5 Ways to Make the Most of your Diary

‘What gets scheduled gets done” Our Workshops consultant Sue Glasser shares her top tips on using your diary, planner or calendar to take back control of your time.

Did you know that one of the top 3 new year resolutions is to GET MORE ORGANISED?

Using a diary or planner effectively will allow you to take back control of your time and ultimately help you get more organised. Below are a few tips on how to do just that!

• Let’s start with some questions:

Do you purchase a diary each year and use it for a few weeks and then lose interest?

Do you have a planner and use it as a time keeper only?

Is your to do list turning into a “never get to do” list?

A diary or planner should not only be used to include your current and future appointments, assignments or project deadlines ( a time keeper) but it should also include all the tasks that need to be done in order to prepare for that appointment, assignment or project.

Ever heard the saying “Something you can do anytime – you will do no time? ”

Always set a deadline to achieve a task because WHENEVER will become NEVER.

Are you a list maker? The best way to ensure we get things done is by allocating our TO DO list into our diary or planner.

Remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed by how much you need to get done you will not do anything at all. Break things down into bite sized pieces. Every big job is only a lot of little jobs put together – so tackle them one task at a time.

• 5 top tips on making the most of your diary or planner

1. What gets scheduled gets done. If you want to do something make sure it has been allocated a time in your calendar.

2. To do lists are just a lot of things you ” might “get to unless each task is scheduled into your diary.

3. Colour coding is your best time management tool. Colour code your “spinning plates” to easily distinguish what needs to be done and when in each area of your life. eg: Work – BLUE, Family – GREEN, Me Time – PINK, Goals – ORANGE

4. Plan, prioritise and schedule your tasks – Decide what needs to be done to achieve a task. This is your action plan. Decide which order they need to be done in and then  make sure each step is allocated into your diary. Break all jobs down into manageable amounts of focused time.

5. Multi tasking is a myth as it means you are doing many things reasonably well. This then makes us feel unaccomplished. Single tasking means you are focusing on one job at a time and completing it. How much better is that?

Feeling inspired to take back control? Discover our 2019 Diaries here.