By Holly Sosa
Thank you to Day Designer for sending over a Luxe Collection binder and daily inserts to facilitate this post. All thoughts, opinions, and ideas are my own.
Being a work from home mom, I have a hard time with being able to increase daily productivity. There are meals to prepare, kiddos who need attention, and a house full of projects that need tending to. It’s part of why my planner and I have a relationship together. I’m easily distracted by my surroundings, so my planner tethers me to what needs my attention now and what I can accomplish later. It reels me in when I’m distracted by putting a bandage on a boo-boo and come back to my desk wondering where I left off. Over time, I’ve developed a system that works for me and helps me to increase daily productivity by using a paper planner. One of my favorite planner systems is the Day Designer’s A5 Luxe Collection because of it’s versatility to fit all of my family’s scheduling and organization needs.
Making lists
Making lists is one of my most commonly used ways to attack my day. Physically handwriting lists somehow triggers my brain and helps me get into gear. There is also something weirdly satisfying about crossing off items as I get them done.
Setting goals
To achieve goals, you should probably think first about setting some, right? Common sense that’s often not all that common. I’m kind of a goal freak, or as I prefer, goal digger. Each year I sit down and think about personal, family, and work goals that I’d like to see achieved that year. And then I break those down into monthly goals. Each month I revisit my goals and adjust, set additional goals, and reevaluate where I’m at as far as progress. And then each week, I set small goals. Like I said. Goal digger.
Mapping out my week
For me, sitting down on a Friday night is when I start to map out my upcoming week. I set my goals, start my lists, and map out my time and where it will be spent each day. Appointments, meetings, events, and everything all gets laid out so that I can have a quick snapshot of my week ahead.
Managing my time
Once my week is mapped out and I can see everything that needs to be done, I can then start to figure out how to best manage my time. Block scheduling and setting works hours are essential to helping me work towards achieving the goals I set out for myself.
These methods have dramatically increased my functionality and productivity throughout the day as I apply them to my life and my work from home business as a lifestyle blogger. And I believe they can work for anyone who needs to reorganize and find a method to help them achieve their personal, family, and professional goals.
It also doesn’t hurt when you’ve got a paper planner that looks pretty, either. The new Day Designer A5 Luxe Collection Binders are giving me all the heart eyes. I have the version in White Pebble with the Day on One Page Supplement Pack. The new 2016-2017 Day Designer release was July 9th and with four new A5 Luxe Binders in the collection, I’m kind of fan girling. They also now offer a variety of inserts including weekly views, fitness trackers, and loads more. Be sure to visit them on Facebook to learn the latest news on new releases.
For more planner geekery, be sure to follow the Our Holly Days page on Facebook where I update frequently throughout the day
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