Keeping life organized is a challenge for many of us. Between work, home, family, and friends, it seems like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done that you need to. While we can’t add more hours to the day, there is one way that is proven to help you get more done. Using a daily planner will help to keep you more organized and reach your goals. However, not every planner will give you the same results.
To understand why some planners are just plain better than others, you must first understand why they work and how to use them to maximize your daily productivity.
Why a Daily Planner Works
The main reason a planner works is that it takes away all the stress from trying to keep everything organized in your head. Having a place to write down everything you need to get done allows you to seamlessly transition from one task to the next, so there is no wasted time trying to figure out what to do next, creating more hours in the day.
Planners also help to motivate you because you can see your goals being met as you cross each one off the list. In addition, having a daily planner does wonders for your mental and physical health. When you feel better, you can get more done.
How to Increase Productivity with a Daily Planner
Buying the right planner is an essential first step. These tips will help you optimize your daily planner to increase productivity.
1. Take Time to Set it Up
A daily planner is just a book of paper if it isn’t set up to maximize your productivity. Take the time to understand your planner and all its functions, from to-do lists to daily affirmations. Set up your planner in a way that works best for you to organize your tasks and check them off your list.
2. Write Down Clear and Concise Goals
Your goals should be precise, and there should be a clear path how to achieve those goals. Goals should also be grounded in reality and a mix of short and long-term goals. Achieving short-term, realistic goals will motivate you to stay on track for your long-term aspirations.
3. Choose a Planner That Helps you Focus on Your Goals
Many planners focus on style over substance with bright colors and distracting patterns. A planner should be for organization and productivity. All the distracting factors will only serve as obstacles between you and getting the most out of your planner. A planner without all the patterns and colors also leaves more room to write stuff down, scribble it out, and make notes.
4. Choose a Planner With a To-Do List that Works
A planner with a prioritized to-do must ensure that you stay on track and get as much done as possible. We are only human, and there are only so many hours in the day. In fact, there are days that you won’t get everything done on your to-do list. At least with a prioritized list, you can sleep at night knowing that you checked off the most pressing items on your list.
5. Choose a Planner with Space for Time Blocking
Time blocking is a method of scheduling where you block off time, usually in one-hour increments, to do a specific task. For instance, you may block an hour on Monday morning for marketing work and two hours on Wednesday afternoon for grocery shopping. This has proven invaluable for many people who face challenges in increasing their productivity. Not every planner will make time blocking a priority.
6. Choose a Planner That Cares About You
A significant part of being as productive as possible is feeling good physically and mentally. It is easier than one may think to miss a meal or forget to exercise when life is busy. When finding the right daily planner for you, you want to choose one that reminds you to do everything you need to take care of yourself, so you are mentally and physically healthy.
7. Special Features are Always a Nice Touch
You may not want to choose a planner that has too much in the way of decoration and frills. However, it is always nice to have a few extra features. One feature that doesn’t take up much space but can go a long way toward positive mental and emotional health is daily reminders to read your vision statement and create custom affirmations every day.
8. Be Consistent
To be productive, you must be consistent when using your planner. Using it some days and not others creates a pattern that will eventually turn your planner into a paperweight on your desk. The more you use it, the more results you get that will encourage you to stay focused and continue to be as productive as possible.
9. Create a Record of Success
Nothing motivates you to be more productive than looking at what past productivity has gotten you. Keep a running list of successes, whether meeting a long-term goal or checking off everything on your list for a specific day. It can be as small as making it to the gym every day of the week; focusing on the positive will only breed more productivity.
10. Keep it Simple
Ultimately, the best way to increase productivity using a daily planner is to keep it simple. You are only setting yourself up for failure when you try to do too much in a day or make complicated goals that may not be achievable. Start small and work your way up as you unlock your potential and become more productive.
The Planner Made for You
Are you ready to be more productive in your business and personal life? Then you want a planner that is made for you to succeed. Our planner will help you be more productive by helping you achieve everything on this list and more. Once you see the difference, you will understand how a planner designed to help you with a healthy mind, body, and spirit will also help you to be more productive in all aspects of your life.
