Most of you will agree that we can read, listen and study for hours upon end on how to enhance our minds and become 1% better versions of ourselves daily, but the greatest lessons in life are from actual experience.
Mapping Out a Successful Day
I am a professional list maker and note taker. If I don’t write it down, my wild and creative crazy nine year old inner child takes over and the next thing you know I have 20 projects that I have begun but will probably never finish. This is one of the things that I struggle with daily, so I have decided that as I begin to declutter my life and brain, I will become more mindful of my approach and system to tackling the day.
Listening to an interview with one of my favorite writers, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
The Morning Journal, Master List and the Top 5 for the Day
As for prioritizing my daily to do list, I have a new approach. I have come to appreciate the wild and creative mind that I have as just an excitable version of me that wants it ALL and that is okay. I love that about me, I just know that I can’t do it ALL right now. So here are my steps/system to making it happen over time.
The Morning Journal
After a five minute gratitude journal moment, I write down my goals and tasks for the day/week/month in Evernote. I love how Evernote is accessible from everywhere – my phone, desktop, tablet and laptop and automatically syncs my lists so they are always updated.
Organizing My Tasks – The Master List
I organize these tasks in three categories: Personal, Work and Creating (writing, photography, making things). I dump everything I want to include in this master list – things like outlining my book, clients I have to call, learning more about social media strategy and tools like Periscope, etc.
My Daily Top Five
I then take a notebook from Muji (love this Japanese store) and write down the Top 5 tasks I will complete for the day – or start for the month. I am sure to include at least one thing from each area of my life to keep it balanced. I prioritize by sense of urgency and importance.
I also use Moleskin note books and Pinterest to help keep track of things that inspiring me throughout the day.
Recording Daily Activities
Try this with me. I am now committed to taking an extra 90 seconds a day and recording not only what I have achieved, but how it felt to accomplish the task. This will include my personal and work achievements because I don’t believe any one of my clients is recording my wins. This job journal will come in handy later on when I decide to raise my fees and move towards more.
Organizing Systems
If you love journals and notebooks and have developed a system for creating tasks and documenting wins I would love to hear more about what works for you. Be sure to comment in the section below.
Moleskine Classic Notebook, Extra Large, Plain, Black, Soft Cover (7.5 x 10) (Classic Notebooks)
Not just for wandering the world, Midori Traveler’s Notebook Brown Leather (1, 1 LB)
Because inspiration can spark at any time. . .
Rite in the Rain – Green Tactical Note Book (All Weather)
On your road to greatness, the details make all the difference. Write them down.
Leuchtturm Medium Notebook, Ruled, 5.75 x 8.25 inches (LBL11)
Because inspiration can spark at any time. . .from anyone at any place 🙂
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I am the same, I pour everything into a handwritten journal and then I take what is needed for work from it and create a rolling list, which is not only looked at daily, I evaluate each thing and consider why/whether something needs doing. This honing as I go makes me more productive and moves me more swiftly into actually doing the things rather than planning/writing about them repeatedly!
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Love this Madeline. I was just thinking about waking up each day and achieving small tasks and here you are with your words about achieving our goals by planning each day. Brilliant. I got the goosebumps. It was a confirmation that my thought processes are on the right track. I thought the suggestion to write about the experience once completed is fab as it installs movement forward. Ive decided to at least achieve one goal a day and eventually I will reach the bigger picture . Writing about it will be a great read later on in the rocking chair. Thanks for the prompt. Have a great day:-)
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I feel so blessed to have your
Thoughts thank you
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