to quickly adopt and use the methodolgy to prioritize their tasks, appointment, mission statement, values, goals, top priorities, and daily activities. It's "Technology with Methodology" The following link will allow you to create a VIP account to FranklinCovey 's CRM without having to enter a credit card. Let me know if you have any questions or additional thoughts
Cheers,
Mike
Links:
http://www.planplusonline02.com/newppolreg1.jsp?xrm30=Y&src=PPOL&src2=xMikeblog
I found some really good homeschool and daytime planners at http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/gettingorganized/planner.php
These are free.
Michelle
Crystal,
Thanks for taking the time to answer my (and other people's) question. I have my planner all organized, but seem to be waiting for "the perfect time" to start using it. :)
Thanks for the reminder that the time is now. Planning really does make things go so much smoother...
Phebe
You are such a good teacher. Thanks for sharing this.
You are an inspiration to alot of ladies.
Thanks,
robin@heartofwisdom
http://www.heartofwisdom.com/heartathome/
My husband purchased Franklin Covey for me almost 5 years ago, and I've been hooked! With a changing schedule, I switched from using the daily pages to the weekly pages - both have their pros and cons. But the system itself has really helped me get more organized and scheduled into my life!
I would like to know also if you use the planner and a seperate home management binder?
I also read Donna Ottos book, and her planner seems to be where everything goes and she also recommends keeping it with you all the time.
Having them seperate seems logical, but then that may make it easy to overlook things too.
hi crystal! thanks for being so willing to share the details of your life with so many people.
i, too, wonder about the planner and the binder. are they separate? i believe they are from your previous discussions. i also wanted to know what it is you spend so much time planning. maybe you'll cover this in future posts and if i'm jumping the gun, i'm sorry. i guess aside from meal planning, budgeting, and creating a daily/weekly/monthly personal and family schedule i don't know what's left to plan. especially since you haven't started a schoolwork curriculum and need to lesson plan. maybe i live in a higher state of disorganization than i thought! :)
thanks.
I love this topic! I too have a problem with planning and organizing more than following the plan or the organization. I have my own online "planner" that is too much to explain here but I will post about it today on my blog.
http://www.pennyraine.com/blog
blessings, Penny Raine
I am not currently using my Franklin Covey planner. Hmmm...why not? It served me so well during my days in full time work outside the home, why wouldn't it for my full time work inside the home??? I know where it is, now to get it filled. Thanks for the reminder!
I think that, regardless of what "type" of planner you choose, even the best planner is no good if you don't actually take "time" to plan! I think your idea of Saturday morning planning/praying sessions is just wonderful, and I am trying to figure out when I can schedule one myself! Right now, I have a huge wall calendar for all our appointments, and a household notebook I call my "Brain in a Binder" (HT to Karen Ehman). Works well for me, but again, not without the planning time!
I have used so many different planners in the last several years. I guess you could call me a planner junkie, every time I came across a new system I'd have to try it becaue I never could find one that worked for me. Until now! I finally invested in Levengers Circa system after looking at it for a couple of years and it is the best thing ever!!! The whole concept is evenly spaced rings that have a special shape to "grab" the paper so your planner works like a spiral bound notebook (you can fold the cover over) and like a binder (you can take the pages out and re-arrange them) AND the rings are evenly spaced so you can trade different size pages and it fits in every size notebook! So if you carry the PDA (3" x 5") in your purse like I do then you can pull the page out when you get home and put it in your regular size notebook without having to rewrite the note. The starter kits are a great place to start and a very reasonable price to see if you like it. The punches are expensive, but definately worth the investment if you use it like I do. I'm going to take some pictures and post them on my blog in the next day or two if anyone is interested. I am trying to develop some pages for myself and am looking for ideas if anyone has suggestions. I don't have children yet and won't be married till later this year, Lord willing, but I do have a home drapery business to keep track of and am interested in what pages would be helpful for a home and children for the future.
Chelsea
I have used some type of planner for many years--always looking for new and better ways to do things! I agree that leaving it open seems to help me actually use it. And I love the idea of leaving my Bible open, too. Some sites I've printed (free!) planner/household binder pages from recently are:
http://delightinreallife.com/family%20notebook.htm
http://www.donnayoung.org/
http://organizedhome.com/printable-planner-forms/home-management/houseworks-planner
For those who might want a Daily planning list, but don't want to spend a ton of money here are a couple of good suggestions:
Daily Hit List by Kathy Peel
http://tinyurl.com/6zctjc
(you have to register at the site to print, but registration is FREE)
Also, http://donnayoung.org/
has some great free printable planner pages and more.
I am looking forward to part 2. I use a planner but I am always stuggling with keeping things organized.
Your posts on your planner have got me in the spirit of trying to start one again.
I got a new planner and I found some printable Classic size form on Ebay. I just paid $5.99 for the template and then I can print out as many as I want. And I actually messed around and made another form that fits me. And it saves from buying the expensive forms and they again are customizable.
I hope this time sticks for me. Thanks for the encouragement.
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