My 2021 To-Do List ~ It Works The Way You Do

 

My 2021 To-Do List ~ It Works

This is an edited repost for 2021 of a prior post I did way back in 2018. 

So many of you emailed me about it and how successful it was for them, that it has become an evergreen post. (Edits in red)

In December of 2018, I had Sarra Cannon here as a guest blogger, talking about Tips For Success In 2019 As An Indie Author.  Earlier in the year, I'd been to her site and learned about her modified Kanban system.

I've modified the system even more.

For any system to be successful, it needs to work for you so I'm showing you in a very personal way what works for me. Please feel free to use whatever you see here that might work for you. 

Basically, a Kanban board is what you see below.  

To-Do, In Progress and Finished. 

I don't have room in my office to place such a board, nor would I enjoy seeing such an in-my-face board, (I think it would be TOO much pressure 😉) so I decided to make a desk-sized book.

The basic idea behind a Kanban is that you list each To-Do item on paper coded by color to the type of task, and put it on the To-Do column.  Move it to the Doing column and then Done column

I use the same idea, but leave out the Doing. I use colored adhesive notes so I instantly know what I'm looking at.  (NOTE: I'd stopped doing this, what a mistake, I'm back to using colors codes for tasks)

The notes get put on a day's page and not in any particular order unless I have a deadline. I place other not so immediate To-Do's on subsequent pages, after all, there are other things I want to do, not must do, like play the piano or sew or.... :)

As I said above, I don't have an In Progress or Doing List. My note stays on the page or gets moved to the next day if not completed. Most of the time, I can complete the task on that given day, and when I do, I write in INK that completed task on my page and throw away the To-Do note.

This way, I can easily write notes as the project/job/task pops into my head and stick it on a page. Now I rarely forget to get something done! How awesome is that? Very!! 

And I get to see the progress I've made and how the day was used for those must-do tasks.

I also realized that I have on-going tasks that will take more than one day, so I write in INK that I worked on the task, and MOVE the same post-it to the next page/day and so forth until I finished that long task...like editing a book :) 

I was using one page for each weekday and one for a combined Saturday/Sunday, but I realized some days only get a few things accomplished. (I do write down what kept me from doing what I needed to do😄) And some days just don't have that much listed. So I start a new day if I can on the same page.  (Note: I no longer share weekday pages, as I set up my pages a week at a time now to be efficient. I only share Saturday and Sunday as I try not to "work" on those days.)

A couple of important things to note. I learned from Sarra to have a quarterly list in the back of my book where I can place items I know I want to do, but can't focus on during this quarter.  It's a GREAT help because once it is listed, it's out of my brain and I won't forget it. (Note: after doing this for a year, I can't believe how much it took off my plate until that quarter rolled around and I could look at it and move on those ideas if I want to. WOW. Brain cells freed up.)

Second, I love scrapbooking and planners, so I've combined that love in this book. It makes me happy to decorate it after the day has finished, it's like my treat.

So a year and a half  a lot of time has passed since I started this. And it's working like a dream. Now, I've pulled out all the 2018 2020 pages and started a new book. (It's 2021 and still, it's a dream system.)

I use Create 365 Happy Planner 1/2 sheets (white for me, available at Michaels), their medium-sized rings (I'm using expander rings now, but medium will work fine), and I cut the tabs off their "dashboards" to make the cover and back. I believe these are all "classic" size. I'm going to put links below the post in case you're interested. (yes I'm an Amazon affiliate, so receive a small commission, but there is no extra charge to you)

I buy stickers and washi tape. I created my own "day" stickers, which I print on white labels and cut with my Cameo. But you can buy day-of-the-week stickers.  Basically, I have fun which makes the entire TO-DO thing a bit easier. 

Let me know if you have questions about how I created my To-Do List using a modified Kanban system.

~See you later, 

L.A.

My To-Do List Repost ~ You All Loved IT

My To-Do List ~ It Works

This is a repost for 2020 of the post I did last year. 

So many of you emailed me about it and how successful it was for them, that it may become an evergreen post. (Edits in red)

In December of 2018, I had Sarra Cannon here as a guest blogger, talking about Tips For Success In 2019 As An Indie Author.  Earlier in the year, I'd been to her site and learned about her modified Kanban system.

I've modified the system even more.

You need to make a system work for you, and so I'm showing you in a very personal way what works for me.

Basically, a Kanban board is what you see below.  

To-Do, In Progress and Finished. 

I don't have room in my office to place such a board, nor would I enjoy seeing such an in-my-face board, (I think it would be TOO much pressure 😉) so I decided to make a desk-sized book.

The basic idea behind a Kanban is that you list each To-Do item on paper coded by color to the type of task, and put it on the To-Do column.  Move it to the Doing column and then Done column

I use the same idea, but leave out the Doing. I use colored adhesive notes so I instantly know what I'm looking at.  (NOTE: I'd stopped doing this, what a mistake, I'm back to using colors for tasks)

The notes get put on a day page and not in any particular order unless I have a deadline.  I place other not so immediate To-Do's on subsequent pages, after all, there are other things I want to do, not must do, like play the piano or sew or.... :)

As I said above, I don't have an In Progress or Doing List. My note stays on the page or gets moved to the next day if not completed. Most of the time, I can complete the task and when I do, I write in INK that completed task on my page and throw away the To-Do note.

This way, I can easily write notes as the project/job/task pops into my head and stick it on a page. Now I rarely forget to get something done!  How awesome is that? Very!! 

And I get to see the progress I've made and how the day was used for those must-do tasks.

I was using one page for each weekday and one for a combined Saturday/Sunday, but I realized some days only get a few things accomplished. (I do write down what kept me from doing what I needed to do😄) And some days just don't have that much listed. So I start a new day if I can on the same page.  (Note: I no longer share pages, as I set up my pages a week at a time now to be efficient.)

A couple of important things to note. I learned from Sarra to have a quarterly list in the back of my book where I can place items I know I want to do, but can't focus on during this quarter.  It's a GREAT help because once it is listed, it's out of my brain and I won't forget it. (Note: after doing this for a year, I can't believe how much it took off my plate until that quarter rolled around. WOW. Brain cells freed up.)

Second, I love scrapbooking and planners, so I've combined that love in this book. It makes me happy to decorate it after the day has finished, it's like my treat.

So a year and a half has passed since I started this. And it's working like a dream. Now, I've pulled out all the 2018 pages and started a new book. (It's 2020 and still, it's a dream system.)

I use Create 365 Happy Planner 1/2 sheets (white for me, available at Michaels), their medium-sized rings, and I cut the tabs off their "dashboards" to make the cover and back. I believe these are all "classic" size. I'm going to put links below the post in case you're interested. (yes I'm an Amazon affiliate, so receive a small commission, but there is no extra charge to you)

I buy stickers and washi tape. I created my own "day" stickers, which I print on clear labels and cut with my Cameo. But you can buy day-of-the-week stickers.  Basically, I have fun which makes the entire TO-DO thing a bit easier. 

Next week, I'll write a post on my Action Book. A new and better way to keep my yearly resolution goals in front of me.

Let me know if you have questions about how I created my To-Do List using a modified Kanban system.

~See you later, 

L.A.

It's A New Quarter ~ What Is Your Goal List For Quarter Two?

It's quarter two...are you ready?

Yes, a new quarter is here already. Have you jotted ideas down for Q2 that you'd like to tackle?  Maybe even have thoughts for Q3 and Q4?  

Good for you!  Write those future thoughts on a list and they will be there when you tackle Q3/Q4, and by doing so, you have shifted them off your immediate radar, so they're not cluttering up your gray matter.  

Below, I'm showing you a way to focus on what you want to accomplish in Quarter 2 (Q2) which is April, May, and June. 

Have you:

Defined your main goal(s)?  (Don't make too many.)

Listed Your projects to begin reaching those goals?

And thought about your tasks on a daily/weekly basis to work on the projects needed to move along. 

It's similar to the Kanban board above, but the first two columns, instead of TO DO and DOING use GOAL(S) and PROJECTS. 

The third column is reserved for the TASKS you'll come up with and move onto your three column board board or your To-Do List Book which is what I use. (See my post on this here). 

On my Q2 sheet, I've listed my main goals as Write More and Become More Visible With My Books.

My projects are: Study "Ask David", get some "stars" to post on my blog ~ like Scott Baker and Craig Martell, continue my study of Amazon, and start a Bookbub Ad Study.  That is more than enough on my plate for this quarter. 

Then from that list, I make sure some tasks are on my To-Do list several days a week. For instance, I need to email Ask David and start a conversation with him about how we can help each other achieve higher sales/income. 

And I've realized that my To-Do list is not only about listing my writing goals, but other things in my life... which is busier than ever it seems. So having limited writing goals, projects and tasks make my life manageable and things get done.

As I was going over my project list, I realized that two of my projects are very broad, and I think now I'll narrow them down. Like maybe "read chapter one of a marketing book" vs "read marketing book." Otherwise, I'll never get those post-its pulled off the to-do page and inked in as done. And narrowing down is good because it shows I'm focusing more on my projects and making them achievable.

So, as I looked back at Q1, I realized I achieved most of my goals. Audiobooks studied and started.  I learned that I really don't want to do Social Media Ads, but do want to do Amazon and BookBub ads. And I'm on a roll with my newsletter.  

So I'm thrilled this concept works.  

The most important part of this idea (which I first heard about from Sarra Cannon) is not that you have this or that board or planner, but that you have a spot where you can gather your thoughts. And be able to focus on them in quarterly chunks to achieve the goals you want.  By listing them, your brain is clear to work on the immediate tasks and your future quarter lists are there so you can jot down thoughts without the fear of forgetting them, clearing your mind to move on. 

Have you tried it?  What do you think?

Hugs, ~L.A.

Sharing My To-Do List Method ~ A Version of the Kanban System

My To-Do List ~ It Works

In December I had Sarra Cannon here as a guest blogger, talking about Tips For Success In 2019 As An Indie Author.  Earlier in the year, I'd been to her site and learned about her modified Kanban system.

I've modified the system even more.

You need to make a system work for you, and so I'm showing you in a very personal way what works for me.

Basically, a Kanban board is what you see below.  

To Do, In Progress and Finished. 

I don't have room in my office to place such a board, nor would I enjoy seeing such an in-my-face board, (I think it would be TOO much pressure 😉) so I decided to make a desk-sized book.

The basic idea behind a Kanban is that you list each To-Do item on paper coded by color to the type of task, and put it on the To Do column.  Move it to the Doing column and then Done column

I use the same idea, but leave out the Doing. I use colored adhesive notes so I instantly know what I'm looking at. 
The notes get put on a day page and not in any particular order unless I have a deadline.  I place other not so immediate To-Do's on subsequent pages, after all, there are other things I want to do, not must do, like play the piano or sew or.... :)

As I said above, I don't have an In Progress or Doing List. My note stays on the page or gets moved to the next day if not completed. Most of the time, I can complete the task and when I do, I write in INK that completed task on my page and throw away the To-Do note.

This way, I can easily write notes as the project/job/task pops into my head and stick it on a page. Now I rarely forget to get something done!  How awesome is that? Very!! 

And I get to see the progress I've made and how the day was used for those must-do tasks.

I was using one page for each weekday and one for a combined Saturday/Sunday, but I realized some days only get a few things accomplished. (I do write down what kept me from doing what I needed to do😄) And some days just don't have that much listed. So I start a new day if I can on the same page. 

A couple of important things to note. I learned from Sarra to have a quarterly list in the back of my book where I can place items I know I want to do, but can't focus on during this quarter.  It's a GREAT help because once it is listed, it's out of my brain and I won't forget it.

Second, I love scrapbooking and planners, so I've combined that love in this book. It makes me happy to decorate it after the day has finished, it's like my treat.

So a year and a half has passed since I started this. And it's working like a dream. Now, I've pulled out all the 2018 pages and started a new book. 

I use Create 365 Happy Planner 1/2 sheets (white for me, available at Michaels), their medium-sized rings, and I cut the tabs off their "dashboards" to make the cover and back. I believe these are all "classic" size. I'm going to put links below the post in case you're interested. (yes I'm an Amazon affiliate, so receive a small commission, but there is no extra charge to you)

I buy stickers and washi tape. I created my own "day" stickers, which I print on clear labels and cut with my Cameo. But you can buy day-of-the-week stickers.  Basically, I have fun which makes the entire TO-DO thing a bit easier. 

Next week, I'll write a post on my Action Book. A new and better way to keep my yearly resolution goals in front of me.

Let me know if you have questions about how I created my To-Do List using a modified Kanban system.

~See you later, 

L.A.