I mentioned a while back about how I had recently started using Simple Mom's Daily Docket.
While I really loved the way Simple Mom set up a daily to do list with her docket, I found after using it for several months that it didn't necessarily work for me. My most productive days since I started working from home have been the ones wherein I create about five different to-do lists:
Writing--For whatever assignments I have to complete that day.
Correspondence--This includes anything from emails I have to send to phone calls I have to make to Thank You notes or gifts I need to mail.
Housekeeping--I always have a list of things to take care of around the house.
Self--This is the most important list. I have to schedule time for my running, my quilting, my reading time, etc, and I don't do it if I don't actually write it down.
Errands--Scheduling time to get to the bank and the library can sometimes be tough, so I write it into my day.
I found that having my tasks separated out into different categories makes my overall day feel less overwhelming--and I feel productive as long as I can cross something off from each list. I would write a new page of to dos each day in my notebook.
But my system did not have the benefit of being the same format each day, nor did it have a good place for dinner planning, a quote, or future plans.
So, I decided to take Simple Mom's advice on her FAQ to make my own Daily Docket:
I included Simple Mom's idea of 8 glasses of water in the Self category (even though on my good days I can only manage about 3). I also have figured out what housekeeping tasks I need to take care of each day, so I listed them specifically rather than have to write them out each day. (I like the idea of having my basic housekeeping set up like a pilot's checklist. Of course, I had to leave extra spaces for non-daily housework, because otherwise we would have our beds made daily, but a new life form growing in the bathroom).
Once I came up with my new docket, I printed out two copies, and had them laminated back-to-back. I write on the laminate in wet erase marker so I can reuse the docket over and over and not have to print out a new page each day.
I created the Daily Docket in PowerPoint. If you'd like a copy of the Daily Docket that you can alter for your own needs, feel free to email me.
Here's hoping I can keep this productivity going throughout 2013!
