Become a MASTER Planner and Conquer Your Day

We've all heard it before... fail to plan, plan to fail. 

I used to think I was an EXPERT planner. I mean I had my phone calendar set up, Siri was always pinging me with reminders, I used alarms, sticky notes, notebooks, online planners, printable calendars, whiteboards, and the list may or may not go on and on (cringe). I was obsessed with planning, yet so ineffective in my execution and time management. I was always spinning my wheels, wondering where the day went. Why was my to-do list always longer than it was yesterday? I guess you could say I was lost planning my planning?! #freak

Please note: This blog contains affiliate links.

Clean up, sugar. Time to S I M P L I F Y.

With technology at its peak, American's have about an 8 second attention span. While this is great in some ways it is TERRIBLE when it comes to getting things DONE. Organizing your priorities, planning your month, day, life... you get it. 5AM alarm goes off to work out, but whaaaaaa my bed is SO WARM AND COZZZZZZY. I will do it later... after work. After work Siri reminds you The Bachelor is on at 7. Suddenly, you have short-term memory loss about that workout.

Without a SOLID plan we almost always procrastinate, deflect, make excuses, etc. Human nature. We love to live in the moment.

We love social media (I know... there's REALLY important stuff in there, like Katie's new cat). We love forgetting the not-so-fun things we have to do to focus on the way-more-fun-things we don't really have to do. But to be a superhero and WIN at life you will need to effectively PLAN. And not only plan but execute without fail, stick to your own priorities and reclaim your domain. Become the master of your life, baby. 

But to be a superhero and WIN at life you will need to effectively PLAN. And not only plan but execute without fail, stick to your own priorities and reclaim your domain. Become the master of your life, baby. 

Its TIME. 

You are going to hate this part... I mean realllllly hate it. It's time to CHOOSE. Choose your planning platform that is. Your ONE. AND. ONLY. planning platform. Let me say that one more time... it is time to pick ONE system of management. 

So basically we have 2 choices here: You either go electronic, which I don't recommend and I'll tell you why. Or utilize a paper planning system. If you MUST use an electronic system, I would use your phone calendar, Google Calendar, or Evernote, not all of the above.

Why don't I like electronic planning?

When you write things down, the process reinforces your retention. Can I get an Amen?! It can also increase your memory by as much as 70 percent! Bottom line: You will be more effective and you won't have the constant email, social media, or text pings and dings distracting your epic-ly planned (not a word but should be) day. 

OK- So I get the benefit of paper planning, now what?

This is the best part! Pick your planner! Oh shopping! Happy-happy-joy-joy! Now you can become a master planner on a Wal-Mart budget. Or, you can get really fancy.

There are a lot of different segments to planning that will make you a badass planning ninja, but there are two MAIN categories:

1) Monthly Planning
2) Daily Planning

So when picking a basic planner just make sure you have monthly planning tabs and daily planning sheets. If you wanna get gansta - the planner I use is the David Byrd System. I also like the Franklin Covey system, but its completely up to you and a simple monthly/daily planner is also a great place to start. 

Next, lets tackle monthly planning

Monthly Planning is KEY.
This is where you put all of your TIME-SCHEDULED EVENTS. 
Time Scheduled Event? Yes. i.e. appointments, meetings, birthday parties, dinners, conference calls... etc. Anything that has a set time goes in  your monthly plan. 

I also like to color code by family member. For example, all my husband's time scheduled events (that affect me) are in yellow. My sons are in blue and I am in orange. This helps me keep everyone in one place and I can figure out what is happening for whom - at a glance. 

Please note: This ONE monthly calendar should have BOTH personal and business events. Don't be scared. It works- I PROMISE! ;)

​When to plan your month? BEFORE the month begins. I actually book an appointment for myself a few days before the month ends to plan the new month's time scheduled events. 

Here is  a glance at one of my completed months. 

Next, lets move to daily planning

Now, same rule applies for daily planning. PLAN THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS (thank you David Byrd). 

Step 1: Copy your time scheduled events for that day over from your monthly plan into your daily planning page. These appointments go in the 'schedule' section. I block the amount of time I estimate each appointment or event will take.
For example: Business meeting - time block from 9-10AM. You should also put an address, phone number or any other details you'll need so its all in ONE PLACE (sensing a trend?). 

Step 2: Add your 'to do list'. Now this gets sticky. A to-do list can be minimal or all encompassing. And I do mean ALL ENCOMPASSING {eeeeck}. A good to-do list has FIVE items or less. So, pick the most high-payoff action items that you MUST complete TODAY and jot them down in the to-do or notes section. Number them by importance. 1-5. 

Everything else can be noted in the "future to-do list" section. (If your planner doesn't have that section, create it. Life-saver). 

Each day, mark off the to-do list items you complete. Whatever doesn't get completed- move it to tomorrow until it gets DONE HON. ;) 

Step 3: Create your Contact/Follow-up list. Now this may not be pertinent for everyone but for anyone with a J.O.B. you'll like this part. (Or hate it, but no matter what, you need it). 

In this section, I put all the names of folks I need to contact, follow-up with, speak to, set an appt with etc. I put their name, number, and a quick note. I also try to limit this to 5 or less as that is usually the limit of what ACTUALLY gets accomplished. More than 5 contacts? No worries. You can put an overflow up in the "future to-do list" section for tomorrow. 

Step 4: Notes. On the left of my planner is a big, white notes page. YASSSS. Here I put my meal planning, workouts, conference call notes, etc. It can be anything you like OUTSIDE of time scheduled events, your to-do list, future to-do items, and contacts.

Getting it? GOOOODDDDD. We are getting somewhere! 

Have you heard it takes 21 days to create a habit? 

Tips for maintaining your planning badassery.

• Consistency is KEY.
• Make it a PRIORITY to set up your day BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS.
• Schedule a time to plan your month before the 1'st.
• Live with your planner. No really. LIVE WITH IT. 
• Update it throughout the day as things change. 
• Resist the urge to use more than ONE system of management. 
• Color code by family member. 
• Keep to-do list and contact section to 5 items or less. 
• Remember that it takes 21 days to create a new habit. KEEP GOING! Practice makes perfect. 

Congratulations! You have started your journey to becoming a MASTER PLANNER and owning your day.