5 Minute Daily Planning

5 MINUTE PLANNING ….You are going to have one of those days…you know, the kind where you are just on a roll?

You’re knocking off tasks, you’re getting things done---on your way to the most productive day you have had in a long time! And it is all because you did one thing.

YOU SPENT 5 MINUTES DOING ONE IMPORTANT TASK: DAY PLANNING.

Only five minutes. That’s all it takes to make a dramatic difference in what you get done. It’s a small investment of time that gives your day direction. You can do it. Day planning will help you optimize your time for getting more things done. It keeps you accountable for important appointments, to-dos and information. If you make this single, brief effort to plan you will find yourself needing less time each day to get organized.

Yes, a successful day can be yours, and it’s all done in a handful of minutes.

·       0:00- Plan your daily schedule, first by referencing monthly “master” calendar, and then by creating any necessary appointments based on yesterday’s activities. You should also block out hour-long segments of dedicated task time when needed. Don’t overbook yourself-reschedule or cancel appointments that interfere with your high priority tasks.

·       0:30- Scan yesterday’s notes and spot new tasks and appointment requests. This is particularly important follow-up action may have resulted from a phone conversation or business meeting that must be addressed with urgency

·       1:00- Check yesterday’s action list in your day planner for any tasks not completed. Evaluate whether these are still priorities or whether they should be put back on your Master Task List.

·       1:30 Repeat success. Make a mental note of what went well yesterday and see if you can match this success today. For example, if you made headway in a particular project, find time for it again today. Always build-off momentum of work that you have accomplished.

·       1:45-Write your daily task list, according to important needs and other urgent commitments that you deem necessary to your business. Be sure to fill your daily Action List with descriptive actions words like “complete,” “outline,” “research,” and “contact.” Keep your list short, realistic, and doable within the confines of your day.

·       3:00- Choose your top priorities: fact it, there are things you need to do today at work or at home in order to maintain order and accomplishment in your life. Some high priorities are quite obvious-such as meeting a work deadline-while others are less apparent through no less important such as paying a bill before its due date arrives.

·       4:00-Prioritize your tasks by assignment them an A, B, or C:

o   A tasks absolutely must be done today, and will suffer consequences if not. Only a few proud tasks earn this distinction. Don’t call in an “A” if you don’t fully intend to do it.            

o   B tasks need to get done, but won’t be penalized if not. Remember: B tasks if put off too long will become –level tasks that require urgent attention.

o   C tasks are the things you want to get done, but they can wait another day. These are great fill-ins for your downtime or time you might have left over.

·       4:30-Number your tasks in the order you want to complete them. Whenever possible schedule the most important tasks first, and then find an order that suits your daily movements.

·       4:45-Stuck? If you are not sure which task will go first, ask yourself the following questions: Which task best fits my role? Which task pursues my goals? Which work completed today will have the most impact on tomorrow?

·       5:00 Cross if off. On your daily task list write the words “Daily planning” and check it off. Enjoy the feeling of satisfaction from seeing this first completed task atop your list.

Taken from Day-Timer Magazine (www.daytimer.com)