How to make plans? - Pen and paper edition [ 2020 ]

On the contrary to the common belief that everything is better online, when typed and read on a screen, life and/or goal planning works best when done with a pen and paper.

Today, we will look at a few great tools in the world of life planning and journaling that I have been using to maintain my sanity and productivity.

Scheduling

To-do Lists

Scheduling:

To understand the concept of scheduling, look at a school or a college timetable, it is essentially a plan of everyday activities with a time limit. Make one such for your daily activities, include everything that you do or wish to do in a day; allot time to the activity too. If the activity that is not a daily one,still include it; give it or add it in the misc. category.

I understand that following a structure of that rigidity in adulthood with work hours having no bells to declare the end is difficult but the best part is, you don’t need to follow the timings to the T, let it be just there for your mind to be reminded of the activities that you are supposed to perform certain activities, the reminder itself ensures productivity.

To-do Lists:

To-to lists and schedules superficially may seem similar but serve two completely different purposes. To-do lists ideally should have more specifics. For example, a schedule would mention going to the groceries store, a to-do list would include things you are required to buy from there. Schedules maintain the structure of your day while the to-do lists maintain accuracy.

Sample schedule would be

• 7-9 am morning routine
• 9-11 am breakfast and household chores
• 11-1 pm client calls
• 1-2 pm lunch
• 2-4 pm research work
• 4-5 pm household chores
• 5-7 pm client writing
• 7-9 pm dinner (cook and eat)
• 9-11 pm StackMantle writing

Have a look at the schedule, it is obvious that I will not be able to follow the time to the t, it is just there to keep me reminded of things I have lined up for the day.

To-do for the same day was like this;

• Organize work desk
• PC cable management
• Client A call - discuss questionnaire
• Formulate questionnaire for client A
• Client B logo design

Here you can see, elements of the list are very specific and are in tandem with the activities on the schedule.

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