Either at work/home?

I am terrible about deadlines, both personally & professionally. I have come to realize there is no difference, it's all my life, so I try to use a planner that encompasses both personal & professional stuff.

Okay, but the hard part is incorporating others at my workplace who share parts of the schedule. How do you create something that incorporates different projects with different timelines that may be done by different people, and allows others to have access to it?

So what's a good method?

Do I create an excel file? If so, how would you format it?

Use a big calendar? The problem is when something's due on the first of the month--you don't see it coming. Also, we don't share calendars, either electronic or paper.

Just be more organized ie log off?

Excel spreadsheet with deliverables listed with dates noted and who's responsible on a shared drive that all can access to make updates on progress.


whew.

That's the easiest route, anyway. I've done some project management and it can get as fancy or as basic as you want it, but that would be the bare minimum.

CarrieMpls said:

can you detail that a bit?
Like the left column would be, what projects, and top row would be dates?

I've done something like that, but then sometimes a project that has quarterly reports might not align with one that has yearly reports, and so visually it's confusing.

Or, care to send me an example?

NDRU said:

Like I'd do the deliverable or actionable item in a list down the left and have columns across the top for each of the things needed to know - who's responsible, when it's due, a box for notes (why it's late, new time line, progress info, etc.).

You can even do kind of sub-headings that way and break the entire thing into pieces.

I'm at home now, but if you wanna orgnote me your email address, I could find you something tomorrow probably.

CarrieMpls said:

Done!

I really need to address this, I'm a good employee, but this is one thing that I've been bad at and it's bitten me again & again

One way I've improved is with the Franklin Planner.

I was reading Stephen Covey, and he was so meticulous about planning that it basically included everything, like "spend time with the boy" & "make love," and also how to combine tasks, so you yould "make love with the boy" and kill two birds with one stone.

But it helped me to realize there is really no distinction between work time and leisure time. It's all important and it all can be scheduled to be more effective & rewarding.

But I can't incorporate a multi-user kinda thing!

I keep a daily planner. It was quite useful when my kids were younger and I was driving kids to cheer practice, dance classes, sax lessons, football practice. When my girls were old enough to work, it also kept track of their work schedules etc...my planner really kept me on track so I didn't over book my family.

MoniGram said:

yes, that's been really helpful to me, as well, assuming I plan to plan look at my planner, which doesn't always happen

Only two of you?

Come on, you're a bunch of computer geeks you must have schedules!

I write all appointments in a diary
to do/to buy lists on old outdated business cards we have boxes of
client briefs in notepads without tearing the pages out so I don't lose them
travel arrangements/trips always in excel, with costings
I don't have a mobile phone, so I have a little printout of people's phone numbers which I tuck into little mini diaries when I travel
I don't have GPS so I print out google maps directions or use the Melways

I usually do stuff ASAP
as a parent you don't know which kid will be sick tomorrow and will prevent you from doing it at all.

For family nerve centre I have this kind of thing in the kitchen:


a column for each person for each day
so I don't forget special things like school excursions and casual days

i dont make one.
thats how

diary.