30 Days to an Organized Life Day 18
We are over halfway through our 30 Day Challenge and today I’m sharing one of my best tips for staying organized: creating a weekly plan.
Most of us create a daily to do list, if only in our minds, but I personally found that when I only planned daily I lost sight of the bigger picture or I became frustrated with my inability to accomplish everything on my plan. A daily plan is better than no plan but a weekly plan is better because while it is still a manageable amount of time, it is long enough to allow you space to fit in longer term goals and make sure you are achieving all of your priorities.
The best way to ensure that you will create the habit of planning weekly is to choose a specific, regular time each week that you can spend 20-30 minutes alone thinking about your week ahead. I have Saturday mornings blocked off for planning time but if I have a scheduling conflict I plan on Sunday evening. If you’re a mom of small children you may need to enlist the help of your husband or a friend to make sure you have uninterrupted time.
At a minimum your plan should include meals for the week, chores and tasks that need to be completed and personal time. You can read more details about How to Plan Your Week to Get the Important Stuff Done here.
Today’s Task 1: Read the planYOURweek section in your 30 Days to an Organized Life ePlanner. Print your choice of planner for the week (2 are included in your planner. You can find more planners here.)
Today’s Task 2: Set a time each week when you can spend 20-30 minutes planning the week ahead. To make planning a habit choose a time in your schedule when you can consistently have time alone every week.
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I am home all day today…a rare thing working full time with three children…so the plan is to take the next three hours and do the past 17 days. 10 minutes for each area with a timer. I need to jump start my life and I think a timer is what I need. I do not have time to do everything and I often get into a project, make a mess and then end up not finishing it. I am going for progress, not perfection. (Thank you for that)
I want to make changes in every are of my life and I am hoping if I spend a few minutes on each area each week I can gradually make my life it is meant to be and I can see that I am enough and am doing what God intended.
My “goals” for my life are:
watch my children grow into happy healthy, self sufficient men
grow in my marriage
eat healthier and move more
relax through photography and journaling
increase my faith life
live within our budget
have a clean organized happy house
My weekly plan is going to include something in each of these areas each week. I already journal at least once a week, write in a gratitude journal daily, read a daily devotion. I have incorporated a date night, 2 yoga sessions, chiropractor visit and massage/myofacia into my monthly schedule.
I have been reading the blog/emails daily and know that everyone of them applies to me and my life. I needed this! I did really well last fall with making positive changes. I need to continue to do it. Thank you for providing these ideas.
A healthy breakfast and a timer, then GO!
May your day be fabulous!
Good for you Emilie! You can do this! Even if you only get through half the tasks you have made progress.