Today’s scenario is near and dear to my heart! Usually I serve my clients in the virtual arena – but every so often I’ll meet someone for our first session in their work space. AND – usually the first thing I notice is the “little stacks of paper” or “post-it notes” or ” post-it notes, little slips of paper, and multiple notebooks” scattered on every surface.
As promised, I’m continuing my focus this month on offering solutions to some of my clients’ most common time management challenges. Hopefully today’s scenario and strategies hit near and dear to your heart also!
In the previous posts in this series, I addressed “This may sound ridiculous, but I’m so busy, I don’t even have time to read about time management techniques, let alone practice them.” and “I’ll look into streamlining my schedule a few weeks from now when I have a little more time.” Be sure to check them out an leave a comment if you haven’t yet.
Today let’s talk about Real Life Scenario #3: “When I’m trying to reach a goal, I track my progress on notes of paper that I keep all over the house, and my system is taking me more time than it saves me.”
My thoughts: It certainly can be frustrating to look all over the place for your notes. Especially when you create the “perfect plan” and then you can’t find it later. Or, you wrote down some next action steps after you brainstormed with a team member on a scrap of paper, then find it a month later on the bottom of the pile. Or . . . have you ever used the parking lot strategy and then lost your parking lot?
My advice – ONE PLACE to capture new information:
- If you are a tactile learner like am, get a notebook or a calendar with plenty of room to write, and write down your ideas, plans, next action steps, contact information, to-do lists in one place.
- If you prefer a digital solution – your phone is a great place to capture information. (AND – most of us usually have this with us at all times!)
I also suggest ONE PLACE to capture long term information. These two places do not need to necessarily be the same.
- Each project can have it’s own folder – whether hard copy or digital (i.e. Google Drive).
- Each goal can have it’s own tracking system – such as a white board on your office wall or an app on your phone (i.e. to count calories or exercise)
Once you can retrain yourself to capture information in the same spot each time, the “chasing little bits of paper” dilemma will be solved.
If you are looking for a tested and approved ONE PLACE to track habit change and goal achievement, I encourage you to invest in 30 Days to Success – An AWE Inspired Journal. Here you can track your success while you create focused, diligent activity using the A.W.E. process. Plus, included with each journal is membership into the AWE Inspired 30 Day Challenge.
Be sure to check back all month for real life challenges and solutions. Next, I’ll tackle Real Life Scenario #4 – “I want to take steps to use my time better, but I when I slip up I get down on myself and it’s hard to keep putting the effort in.”
What are some of your strategies (or challenges) for dealing with “little scraps of paper”? Please post below!
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Oh my gosh, I am sitting here laughing my head off. It sounds like you wrote this post specifically for me! Thank you so much for the tips on how to manage my stuff and get organized, it’s definitely a challenge for me but I will have to start using your tips. Thank you again, what a great post!! ~ Maryann
Thank you, Maryann for stopping by! I’m thrilled you found a couple of ideas you can implement. Please stop back and let us know you success!
Lisa
I am smiling while I write this comment. I sure am the \”little slips of paper\” person you are talking about. I am old school, love the act of putting pen to paper. I have tried to keep notebooks, but have just ended up with a glorious pile of empty notebooks! With each new project I take on, I vow the notebook is the way to go. In this digital world, I thought I was a thing of the past! I still accomplish a lot, despite my paper trail. I am not sure I am ready to change, as I haven\’t reached that level of frustration yet. Loved your blog.I found you on the Ultimate Blog Challenge. I am participating too.
Barbara
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! Love the UBC! Hey – “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. If your little slips of paper are working for you, keep’em! I am also a “put pencil to paper” type of a gal . . . I just need all my “papers” to be in one place! My Planner Pad calendar is a life saver!
Lisa
I think I’m the girl you wrote the post for! I’m learning to put info on my iPhone and keep up a filing system.
Lily
Excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m thrilled the post resonated with you! I appreciate the comment. Be sure to stop by and celebrate your progress with us!
lisa
Thank you so much for this valuable information. I find it great to write things down, but keeping track of it all and searching for that one important piece of paper is frustrating. I am going to put into practice what your advise.
Lyn
I appreciate that you stopped by! Please let us all know how this strategy works when you put it into action!
Lisa
Lisa,
This blog is a GODSEND!! Thank you!! I subscribed to your tips and look forward to learning more from you. Happy Blogging!!
Christi Lyn
So glad we’ve connected – and you’ve found my posts helpful! What is your greatest time management challenge? I’d love to answer it in a future post!
Lisa
lol, yup, that’s me Lisa! I have so many journals around the house and am slowly consolidating them all. I find some real gems in them when I take time to go through them! I am in the process of putting ALL my notes in one place and purchased a book where I can add special type pages, notes etc. I think as a creative person, I find it challenging to stay organized, it feels confining somehow, even though I know its really just an excuse. Thanks for your posts, I’m finding them helpful!
Sherri
Many creative people “find it confining” to stay organized. The key is to find a system that feeds your creativity and provides the structure you need to keep moving forward. Many of my clients have found success using notebooks without lines – so they can draw pictures, use mind maps, and not be so “rigid”. Also – it may seem a “simple / silly suggestion” but brightly colored pens and markers seem to help also! Thanks for your comment!
Lisa
Thanks Lisa – I love these ideas! That’s funny, I do love coloured pens and markers, I’m always switching the colour I write with lol.
AWESOME!!!!!!
These are some great suggestions, Lisa. During my corporate years I actually worked with someone who used to stick post it notes on his desk top screen and I used to wonder how he got anything done on the computer.
My habits have changed over the years to meet my requirements but I maintain a weekly To Do List in my trusted diary that I keep on hand jotting and striking off which also has sections for ideas and other things that I need to note. I also maintain a word document on my desk top if I am working on a project and keep making notes in it as I go along. One never knows when inspiration will strike. Happy Monday!
Vatsala –
Great strategies! I love that you stated, “My habits have changed over the years”! Absolutely – often we wonder why things “don’t work as well now” and it’s because we aren’t the same person we once were. Our job has changed or our strengths have changed, etc.! It’s all about finding a system that works for you, then adapting it as life changes!!!
Lisa
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