Start by Starting

Your planner is a tool, it works with you and FOR you, but it will not work if you do not USE it.

The biggest mistake people make when it comes to planning and using their planner, is using their planner.

Being purposeful with your planner and using it as a guide, or as a personal assistant, takes work and practice.

You have to plan to plan. Which sounds crazy but it's the number one reason why people can't get into the habit of using a planner.

So how do you get start.

1. Plan to plan. Set aside a day and time to plan out your week. Sundays work best for me. Make a list of everything you need to do that week, your goals, dinner, cleaning routine, appointments, birthdays, etc. and then determine when is the best time to do what.

2. Check in. Before you end your day or leave your office, check in. Check your planner for task that need to be pushed to tomorrow. Mark off task that have been completed, update task or whatever else needs to be done for the next day. Same for your personal planner, add checking in to your nightly routine before you go to bed.

3. Take it with you, leave it open. Your planner is a tool not just a pretty thing to have. Take it with you to work, to meetings, open it up and leave it out. Even at home, keep it next to your night stand, if you don't have a home office. Remember, out of sight - out of mind.

4. Everything in one place. If you are just starting, its easier to have one main planner with EVERYTHING in it. and I mean everything, notes, reminders, dates, goals, plans, dinner recipes, memories, bills; whatever you write down, write it in your planner. You are more likely to check in, when everything is there. Also, its a tool, use it; over use it.