to-do list tuesday

you guys! i'm going to hawaii in september. man alive do i need to get into fantastic shape. but my billy ocean chalkboard wall just wasn't motivation enough for me to get my butt into gear. so i'm taking a page out of my friend jeremy's to-do list for inspiration. each week, he notes what days he works out (trying to fill the page). for him, empty space on the page=bad. i'm doing something similar. each time i work out, i put a strike next to the item (with hopes that the chalkboard will be full by the end of each week). and i'll need to meditate to get me through all this working out...

to-do list tuesday and 300th post!!

old notebook... dunzo!

fresh, new notebook (love)!

when i started my own biz, i decided to go digital when it comes to my calendar (it.was.not.easy and i went kicking.and.screaming). but when it comes to my to-do list, paper is where it's at for me. like i said, i use one notebook and rewrite my list (almost) daily. i also transfer any client notes and important memos to my phone, calendar or computer. and when the notebook has no pages left, it's time to get a new shiny one--which kinda feels like i get to start over (in a good way).

to-do list tuesday

the always busy becky making burgers

this to-do list comes all the way from south carolina. my mom contributed her to-do list from a recent party (she's mad organized... i wonder where i get it from)

this to do list was created to help me stay focused in preparing for a party that i was giving at my home on may 22nd (saturday). i started out by assigning tasks to each day of the week leading up to my party. everything went pretty well until thursday. that's when the "grocery store" task went by the wayside due to unforeseen problems. as it turned out, my husband was unable to complete one of the tasks assigned to him... which was mowing the grass. so you know who had to re-organize her task list to include yet another duty. thursday was already a busy day, so the grocery store had to wait until friday. i had planned on cleaning the boat on friday, but re-assigned that to the hubby, since he bailed the previous day. friday became quite busy and i realized i wished i had made time for the grocery store the day before.

challenge; when preparing for the party, it seems that there are too many things that have to wait until the day before the party. for instance, you can't prepare the flower arrangements too far ahead because they won't look so fresh. also, some of the cooking just can't be done until the day before. same goes for house cleaning. if you clean too early, it will just get messed up and you'll have to do it all over again.

what works; it's important to study your to do list through-out the project. you'll find yourself adding/re-organizing the list as the days go by. when the list gets too messy, i just start a fresh one with the tasks that still remain. one thing is for sure, a to do list is a must for me.

to-do list tuesday

the first time i shared my to-do list was back in june (as you can see, the format is pretty much the same). you would think a professional organizer might have better handwriting--apparently not so. the to-do list is ever changing and if i spent extra time making it perfect, i'd never get a thing done. 

this to-do list gets updated once/day (usually when i'm waiting--in the car, on the phone, etc.)

on the next page one will find a long-term bneato to-do list. when i have room on the daily to-do list, items from this list migrate on over.

bneato boot camp to-do checklist (things i always bring to boot camp--the list rarely changes so i keep a copy in the back of my notebook).

long term items (biz and personal) that i don't want to forget about but don't need to see everyday. this list stays on the last page of my notebook. on occasion, i'll check in with it and see what i can move over to the daily to-do list. if items are still here once my notebook is used up, i'll consider taking items off--for good!

things that help me accomplish my to-do's

• instead of prioritizing items by writing them in order, i'll star items that i need/want to get done that day. usually, i just want to write items on paper as they come to me (and i don't want to get bogged down or worried about writing things down in the correct order). starring items helps visually locate the important to-do's of the day in an instant
• always cross items off (if i have a highlighter handy, i'll use that instead). crossing tasks off makes me feel accomplished--and gives me the motivation to keep going.
• get the big things done first. it's so easy to procrastinate and then rationalize your tasks--essentially leaving them to get done the next day (or never). i find that these tasks end up being a big distraction through out the day/week until i get them done.  save yourself a whole lot of headache by getting it done-asap!