How many of you plan your week out? If you do, what tools do you use to keep track of what is going on and where you need to be?

I use Outlook, he uses Google Calendar to track actual appointments. We copy each other on important ones.

I have daily, weekly and long term "to do" lists. Because I'm me, I use "decorative" tablets and notebooks. Smallish paper for the daily list I use. Hot pink or blue notebook paper for the longer lists. I generally rewrite the long term list every month or so. I put important things on it and routine mundane things I may not remember because they are unimportant - such as google this or that. I generally have this with me.

I have a shelf at the end of my hallway by the garage door where I put anything I may need later in the week. When I went to get my real id several months ago I had the paperwork I needed in an envelope for 3 or 4 days on the shelf. Want to return something to a store? The item & receipt are on the shelf. That way, when I am ready to do the chore, I don't have to gather what I need (hence provide a reason to go to the couch or this time of year the back porch rather than getting stuff done).

RayRay,

I tried every tech calendar/planner I could find. Did not help me.

Psychologists say things TYPED on screen go into a different part of your brain than handwritten. Typed does not lock into our brain. Handwritten does because it requires more thought.

I went back to my handwritten DayTimer - 2 pager. To Do list on the left, includes phone calls and notes, ALL numbered in sequence. Don't go to #2 until #1 is done.

On the right is the day with times. I list scheduled appointments, court, etc on that side block out those times. D= drive time to the next town over, House number for the property I cam checking (30-40 minutes), Drive time back.

I can also write on the timed page what I did and where. It's great to look and the day and say "Where did the time go?!"

It also has a 2 page wide monthly calendar. I can see things like deadlines approaching, things that need to be checked in a week, an overview of the whole month.

Repairs are all written on a 3 part form. One copy goes up on a bulletin board for all to see. Payment is made when that copy comes down off the board and is done.

Trying to keep all this stuff in one's mind will cause sleepless night.

WEEKLY PLANNER

TIME MON TUES WED THUR FRI SAT SUN

9:00

9:15

9:30

9:45

10:00

10:15

10:30

10:45

11:00

11:15

11:30

11:45

12:00

12:15

12:30

12:45

1:00

1:15

1:30

1:45

2:00

2:15

2:30

2:45

3:00

3:15

3:30

3:45

4:00

4:15

4:30

4:45

5:00

5:15

5:30

5:45

6:00

6:15

6:30

6:45

7:00

7:15

7:30

7:45

8:00

8:15

8:30

8:45

9:00

Brad....that's interesting. Hadn't ever heard about that, but it makes some sense that different parts of the brain are involved. I need to look into that in greater depth...maybe I should WRITE myself a note!

Ray, I don't plan out my week per se. One thing that is good about being an 7 to 4 W-2 worker is most of my work day is planned for me. I know it doesn't fit the model of a Type A personality (which I don't think I am, really....), but I prefer to have flexibility and take care of tasks when they best fit, according to priority. And I do try to keep a healthy dose of time unscheduled so I can do last minutes things with family or friends as I desire or work out/exercise, etc.

Nicole,

Nicole,