Today is another one of my favorites.
More on schedules!
Sarah introduced planning on May 10th,
explaining that planning preserves your sanity.
I love schedules,
here we go!
"A schedule defends from chaos and whim.
It is a net for catching days...
A schedule is a mock-up of reason and order -
willed, faked, and so brought into being."
Start Quote
A friend of mine has a theory
that it's not so much all we actually have to do
in a week that kills us,
it's thinking about all we have to do...
Here's a Simple Abundance strategy
- even for the organizationally challenged -
to bring more harmony into your life.
It will free up those vital memory RAMs...
Take twenty minutes each Sunday
and sit down with your calendar, a pad, pen, and yellow highlighter
to map out the next six days with a thorough "To Do" list,
then take a preliminary look at the following three weeks.
[Robbie and I have taken this to heart.
When we don't do it, our weeks are more hectic.
Of course, we use our calendars on our phones and an excel sheet
instead of pen and paper.]
In order to cast a net that really catches days,
you need to consider all the tasks you do in one week,
both professional and private.
This is not for the fainthearted,
but it's crucial.
Be of good courage.
Here's what we really do each week.
[This is not a universal list, and it's dated,
but it's a start and it's pretty darn close.]
The Universal "To Do" List
Work:
Meetings, prospecting, marketing/publicity, desk tasks, planning, billing, reading, researching, writing, traveling
Errands:
Banking, cleaners, library, gas station, video store, post office
Children:
School, health, lessons, sports, scouts, car pool, clubs, play dates, parties
Appointments:
Health, fitness, beauty, automotive, animals
Shopping:
Food, clothing, drugstore items, home, gifts
Correspondence:
Bills, letters, cards, and packages
Telephone/Fax:
Home:
Cleaning, laundry, decorating, improvements, cooking, repairs, entertaining, gardening
Family:
Friends:
Church/Community:
Personal:
Inspiration, introspection, rest, recuperation, relaxation, grooming, creative excursions, educational, pleasurable pursuits
After doing most of the above,
it would seem there'd be no time left
for the last and most important category:
personal.
The way to solve this real life dilemma
is to move Personal from last to first,
making it a top priority as you plan.
Start by taking your yellow marker
and blocking out an hour each day on the calendar...
The left side of your brain
-the location of logic-
LOVES lists.
It goes on automatic pilot when making lists,
sorting and shifting until a schedule appears
that can accommodate everything.
Sometimes it's even manageable.
If you ever hope to get it done,
WRITE IT DOWN.
Scan your list morning and night.
When you've completed a task,
ceremoniously cross it off with a red marker...
It imparts a great sense of satisfaction to see the list
fill up in red during the week.
If you feel you spend too many days
accomplishing little or nothing,
keep a "what I've Done" list for a week.
You may discover that you do a lot more than you realize
- or give yourself credit for.
You'll probably also discover that golden moments
were unconsciously squandered because there was
no net to catch them.
End Quote
"How we spend our days is,
of course,
how we spend our lives."
-Annie Dillard
Okay!
Ready, set, go!
***
Gratitude Journal
***
1) I love it when I can try to give service. I hope it was helpful.
2) Appliances. Like ac, washer and dryer, dishwasher...so awesome.
3) Swiffer mops, and other cleaning things like vinegar and dawn dish soap.
4) Baths. And making the time to take them and take care of myself.
5) Castiel. He's hilarious. I love dry and witty humor.
