In today’s busy world, proper time management is even more important than it ever was. The issue, however, is that most people don’t know how to actually implement the proper time management strategies.
I’m a bit obsessed with weekly planning – so much so that I created my own weekly planning app slash weekly schedule planner, called Forzeit – so I’ve tried all the tips and tricks, and gathered my favourite ones here to share with you today. Of course, everyone’s life is different, so their planning needs will be different. Feel free to take what resonates with you and leave the rest, and adapt as needed!
1. a calendar
Having a calendar is essential to help you keep track of certain things like birthdays, appointments, and other time-related things such as due dates or bills. If you have a calendar, you can easily glance at it at the beginning of each week to see what you have planned. You can then transfer these events from your calendar or monthly planner to your weekly planner.
Some people love having a physical monthly planner like a whiteboard or paper calendar stuck to their fridge so that they see it every day, and others love digital planners like Google Calendar that sync across their devices. Try both and see what works for you!
2. ongoing task lists
If you have a thought like “I need to remember to do this”, don’t actually rely on yourself to remember it. You won’t. You think you will, but you won’t. Instead, make sure to write it down. Keep a to-do list of everything that needs to be done, and have a look at it each week to pick some essential tasks and write them down in your weekly planner.
3. an actual planner
I’ve mentioned a weekly planner a few times now, and of course, this is a key element when it comes to effectively planning your weeks. There are thousands of weekly planners out there, from a paper planner to a digital one, catering for all your needs. Whether you need a small box to write important events, or a two-page daily spread to help you write down dozens of tasks, you’re bound to find one for you.
If you like being creative in your planning, look at paper planners that you can decorate with planner stickers, and if you prefer structure and simplicity, maybe opt for a digital planner!
4. templates
I’ve made a post before about the importance of having templates when it comes to your weekly planning. They help you save time and effort on your weekly planning, and also help you ensure that you don’t forget any important weekly tasks. Of course, templates are much easier when you do digital planning.
5. collaborative tools
If you work in a team, whether in a professional setting or at home with a spouse, having synced tools for collaboration can ensure smooth sailing. Sending digital calendar invites to all necessary members for meetings will help make sure that everyone knows when they are expected and where in both your professional and personal life.
Shared calendars between parents can help them coordinate things like school pickups or even grocery shopping. Of course, this isn’t really possible with a paper weekly planner, so you need to figure out if this is important to you.
6. time block
Time blocking has also become quite popular in recent years, and if you are someone who struggles to focus and get things done, assigning a particular task to a specific time of day can help you stick to a schedule. Do be sure to allow some flexibility with this though, as some tasks may take longer than planned.
That being said, most weekly planners come with some time-related element, so feel free to use this to visually plan your weekly tasks based on how long they will likely take you.
final words
If you weren’t convinced about how passionate I am about weekly planning, I hope this post convinced you, and I also hope that it gave you some insight into how you can organise your own week using tools to make organisation easier.
Of course, planning differs for everyone, so don’t get stuck in a rut. If your planning strategy isn’t working for you, try something new! And if you are in the market for a new planner, may I suggest trying Forzeit?