Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Start a day planner
• Part 2 of 2: Learn to manage your time

Make time for work, leisure, family and privacy every day. To do this, you will need to organize your information in a way that suits your lifestyle. Get a diary or make one yourself - the main thing is that it helps your planning. Create a schedule according to your priorities so that it reflects both daily and weekly tasks.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Start a day planner

1. 1 Buy a paper planner. Go to your local bookstore or go online and purchase a diary. You can buy a diary for one year, or you can buy it for several years at once. Choose an attractive planner to make your timetable feel good. Choose a small planner that fits easily in your bag and you can take it with you wherever you go.
   • If you prefer not to carry your day planner with you, consider desk planners that fit comfortably on your desk.
   • Make sure you have enough space in your diary to write down all of your daily activities.
   • If you have a very flexible schedule that changes parts from day to day, get a larger planner.
   • If you have a lot of regular projects with flexible dates, choose a planner that has little space for each individual day, but has separate additional pages for each week to keep your to-do list up to date.
   • The to-do list is the most useful part of your daily planner, so look for an option with additional weekly sheets.
2. 2 Plan online. If you need to coordinate your schedule with other people, or if you work on your phone or computer most of the time, it makes sense to choose an application, website or extension of mail services to organize your schedule more comfortably. You can search for free mobile and web applications that suit your needs. If you plan to share information from your diary online with your friends, family members or colleagues, check which service they use and use the same.
3. 3 Make plans on your computer. Most computers already have calendar applications. You can customize this application so that it can be operated via email or other website. Find your calendar by searching your computer or browsing your application folders.
4. 4 Make a DIY paper planner. On the Internet, you can find and print templates or create them yourself on a computer using a special program. Buy a ring binder or cover. If you are printing templates and stitching them together, use a hole punch.
   • If you are making a diary with your own hands, find an old hardcover book and rip the pages out of it. Place the cover on the table and measure.
   • Find paper that is slightly smaller in length and width than your book cover, or cut the pages to size.
   • Fold each page in half to form two diary sheets.
   • Using pencils, pens, felt-tip pens, or markers, draw lines on each page according to your preferred design. You can see the ideas in the templates online.
   • Clip the pages together. Make sure they match the cover. It is possible that your cover will need three separate stacks of pages.
   • After arranging the pages in the desired order, indicate the dates. Don't forget to celebrate the holidays!
   • Sew the book. Take an awl or large needle. Punch one or two holes in the cover and sew the pages with thick thread.

Part 2 of 2: Learn to manage your time

1. 1 Make a schedule according to your priorities. Try not to write long to-do lists that get longer over time. It is better to schedule your activities right away. As soon as a new task appears, divide it into parts and write each part in the diary under the date when you plan to complete it. Don't forget about deadlines in case you have to reschedule them.
   • You might prefer to schedule your daily tasks or the tasks of your current projects, but don't lose sight of the weekly and monthly tasks as well.
   • If you have a constantly growing list of tasks that are not included in your real schedule, you risk burning out on your projects without even starting to implement them.
2. 2 Start with the biggest challenges. Start your day by completing the most important task of your plan. Plan so that the highest priority task is the first and only one that needs to be completed that day, no matter what. Thus, if you are later distracted from your planned activities, at least the most important thing will be fulfilled for you. Anything that comes close to its deadline or is especially important from the point of view of your long-term goals, claims to be this very first task.
3. 3 Divide each task into parts. Schedule every part of every task, including the letters you need to send and the purchases you need to make.Otherwise, you can waste a lot of time planning things for which you do not have enough resources.
4. 4 Think before you do. Before starting a task, take a few minutes to think about what you want to achieve. This will help you act more focused and focused. Write down daily goals or tasks in your daily planner, or simply meditate in silence. If you are working with someone, communicate goals to each other.
5. 5 Divide your day into blocks. Dedicate one block to one task. Multitasking is generally less efficient. Concentrate on one project during one block, even if the project has many different components.
6. 6 Take time to rest. Vacation planning sounds a little unnatural, but it really helps. Don't overload your schedule. Working to the point of exhaustion should be an exceptional case. Schedule short breaks of 15 minutes every 45 minutes - this is the most productive time the person can focus on.
   • Spend time taking a break from your desk and computer.
   • Plan time with loved ones, time for cooking, and time for privacy.
   • If you are prone to anxiety, try to schedule a “worry time”. Then, when experiencing bouts of anxiety, you can put these thoughts aside until the scheduled time and focus on your business.
   • Schedule work breaks and leave distractions for that time. Do not constantly check your phone, email and social networks, do it at a specially scheduled time.