Do you ever do something and then realize, OMG that was not the smartest move I’ve ever made? I recently made a couple of dumb and expensive purchases that I regret.
I bought two planners mostly as research for a potential project. I had filled my tried and true Moleskine so I needed something. I also thought it wouldn’t hurt to explore a new method of planning. But oh, it did hurt.
I got the Full Focus Planner. One book costs over $40 and is for one quarter of the year. It took five minutes to realize that the habit tracker, goal setting, weekend planning and weekly review were not going to be useful for me. I prefer to plan my week once and then just do the freaking tasks. All the time it takes to fill out the planner is time I could spend just doing the work and enjoying my life.
Then! I somehow caught wind of a gorgeous French planner and bought that. I won’t reveal the cost but let’s just say I could have bought a pair of sandals instead.
I blame myself for these shopdoggles. (That’s boondoggle for shopping. Yes, I made that up.) I blame my enthusiasm, my love of productivity and my tendency to want to do what others are doing. Do you suffer from these symptoms of a shopdoggler?
This issue of productivity comes up all the time with my clients. We are all battling for focus and productivity, and sometimes we think it’s the right planner or method that will save us. I think it’s making better choices and doing less that helps us feel more satisfied with our progress.
We have access to others’ opinions more than ever. Taking on things that don’t work for us can be detrimental to our confidence. If you have gone on a shopdoggle or otherwise sidelined your wisdom and self-knowledge, it’s okay. These things can teach us if we let them. Not in a harsh ‘You’ll learn your lesson, Missy!’ But in the ever-growing self-awareness that fuels more of us, more of our creativity and more of our power.
I shunned a system I had developed and that was serving me to thrive in work and life. This is how we defer our power. We shun our original impulse or deep knowing for something new, flashy or trendy.
I’ve gotten over my tomfoolery. (Writing this helped!) I forgave myself and let go of the sunk costs. Beating myself up, cursing myself and allowing this to linger like a dark cloud isn’t helpful.
Know what works for you to be productive, apply that consistently and jettison anything that doesn’t suit your needs.
Next year is the 20-year anniversary of my coaching business. I am launching a book and have big plans for it. Why would I risk my sanity, my productivity and my focus trying a new planner? I will finish the year with this recent planner, hacking it so it works the way my old method does. But next year I will return to my trusted and effective way of working. Phew!
In case you’re curious about my planning method, read on.
I use a large, hardback Moleskine notebook to run my business. I like this notebook or this notebook. I prefer dotted or grid pages over lined or blank. The front of the notebook is for my weekly to-dos, with one week per page. I make 9 boxes on a page. Each box holds a different category of tasks. Every week’s workload is different so the categories could be: writing, teaching, clients, admin, travel, etc. At a glance I can see what I need to do for what project or sector of my work life.
The back half of the notebook is where I take meeting notes, make notes about projects and basically dream my work into existence. This system has worked for me for six years. When I need to reference something from the past, within minutes I can find that year’s notebook and access the information.
What helps you honor your original impulse? Share below in a comment.
Applications are rolling in for the Original Impulse Atelier, my year-long program to help you focus, follow through and finish that all-important project of yours. This is a training in how to know, honor and trust your creative process. It’s fun and effective, and we’re enrolling a few focused creatives now. Check it out here.
I love this! I’ve had the Hyatt planners for this whole year, but I can’t say that they work any better than my old system–probably because I haven’t been using them to their fullest. I will probably return to my old system next year, which isn’t too different from yours. Although, I have to say that I use a lot fewer notebooks than you. Not sure how you carry all of those around. Oh, wait! You have that great backpack.
You inspired me to try the Hyatt planners, by your example. Sometimes it’s worth trying something new.
I found that the Hyatt planner had way more life planning stuff that I didn’t need.
I look forward to getting back to my old system!
I’m with you on the planner thing, Cynthia. A couple of lifetimes ago I was in corporate management. All the managers in the company had to take a one-week class on how to use out day-timers correctly. We also attended a workshop on time-management from Stephen Covey. That was my last stint in corporate, and enabled to spend two-years on the side of a lake, living in a twelve-foot trailer.
I have also gone through way too many shopdoggles on my way to the “perfect” planner. As a fellow creative I find that a challenging pursuit, because by nature is it hard to “confine” us. Now, I just a use a regular, lightly-lined Moleskine, medium-sized book.
Anyway, I really enjoy your emails.
Tim,
These are such personal decisions, aren’t they? We really have to discover what works for us.
I love the thought of living lakeside in a trailer! Perfect for the poet in you.
Thank you for reading my newsletter and for commenting here.
While I was sick for 11 years, and my life completely upside-down with having to allow for emergencies and days-long hospital admissions regularly (though unplanned!), I came to depend on my very small Moleskine calendar. I had to keep track of doctors’ appointments and procedures, and all that. When I finally got an iPhone, the appointments went there, but I still maintained the Moleskine calendar, for awhile. Now that I’m in GOOD health again, I’m looking for a Whole Life organizing planner. Your suggestions are great, Cynthia – dividing a grid page (I like that, too) into 9 squares. It’s like the bullet journals I read about but organized for childless adults! I can’t promise I’ll break down and buy a Moleskine these days, but I will find the right size grid-paged notebook or even calendar. I know I prefer my own styling and not those over-stylized bullet journals. Thanks for this inspiration! And oh, if I had the do-re-mi, I’d buy Moleskine large in a heartbeat – love their paper!
Dana,
It’s so good to know what works for you! I hope you have fun with the Moleskine notebook. And with your writing and all your plans for 2019!
Loved reading on this topic as I’m always researching the “best planner” and coming short every time… I’ve tried bullet journaling and it drove me crazy trying to keep track of every little thing, that didn’t last 3 days! Lately I’ve been using a simple planner but love your method and will most likely do the same for next year, mostly because I love to create my own simple systems…
I am curious as to how you keep track of future appointments, on your phone’s calendar maybe? Or do you use a wall calendar? I have one of those, primarily to plan/track astrological/energy cycles.
As for notebooks to use as possible planner, I love Moleskine and as well as LEUCHTTURM1917 and Graphic Arts Books Dot Grid Journal (comes in metallic gold :), they both offer a range of colors that delight the artist in me!
Hi Auna!
For my appointments I use the calendar on my computer. I have a lot of client calls and other business appointments so it needs to be specific and in the cloud, not on paper.
The notebook is my task manager and vision/notes holder rather than a time manager.
I do use a wall calendar all the time for big picture planning. I couldn’t do without it! I use the Year-at-a-Glance laminated calendar and mark it up with Washi tape!
I love grid dot too!