What sort of organizer/planner works for you?

[Andreya]

Just curious.

I've read a lot about time management/organizing, still learning... I was wondering if there's a special type of organizer/planner that works well for scanners?

Especially if you're visual and kinaesthetic, what works for you? (if anything?) What kind of system do you have?

[Me and my Hamster]

I'm still experimenting...

I've realized that a schedule like school doesn't really work. I mean, I don't stick to it. I need to be more disciplined if I want to manage stuff the way I want.
The 6-years calendar works a bit, I managed to get "rid" of some project, to save them for later, and decompose others into steps.
I have a small glass board on my wall where I write important stuff not to forget, with the date/deadline. It works quite well.

[Unity]

Hi Andreya

I find the only thing that works for me is having those ultra long lists at the beginning of the challenges forums. If you ever look through them, you'll see I've listed everything imaginable I want to achieve in 2010 and 2011 -and often use different colors - so I've got immediate NEED TO DO items, shopping, diary, birthdays, finance makeover, my special occasions challenges, personal, house repairs, garden, spring cleaning etc.

Nowadays I don't have time to participate in the forums as before, so just edit my lists daily.

I've tried using folders, notebooks etc at home but decided that I can't get on with them. Probably because writing online means that it's easier to edit.

I also tried having pages and lists away from this site but on the internet - that didn't seem to work for me either.

[Me and my Hamster]

Ha, yes, I also use folders and "three ring binder".

I have few main pages, with a specific color.
"Science" /Green
"Language" / Pink
aso.

And the other pages are normal paper, with different stuff I want to do/learn, how I plan to do it, what I can use, the stuff I read about the subject.

It helps see where I can go, where I want to go, with all that stuff, and define some time here and there to actually do it.

[Frenchmom]

I experiemented several systems and now I went back to the very usual bound organizer, with one week per spread. I make sure there is a blank space for notes on each spread.
When I have a deadline, I write it one week prior, and I staple the related document (if any) on the page. I f I cannot staple it, I put it in a file and write down on my organizer which file it is so I'm sure I can find it when necessary.
For long-term projects, I make lists and/or flow charts on a sheet of paper which is taped on the wall opposite my desk.

My main problem is that I sometimes forget to open my organizer for several days. So i'm currently implemeting a bedtime routine to open it and check for any event or thing to do for the following day.

[Andreya]

Thanks everyone!

It's really interesting to read about things that work for others...

Unity, I don't dare to publish it all online.. Even with code system or initials, I'm just not sure if it would be a good idea.. Some things are a bit, uhm, 'top secret' lol.. Confidentiality, privacy etc. It's great that it works for you!

I had stuff on the wall at a time, didn't like it cause it became too 'messy'.. I work across several rooms/'offices'/desks, so not sure how doable the 'lists on wall' would be.. (I've had a wall calendar, then moved to a different room with it, and it got lost a bit..) I wonder iff it could be done in a more beautiful (and still eco) manner?

Interesting that you have a glass wall, Hamster! - is this on a white-colored wall? Haven't seen it done this way, usually people have a whiteboard or cork board..

I have folders and binders too, still sometimes it gets confusing and the paper gets, well, out of hand.. (and on the bed/coach, all over..)
I'm experimenting with 'topic boxes' now. I used to have most folders in a 'GTD-inspired' A-Z filing system (very good for finding archival stuff/reference material which I only need rarely, 'action files' got lost in there though.. So I'm considering keeping separate boxes/shelves for the 'Creative areas': Writing, Article Writing, Music, Organizing )

Frenchmom, I know! It's so frustrating! I soo often forgot to open my organizer too.. What worked best seemed to be a small piece of paper on the desk (with a small number of items). It's even important what the items are written with. Pencil is most eco, but my subconscious mind doesn't register it so well! (or at all - stuff written with a heavier 'marker'/ballpaint/pen seems to work better and I remember it more easily even away from the list... Guess I'll need to look into eco inks or making one's own ink.. Which I'd love to, but seems 'too scattered' at the time..)

You give some good tips! I decided I'd put names of files on all related papers too.. Does anyone use Google Desktop for easier retrieval of computer files?

[Me and my Hamster]

It's a red rectangular (35*40 cms) glass board, fixed on my white ordinaray wall.

[SoniaSimone]

First post here, so, hello. [Insert obligatory fangirlishness here]

I use a list inspired from (and expanded from) the Getting Things Done system, it's just a Word doc with next actions listed for the various things I'm working on. I create a fresh one each week. For the flow of "stuff I'm working on right now" I've found that paper works best for me. Anything electronic is too fiddly to update.

I run two blogs, so I keep four calendar whiteboards on one wall of my office for that, to track what we're going to post, when we'll do promotions, when I'm traveling, that kind of thing. I need to see it all at a glance, and to be able to change it around quickly.

But I also keep tons of notes and snippets and references and other useful bits in my online "junk drawer," which is an account with 37 Signals Backpack. It lets me keep notes and checklists and files and things of that nature. Many people tell me that Evernote is a great way to do this, and I think it's free, but at this point I've got my entire mental life in Backpack and have no interest in moving over.

[Andreya]

Hello SoniaSimone!

Great to read about how you manage it all! I'm still learning.. And great to have you here on this site!! (You seem quite an expert in some interesting things!)

Do you have Whiteboards assigned to individual blogs/topics/areas of focus or just 'wing it'?
And in the Word doc, do you have next actions separated by Areas of Focus or by context or both or ...?

37 Signals Backpack looks interesting! Have you ever used Basecamp too? Evernote seems to be more of a capture device than project management tool, and someone online is asking how to import to Basecamp from Evernote? Took a look at some other project management software, there seems to be quite a lot of them out there-?
Then again, maybe this is stuff for another thread?

Thanks Hamster! I've never seen a red one yet!

It's fascinating to read about different things that work!

[Unique Journalist]

Not sure if this would be something a Scanner would use, but there's a system that worked for me during college. Basically I drew a grid-style schedule on ruled paper. I used highlighters in different colors so I could tell when I was supposed to go to which class. It took a lot of work to write it out...maybe that's why I stopped using it. Nowadays I think there's software that can do the same thing.

Does that sound like something that might work for a Scanner or visual/kinesthetic person?

[Ilah]

A few months after reading the book, I did the 3 ring binder thing. The one where you have different three ring binders for each of your interests. I have around 15. The problem is, I have had them for several months and I hardly use them at all.

I guess there are many different ways to think about organization and planning.

One is the more day to day plans. What is on my to do list for today? Tomorrow? This week? This month? It may include taking a big task and braking it down into daily tasks.

Another is long range plans. What are my big goals? What are my plans for accomplishing them?

Another category is "future interesting things." I may be working on several projects right now when something interesting catches my eye. I may even do some research on it or find some nice websites on it. I don't have time to add another project right now, but I think I might like to do it when I finish some of the things I am currently doing. One problem I have had on the past is that when I get ready to actually do a project, I need to re-research it. The binder thing was supposed to help with that. I think something computer based might be better because many of the things are internet resources.

Monthly, I pick a task or two I would like to do. I don't get much more detailed than that, but I try to pick something it would be possible to do in a month. It works out reasonably well.

I like the idea of a charts listing what is the next to do in each project.

ilah

[Andreya]

Ilah, the binders didn't really work for me either.

For reference material ('archives') individual (smaller!) folders are MUCH better!! In the A-Z filing system.

As for the active stuff, still experimenting..

I LOVE your 'Future interesting things' - WOW!!

I have lots of stuff saved on computer, it's not really well organized at the moment, sometimes it's just easier to google it (or find it on a forum or blog...)

[Elizabeth_rb]

I keep written 'to do' lists, but my long-range planner and goals list is on one of my blogs (Fluffy Little Idiot), on a separate page.

I find having those goals to work towards really helpful and motivating. Also gives direction to how I use my time. (So maybe I should get off-line and do something useful )

[Wolf Goddess]

Just like Unity I make a very long master to-do list. I use headings and make the list in outline form. If a project is very complicated it warrants another outline list.

I use Barbara's method of putting each project in its own notebook. I am taking that concept one step further and will use artist sketch books for my projects. I am a person who must write AND draw. So unlined project books on sturdy paper will work well for me.

I am waiting for some new sketch books to arrive as I write this. Usually, I like spiral sketchbooks or use three ring binders and make my own sketchbooks: but I found some great books at Jerry's Artarama. These were so cheap that I decided to buy some.

WG

[momof3plus]

This is what I do:
http://bythemorninglight.wordpress.com/ ... -trust-me/

I just do it on plain old paper and then put it up on my corkboard.