I find that if I don't create a daily list of things I need to get done, I end up going in circles all day trying to figure out what I should be working on and towards. When I write down what my priorities are in regards to what I need to accomplish, I am able to plan my time wisely, and have more time available to focus on my family, spend time with friends, serve those around me, and reach personal goals.
After trying many different systems, this one has worked best for me, and I have been using it daily for many years. I realize that technology now allows for task tracking and prioritizing, and that I can manage this on my phone, but I am really trying to put my phone down during the day so as to limit the distractions that I face with social media, online shopping, Pinterest and other diversions that befuddle my course and goals.
I am also trying to be more present with my children, and find that if I am looking at my phone all day, even if it is for something good, like my to-do list, I lose that connection with them.
So, here it is. Plain, simple and inexpensive, yet it works like a charm:
I purchased a small white board and dry erase markers. Every night I evaluate about what I have accomplished that day, and what I need to get done the following day.
At the top of the white board I write down the day of the week and what I need to get done that day based on priorities. There are always things I COULD do, but I try to limit it to what needs to be done that day. Then I list a few "If time permits" tasks that would be nice to get done if I have a bit of extra time.
I simply cross off tasks as I complete them and work my way down the list. The tasks that don't get done that day simply move up the list for the next day and become higher priority to ensure that I complete them the following day. While it is fulfilling to cross items off and see the fruits of your labors as you go, this system is also very forgiving since everything can be easily erased and modified.
This tends to reduce stress for me since I can determine that I don't have time for something that day, but that I can make time for it the next day. Since it's on the board already, I won't forget to add it to the "to-do's" for the following day.
I don't mount the board on a wall, instead, it is usually sitting on my kitchen table. Not having it hung up also allows me to move it to my computer desk so I can look at it while I complete computer- related tasks such as paying bills, and I can also set it on my nightstand while I am organizing my thoughts and tasks for the following day.
This system has made me a more organized mom and spouse, and allows me to spend my time more wisely so I can move forward to more meaningful activities.
I love this quote by Bishop John H. Vandenberg, former Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church, "
- “I feel that goal-setting is absolutely necessary for happy living. But the goal is only part of the desired procedures. We need to know which roads to take to reach the goal. In many cases we set far-reaching goals but neglect the short-range ones. With such short-range plans, we need self-discipline in our actions—study when it is time to study, sleep when it is time to sleep, read when it is time to read, and so on—not permitting an undesirable overlap, but getting our full measure of rewards and blessings from the time we invest in a particular activity” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1966, 94).
Simply cross of tasks as you complete them and work down the list.
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