We are winding down our series on organizing your calendar. Today, I would like to talk about the dreaded, To Do List! If you are anything like me, it is a mile long. The common question that I get is, "Where do you find time in your busy schedule to even make a dent in your to do list?" My answer is that if your calendar is organized, you will know exactly when you can get stuff done.
Let me start by saying that the words calendar and to do list are not interchangable. Your calendar holds the events of your life and things that you have to complete daily. Your to do list is a collection of tasks that you do periodically or not often like cleaning out a closets or doing your taxes.
As with my calendar, I have my to do list separated into different categories. I have a different list for cleaning, family, gardening, baking, volunteering and business. Then, it becomes a matter of priorities. In the spring, my cleaning to do list takes center stage. Conversely, fall is a big baking time and summer has a lot of gardening. For these priority times, I usually set aside a day to knock those jobs off. For the other items, I fit them in where there are gaps in my calendar. That's why it is important to know when you have time and what you are going to do when those times come.
Lastly, be realistic about how long things take. If you have to completely dig out the mess in your basement, it isn't something you can fit into the 5 minutes before you pick up the kids from school. Set aside a day to knock some of that project off. Be aware of the things that you can get done in 5 minutes. There is nothing more satisifying then marking something off that list but know what you can do and when.
As you can see, tackling your calendar isn't an exercise in futility. It is definitely a necessity and a happy Tackle It Tuesday with 5 Minutes for Mom ! Next week, I am going to finish my series with an advanced class. If you want to take your calendar to the next level, come back then:-)
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10 comments:
You are so right. Prioritizing is most important.
We try to keep a common family calendar. If everyone writes things down, it works like a charm. But then there are the slackers, and I sometimes count myself as one of them!
You're like the queen of organization!
Great ideas and you really do have to prioritize to make it work IMO!
I totally agree about how satisfying it can be to check things off the list. I'm so guilty of putting off the big projects that might take several days. I hate those!
You know I am so right there with you. I do sometimes schedule my to do list items on my calendar though to ensure they get done and I don't fill up the space I need for them with something else. And oh those five or fifteen minute itmes you can knock off and feel like you really did something - it's awesome. Expecially when you get to cross it off the to do list! :)
Thanks for all your tips!
I seriously need a day planner because I know I have things coming up, and I can't remember what!
My husband would totally love it if i were as orgainized as you. I agree, though those are some great ideas.
We do have a family calendar and then hubby and I have our separate ones. He takes care of the older kids appointments and such and I handle all the littles plus mine of course
OK...so question... if you're putting everything in Google, do you print it out? How does everyone else in the family keep up with your agenda/calendar/to-do list?
This is where I'm struggling with it all. I've looked into Cozi... a household binder... I currently use Outlook but I honestly don't trust the program to not break down on me again (and lose all my data -- which it has!)
If it's in Cozi, I know my hubs can access it... but it doesn't sync with my blackberry so then again is the problem of everyone having access. I can print out calendars in Outlook - which i really like!
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