Question of the Day, Sunday, July 19, 2015

this week i'm feeling the loss of my calendar on my computer. i look at it every day, and it contains my 'to-do's' as well as reminders for all sorts of things. until my computer situation is dealt with, i'm writing down my daily to-do's and reminders on a pad of paper. so, with these thoughts on my mind.........

for today's Question of the Day, let's talk about how we plan, organize, do things/get things done  --

Do you use a calendar? If so, is the calendar on a computer or a paper calendar?

How do you find it most helpful to plan or organize things in your life? For example.........

            -- getting things done? (more day-to-day type things)

            -- in order to accomplish things? (short term things as well as more long term type things)

Do you find it useful to set goals? (for anything)

How about 'structure' in your life? Is your life relatively structured, or do you prefer some level of 'spontaneity' in your life?

i'll start!

i prefer a calendar on my computer, and i use it each and every day. i find that by listing things in my calendar, i have less 'clutter' in my mind, things to try to remember.

i'm big on planning and organizing. i use my calendar to list all my 'to-do's' for each day, but also write up lists for those days where i have many things to do -- so i don't forget to do anything, and to keep me 'on track'. i cross off the things i've gotten done as i complete them. i pretty much always have short term as well as longer term things i'd like or need to accomplish too. those i plan out on paper, and there almost always are changes or adjustments to them.

yes, i find it helpful to set goals for myself. many times i'll set goals that are somewhat challenging to accomplish in one way or another. i reach many of my goals, though other goals aren't reached in the time frame or exactly how i had planned for them to be reached. i've learned to be flexible and simply accept delays or adjustments to my goals.

i prefer a very structured life, and don't do well with a lot of spontaneity.

okay, now it's your turn!

I like to use calendars as well. It helps keep me organized.  .......Or at least ALL the stuff that is/ would be in my head anyway.    

I have the calendar on my phone, I have a wall calendar in the kitchen that I keep personal stuff on like Dr. appts, birthdays, etc...

I also have a 12 x 15 calendar I use for my work schedule, since I started my own cleaning business over 2 yrs. ago.  I have each client written in

on their day, & what bill that money will cover for that month. Since I get paid per job, vs/ having a paycheck. I keep that on the dryer in the kitchen, 

since it's big.  It works well.  I have a picture of Angel "helping me with my schedule" but it's on my phone, I will have to see if I can post it from my phone.     Couldn't do it from my phone, so had to do it this way. 

Angel says, " I help you mommy!" 

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/kelly8-69/IMG_20150503_182417611_zpsujrkrn5y.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/kelly8-69/IMG_20150503_182324446_zpsv2fysm02.jpg

I'd be lost without my computer(s) calendars.  I have my personal PC and cellphone along with my office one calendar synched together on Google.  I also make notes/reminders in them, so notifications pop up on my cell phone every morning.  

There is always room for being spontaneous! The calendars are a guideline, not an absolute.  I don't structure myself too much other than the things which really must get done or remembered.

I always have a paper calendar hanging in the kitchen. (This year's calendar features Link from the different Zelda games.) That's where I keep track of everything because if it's written down, I don't have to keep it in my head, which I think is full anyway. I'm not on my laptop that much, but I am doing stuff around the house all the time so it works better to jot down appointments and such on the paper calendar.

For work, though, I have a timeline on that laptop to keep up with everything. All the duties for my job are on done the laptop so that works best.

If it's on my calendar, I will be there / get it done on time. If it's not on the calendar, sorry folks it ain't gonna happen.

OMGosh!

I have lists all over the place! 

For appointments I use my phone which is synced with my computer. I also put them down on a calender and a datebook.

I use the datebook for notes on things which happened at the appointments. 

I like to have things out on lists, but I am finding that the older I get, the more forgetful I am getting. Or is it because all the stresses I had before are now doing a number on my mind? 

I usually do not follow-thru on everything on the list, but it does help me to see what needs to be done. I also like to cross things out and see the list diminish. For me that is a sense of accomplishment.

it seems the more time I have, the less I get done and the more lists I make!! 

I use both a paper calendar in my room and the one on my phone. For important events, definitely helpful! 

We use the computer calender for most things.  I do put some things into my phone; mostly things i NEED a reminder for.  DH handles the computer's calender the most.  I see the reminders if I open his e-mail; but otherwise I only use it to check the date or what he has planned.  DH uses it for household tasks; like remembering to change the HVAC filter or do maintenance on appliances.  

I am pretty laid back; but I like routine at the same time.  If I've got a lot to do; I'll make a list in my kitchen chalk board.  But this year I will be learning to live by a planner to some degree.  We are homeschooling our kiddos and I need to keep lessons planned out properly.  Plus I also need to keep attendance records and that sort of thing.  I just haven't decided if I will buy a paper planner or go with some sort of electronic system.  I think electronic could be neater. But there is just something different about how my brain processes things when I see it on paper vs on a screen.  Plus the portability.  Unless it syncs with my phone.   

Angels mommy said:

 
I like to use calendars as well. It helps keep me organized.  .......Or at least ALL the stuff that is/ would be in my head anyway. 

  

I have the calendar on my phone, I have a wall calendar in the kitchen that I keep personal stuff on like Dr. appts, birthdays, etc...

I also have a 12 x 15 calendar I use for my work schedule, since I started my own cleaning business over 2 yrs. ago.  I have each client written in

on their day, & what bill that money will cover for that month. Since I get paid per job, vs/ having a paycheck. I keep that on the dryer in the kitchen, 

since it's big.  It works well.  I have a picture of Angel "helping me with my schedule" but it's on my phone, I will have to see if I can post it from my phone. 

   Couldn't do it from my phone, so had to do it this way. 

Angel says, " I help you mommy!" 

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/kelly8-69/IMG_20150503_182417611_zpsujrkrn5y.jpg

http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/hh632/kelly8-69/IMG_20150503_182324446_zpsv2fysm02.jpg

Click to expand...

it sounds like you have a great method for keeping things organized!

oh, how sweet your angel is to help you with your schedule! he's such a good-looking boy! 

I use my phone's calendar. Everything I need to remember is typed in with a reminder so it let's me know what and when.
I'm completely not spontaneous.

I have a really nice leather date book that I treated myself to when I got my planning job 15 years ago. It has held up well and I update it every year for the new year. I use that for both work and personal stuff. I also use that to log my walks and my weight.

We always get new desk calendars at work and I use that for stuff that's going on at work.

sivyaleah said:

 
I'd be lost without my computer(s) calendars.  I have my personal PC and cellphone along with my office one calendar synched together on Google.  I also make notes/reminders in them, so notifications pop up on my cell phone every morning.  

There is always room for being spontaneous! The calendars are a guideline, not an absolute.  I don't structure myself too much other than the things which really must get done or remembered.

Click to expand...

it sounds like you have a good balance of structure and spontaneity!

mickNsnicks2mom said:

 
it sounds like you have a good balance of structure and spontaneity!

Click to expand...

I try. I'm kind of hedonistic at heart.  Fun is good!

sivyaleah said:

 
I try. I'm kind of hedonistic at heart.  Fun is good!

Click to expand...

you know, thinking about it more i realize that i probably don't enjoy spontaneity because i associate it with the many unexpected things that tend to come up -- which i deal with immediately, but really do not enjoy. fun for me is watching the cats play and enjoy themselves, and of course the special occasions like their birthdays and christmas. also, berry picking and making jams jellies are what i consider fun.

SwampWitch said:

 
I always have a paper calendar hanging in the kitchen. (This year's calendar features Link from the different Zelda games.) That's where I keep track of everything because if it's written down, I don't have to keep it in my head, which I think is full anyway. I'm not on my laptop that much, but I am doing stuff around the house all the time so it works better to jot down appointments and such on the paper calendar.

For work, though, I have a timeline on that laptop to keep up with everything. All the duties for my job are on done the laptop so that works best.

If it's on my calendar, I will be there / get it done on time. If it's not on the calendar, sorry folks it ain't gonna happen.

Click to expand...

'...because if it's written down, I don't have to keep it in my head...'   exactly!!!

very organized!

Artiemom said:

 
OMGosh!

I have lists all over the place! 

For appointments I use my phone which is synced with my computer. I also put them down on a calender and a datebook.

I use the datebook for notes on things which happened at the appointments. 

I like to have things out on lists, but I am finding that the older I get, the more forgetful I am getting. Or is it because all the stresses I had before are now doing a number on my mind? 

I usually do not follow-thru on everything on the list, but it does help me to see what needs to be done. I also like to cross things out and see the list diminish. For me that is a sense of accomplishment.

it seems the more time I have, the less I get done and the more lists I make!! 

Click to expand...

'I use the datebook for notes on things which happened at the appointments.'   very smart way of keeping track of those things!

i think it may be a cumulative effect kind of thing for many people. just remembering things all of our lives, and some/many things we permanently remember......in an ever increasing number. at least that's my 'take' on it.

oh, yes, i agree! crossing things off of our list and seeing the list diminish gives me a sense of accomplishment too!

i don't always get everything done on my list each day. for me, it's always making progress, not trying for perfection.

Cassiopea said:

 
I use both a paper calendar in my room and the one on my phone. For important events, definitely helpful! 

Click to expand...

sounds like a very effective method!

so, it looks like many people use more than one type of calendar to plan/organize. it also looks like everyone's method works well for them.

MoochNNoodles said:

 
We use the computer calender for most things.  I do put some things into my phone; mostly things i NEED a reminder for.  DH handles the computer's calender the most.  I see the reminders if I open his e-mail; but otherwise I only use it to check the date or what he has planned.  DH uses it for household tasks; like remembering to change the HVAC filter or do maintenance on appliances.  

I am pretty laid back; but I like routine at the same time.  If I've got a lot to do; I'll make a list in my kitchen chalk board.  But this year I will be learning to live by a planner to some degree.  We are homeschooling our kiddos and I need to keep lessons planned out properly.  Plus I also need to keep attendance records and that sort of thing.  I just haven't decided if I will buy a paper planner or go with some sort of electronic system.  I think electronic could be neater. But there is just something different about how my brain processes things when I see it on paper vs on a screen.  Plus the portability.  Unless it syncs with my phone. 

 

Click to expand...

it looks like about half of us use reminders, like on a phone or computer. i don't use reminders, but i do look at my calendar several times each day.

if you have a printer that can scan too, an all-in-one, you could scan pages of a paper planner as needed --- like if you were able to submit them online. i've sent in or submitted many documents online, and it makes the process fast and the doc's aren't lost in the mail or delayed --- whoever/where ever they're submitted to is able to print out another copy of anything they've lost a paper copy of. i was even able to submit many doc's for my mortgage application online. so you could use a paper planner, but be able to submit it online (by scanning it into your computer).

Stewball said:

I use my phone's calendar. Everything I need to remember is typed in with a reminder so it let's me know what and when.
I'm completely not spontaneous.

Click to expand...

great way to keep things running smoothly!

i'd have to say that i'm pretty much completely not spontaneous too.

Winchester said:

 
I have a really nice leather date book that I treated myself to when I got my planning job 15 years ago. It has held up well and I update it every year for the new year. I use that for both work and personal stuff. I also use that to log my walks and my weight.

We always get new desk calendars at work and I use that for stuff that's going on at work.

Click to expand...

so you prefer paper type calendars. it sounds like you have things well organized!

mickNsnicks2mom said:

great way to keep things running smoothly!

i'd have to say that i'm pretty much completely not spontaneous too.

Click to expand...

Two of a kind.