Let’s get something straight. I am a really organized person. My closet is color coordinated. Everything in my house has a spot. I know where each pen belongs. In my nightstand you’d find perfect containers holding each knick-knack and gadget.
In my training I had to write down each collection spot where you “drop” things that need to be “processed”. This means when you go to the mailbox, where do you put your mail? I have a designated spot in my kitchen. When your boss sends you something to do, where does it go? A post it note? A calendar? A notebook? Mine goes straight on my sync’ed computer calendar. In the training, I learned that most people have 30 collection spots. Remember this includes any information that you have to remember so voicemails, texts, multiple inboxes they all count. Well I counted and I had 10! That’s right only 10. After the training he wants everyone to be at 8. That means that most people need to reduce collection spots by almost 75%. In case, I am not getting through right now, let me emphasize. I am one of those annoyingly organized people. Jared cannot hang up my clothes, because he doesn’t coordinate them. My shoes are in boxes and color coordinated as well.
As I did the training I wrote down my paper planner as a drop spot AS WELL as my calendar which syncs from my iPad, phone, and multiple computers. The main thing that stood out to me here is that I might need to retire one of my favorite guilty pleasures. I love buying planners, taking a pen to fresh paper and even pulling it out at the beginning of the day. Do I really use them?? No, not really. If I am checking my plans for a weekend in August, I check my phone calendar. If I need to remember a dinner, the first thing I do is take out my iPad and make an event. When I get to work, I bring up my calendar and it stays open all day because I schedule all my to-dos there.
My current planner
{via}This may seem silly to some of you, but it’s a heart breaking thing for me. It’s like realizing you best friend has another best friend. When I was 13 and earned $40 babysitting, I asked my mom to take me to Office Max and I blew through that $40. I bought multiple planners and journals and was far more happy than an alcoholic with whisky. Keep in mind I was THIRTEEN I had nothing to put in my planner.
I haven’t fully committed to saying adios to my planner, but I feel it is coming.
Do you write in a planner? Or are you all digital?
