In past podcasts, you may have heard me list four questions you can use to determine whether something is “organized.”
1. Does it work?
2. Do you like it?
3. Does it work for the others it effects?
4. Can you recover quickly?
This week I’m suggesting you apply those questions to your calendar or planner system. Listen as I discuss how to apply the 5-Step Productive Environment Process to your calendar.
Podcast Duration: 04:38 (MM:SS)
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Podcast Transcript
Hello, I’m Barbara Hemphill. My passion is helping you eliminate physical, digital, emotional and spiritual clutter, so you can accomplish your work and enjoy your life. I’m so glad you've joined me again today!
In past podcasts, you may have heard me list four questions you can use to determine whether something is “organized.”
1. Does it work?
2. Do you like it?
3. Does it work for the others it effects?
4. Can you recover quickly?
This week I’m suggesting you apply those questions to your calendar/planner system. The purpose of a calendar/planner system is to be able to schedule appointments and plan your work with ease and confidence.
While many people do an excellent job of using their calendar to schedule appointments with others, they are not so skilled at using it to schedule appointments with themselves. Often when we are working with clients whose lives are full of sticky notes and miscellaneous scraps of papers, the solution is using their calendar/planner system in a new way.
If you have a system for scheduling appointments with others, and with yourself, that allows you to answer a resounding “Yes” to the four questions, and there aren’t any miscellaneous papers lying around in your home or office, you can stop right here -- and join us again next week for a new topic. But if you answered “No,” or “I’m not sure,” to any of the four questions, this podcast is crucial to making 2012 your most productive and peaceful year ever! Although the days do seem to fly by, it’s NOT to late to make sure you have a calendar/planner system for 2012 that works for you! You can use our 5-Step Productive Environment Process:
1. State your vision. If your calendar worked the way you want it to, what would you be able to do that you can’t do now?
2. Identify your obstacles. What prevents you from doing what you want to do? For example, if you want to share information, but your calendar is paper, that can present a problem -- but not an overwhelming one. I use my paper Planner Pad for my “master calendar” -- and an electronic calendar for information I want to share with others, or for calendar reminders. (Yes, it makes double entry, but I've found it’s worth it!)
3. Commit your resources. If you’re concerned about spending more money on a system, what calendar resources do you already have available? Will any of them meet your stated need with some adaptations?
4. Design your plan. If you’re still not sure what calendar to use, what can you do to figure it out? For example, talk with a friend or colleague who seems to do it well, or schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our CPES consultants by calling 888-380-6799.
5. Maintain your success. New systems take time to develop and tweak. Don’t give up until you've found a solution. Keep asking, “What works?” “What doesn't work?”
As I've heard it said, “You can have anything you want, but not everything,” and that undoubtedly applies to your calendar, but chances are, if you’re not happy with what you have, there’s an improvement waiting for you to discover!
If you’d like to learn more detailed tips on choosing or using your calendar, check out Chapter 9 in my newest book Organizing Paper @ Home: What To Toss and How To Find the Rest! Visit organiziningpaperathome.com to order your copy today.
Post your comments or questions in the comments area of this episode at barbarahemphill.com. If you like this podcast and think a friend or colleague can benefit from it please share it with them using the Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn buttons on the podcast page on my website.” Until next week, I’m Barbara Hemphill. Thanks for listening!
