Getting Things Done

In Procrastination - is there a cure? From  Blue Skunk Blog, Doug Johnson asks,

“Any suggestions on how to eliminate the "squirrel" quality of the Internet and actually get work accomplished?”

Recently I started to do bullet journaling. I’m getting back to writing things on paper with pencil (or pen). I have watched some YouTube videos on bullet journaling and gotten a lot of great ideas: How to Bullet Journal and Bullet Journal Flip Through and  The more I do it, the more evolved it becomes. I started several things and have customized them to fit my needs. Some things I’ve done away with because it didn’t help me.

At first I tried to make it like a calendar and found myself just making a prettier paper copy of my Google calendar. That didn’t help me the way I wanted it to. I wanted something useful that was meaningful and help me be more productive.

Every morning I start the day’s journaling. I write the day and date as well as the weather forecast. (I like to look back at these figures). Then I start listing the things that I want to accomplish for the day including events listed on my google calendar. I have also color coded them so it is easy to see at a glance. I have several categories: chores, events, gardening, crafting, and travel. Everything I do pretty much fits into one of those categories.

Also included each month is a chart of daily activities that I repeat each day. I color in the box when I accomplish it and I like to look back and see how the chart is filled in.

When I see an inspirational quote, I write it in the daily page. I am enjoying writing in cursive again for a change of pace.

I have also started doing monthly doodles which is dragging me outside my box. While it is fun, it is also hard for me so I enjoy the challenge.

I have added a page for books that I want to read, craft projects that I want to make, and

I also add some doodles if I have the time because it makes me smile.

Now, all of this is to say, that it has really helped me get things accomplished. I like checking off the things that are finished. I use an arrow to move things forward if needed. Instead of being overwhelmed by the big picture, I look what is needed to be accomplished immediately.

Now when I finish what I need to do, I don’t feel guilty for doing fun things I want to do. I’m able to enjoy what I’m doing without thinking about what I need to finish.

I’ve been doing this for 2 months now and I’m still enjoying it so I will continue.

This would be great to get students to do also. It might encourage their creative side as well as helping them be more productive. It is important that they know there is no right or wrong way to do this but it is important that they find a way for it to be useful and meaningful.

Do you do bullet journaling? If so, what do you include in it? Please share.