We’ve all heard that the most successful people write things down; everything from goals and objectives to plans and to-do lists, and even notes. Research proves that when you write these down, you’ll preserve and accomplish significantly more than those who did not.
When it comes to goals, we’ve talked about how important it is to envision what you want to happen in the desired time period, to identify the projects and tasks needed to get there, to check in with your progress regularly, and to reflect on your successes.
But what happens when we take a look at daily planning with these exact same principles in mind? After years of research on how successful people design their days, we’re here to tell you that this method will help you plan, focus, and achieve real results.
Here’s the strategy that will get you started:
1. Envision how you want it to go.
Envision how you want your day to go and what you ultimately want out of it. If you skip this step, how do you know what you need to do? We all have lists a mile long, but being successful means knowing what to go after first, second, third—and pinpointing what doesn’t align with our goals and top priorities after all—so that we can eliminate and be more realistic about what we set out to accomplish.
2. Identify tasks.
Identify the tasks you can realistically accomplish to make this vision of your day a reality. Write these down and be sure to identify your top three.
3. Check in on progress.
Check in on your progress mid-way through the day. Adjust as needed.
4. Reflect.
Reflect on your success. Write down your daily gratitude, unplug from it all, and open up time to spend on those who matter most!
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Before you object, we get it! We hear you saying, “I can barely get everything done as it is, and now you’re asking me to do more?”
Many of us feel overwhelmed about everything on our plates. We all struggle to effectively use our precious waking hours to create a well-designed day.
What if we told you that you could take back your day? This is 100% possible with proper planning, organization, and focus. Head to our next post to discover how the most successful people plan their day. We promise you can make this a reality for yourself if you set out to do it! We’ve outlined practical tips that you can apply immediately to your own daily planning method.
Ready to begin designing your days? Shop the Day Designer collection of daily planners to get organized with a strategic planning system that has helped tens of thousands of women find focus and increase productivity, ultimately opening up time for what truly matters in life!
Thanks for this blog! I needed this. As a blogger, creative and mother of two small children I’ve got to start planning my days more often. I work from home and my children are with me 24/7. So thanks once again.
Hi Sharon! You have a lot on your plate! We think you’ll love next week’s post where we’ll dive deeper on how to plan your day. Stay tuned! Thank you for following along and reaching out!
Based on these four points in today’s post, I can see the holes in my daily planning method. It’s more Swiss cheese (full of holes) when it needs to be Cream cheese (smooth & flexible). I look forward to tomorrow’s post!
Hi Gina! We’re so glad that this post was helpful in pointing out what’s missing! We hope your daily planning becomes smooth and flexible very soon. We will have a post tomorrow, but the one we mentioned above will be shared next week! You’re going to love the deeper look at this. Thanks for tuning in!
This post is encouraging – thank you. Where I struggle with this plan, though, is what if one of your tasks will spread out over a span of days, you don’t know how long it will take exactly, and you have other things on the daily to-do list, too. (I.e., overhaul your portfolio of art). Have suggestions there? Thx!
Hi Athena! Great question! We recommend having your goals written down. You can set them on yearly basis – and revisit them monthly and/or weekly, even daily. We also recommend having a project list, and this is more in line with your question. You can refer to your project list on a weekly or daily basis, which will help to keep it at the forefront of your mind. From there, you’ll want to break your project into manageable pieces, and these become your daily tasks. Add them to your schedule or to-do list, along with your other appointments and to-dos for the day. For example, if your project is to re-design your website, you don’t want that on your daily to-do list. A feasible task might be to contact three web designers. Set aside a small block of time (such as 20 or 30 minutes) to ensure that you’re making progress on your project. The idea is to always be moving forward in some way! We hope this helps. Best of luck, Athena!
Can’t wait to read it. I’m a full-time homemaker with an empty nest but lots of time spent with grandkids and a very unpredictable schedule. I also struggle with ADHD, menopause and depression. I used to do fairly well with holding things together but the last 5 years have been tough. My planning system is all over the place and that’s making all my issues worse.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Patty. We’re so sorry you’re feeling scattered! Our emails and blog are all about improving in every area of life, so we’re happy to have you following along. In regards to your struggles, be sure to find someone to talk to. While it’s so wonderful to be able to spend time your grandkids, we always encourage taking care of yourself first so that you can best take care of others. Perhaps you can make a list of the things you need and enjoy, and actually schedule those in. Please know that we are hoping for the very best for you!
I loved this. Very helpful!! Definitely looking forward to next weeks tips as well!!!
Hi Maria! Thank you for reaching out! We’re thrilled that you’re following along. See you back on the blog next week!
Thank you for this blog entry. I too needed it. I work full-time, am president of a non-profit, and am starting a home-based business. I need to learn how to keep all the plates spinning. Really looking forward to next week!
Impressive!! You have a lot on your plate! We’re so happy you’re following along. We think next week’s post will be helpful to you! Thanks for your comment, Katrina!
Thanks for the post! Can’t wait to read next week’s post! I love my Day Designer and don’t know what I would do without it! Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and inspiration to help us all live a “well designed life”. 🙂
Hi Kelly! You’ve made our day! We love hearing this. Thank you for taking the time to comment!
I’ve used these 4 principles in the past and they work great if you stick to it. I struggle most with envisioning the goal. It’s easy to start with the end in mind, but how do you start when you’re goals and priorities are not clear? I stopped working to finish my degree and now I’m taking a semester off for a little break to figure out what I really want to do. It’s hard to get started again since I’m not sure about what I want to do. Planning is hard when you are lost.
I’ve just recently realized that planning only on a weekly basis is not enough: I need to break things down to the daily level. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series and what I can learn from you!