If it weren’t for my FranklinCovey planner, I would be lost. No, I’m not kidding and, no, they aren’t paying me. In fact, I gladly pay them about $50 a year for a planner refill and other planning supplements.
I’m also a huge fan of Productive Flourishing‘s free planning materials.
I now write for no fewer than seven blogs and manage as many Twitter accounts. If it weren’t for Productive Flourishing’s blog post planners and freelance workweek form, I’d spend a lot of valuable time staring at a blank screen. The great news is that I can print the free supplements in FranklinCovey classic planner size. With Covey’s handy six-hole punch and tab system, I’m set.
I dedicate around 15 minutes per day to planning. Once a week, I spend about an hour thinking through what I’ve got going on, scheduling my days and blog post ideas. Each month, I take time to review my monthly and annual goals to make sure I’m on track. And, each January, I sit down with my new planner refill and reevaluate my goals. Do they need to be updated? Changed? Are some items obsolete? How far have I come, and how far do I have to go?
Now, this doesn’t mean that things go awry at times — they do. That’s life. But, because I’ve already taken the time to list all of the many tasks I’m responsible for, it’s easy to reschedule and prioritize.
Being a proactive planner also enables me to find more time for the stuff I want to do. It isn’t all about chores and business. There are plenty of goals and line items in my planner that are all about living a well-rounded life.
There are those times when I ignore my planner, too.
I admit it. It feels good to go schedule-less some days. Because I’ve spent so much time thinking about what’s coming up, though, I usually won’t forget the big stuff. What does fall through, however, when I’m not paying close attention, are all of the little tasks that lead to accomplishing giant goals.
That’s probably the biggest planner selling point for me: Stress reduction.
Many goals and projects can seem overwhelming at first glance. But, when you take the big picture and break it down into easy-to-consume bites, big goals become more attainable.
If you’re not already a planner fan and aren’t sure which planner to choose, start with Productive Flourishing. You can’t beat free, and the planner guides available will help get you on the right track — especially if you’re a blogger or freelance worker.
For those ready to make sweeping changes, invest in one of FranklinCovey’s time management seminars. They might seem pricey, but by becoming more efficient and productive you’ll save many times the enrollment fee over time. I took the class over ten years ago and still use the tips I learned every day.
