It's Time to Design Your Days

Some days can be hard. To make them more manageable, use a #calendar to plan and design your day to optimize your time. Carve out a set time at the end of every month to visualize what the next month will look like and do your scheduling. At the start of every week, move items into the weekly calendar for a more focused vision. There are several different tools to choose from, such as Google, Outlook, Yahoo, and Slack, which are supported by iCalendar, or the actual paper planners. There are also many other Calendar Apps to help us stay focused and organized: schedule events, create to-do lists and make journal entries all in one place.

Begin with a clear vision of how you want each day of the week to look, what you wish to accomplish and how you want to navigate the day:

• Then set a few mini goals for the day or week ahead.
• Prioritize tasks in a time slot on your calendar by importance and deadline.
• Allow for some flexibility in your schedule for unexpected events or delays.
• Review your calendar regularly to stay on track and make adjustments as needed.
• Celebrate your accomplishments at the end of the day or week to stay motivated.
• Consider using time-blocking techniques to help you stay focused and productive. 

Time-blocking techniques are productivity strategies that involves breaking down your day into specific time slots for completing tasks. This helps you stay focused and avoid multitasking, leading to better efficiency and productivity. Some popular time-blocking techniques include the Pomodoro Technique, the Eisenhower Matrix, and the Time Blocking Method. 

Remember to block off statutory holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and other special days, including breaks and self-care activities.

The best way, I find, to keep a schedule is to use a pen and paper to map out and organize my time using a Ban.do planner. 

I love the feel of writing things done, and it's also fun to decorate them. 

You can also use colour-coding or various symbols to distinguish between different types of tasks or events. It will not matter if you use a physical calendar or an automated one. In fact, you can use both as a means of backup. 

The nice thing about the iCalendars is they will help us collaborate meetings with many participants and send us reminders.

Dont forget to use the four Ds of effective time management: 

1. Defer what can wait 
2. Do what you must 
3. Delegate what you don't like
4. Delete everything else.

A calendar is a simple tool to optimize your day for maximum productivity. Work smart, avoid distractions and focus on your goals. Don't worry too much about what other people think of you. Keep on persevering and trust God's plan for your life.

Be Blessed. Be bold. Be Strong. Be You!

Andrene Gregory,

The Ultimate Life Coach