From the articleNOW OR NEVERWe saw the value in planning our activities. Later, to make planning a habit, we learned to keep up the pace (HOW TO KEEP FOCUS).

Today I propose going a little further in organizing our planning. But first, here’s how this direction comes to me:

“When we start planning, especially using a notepad, we tend to throw everything in there, and sometimes a little too much detail. For example, we mix to-do lists with grocery lists.”

Be careful! This is a habit that I think will make your work difficult, messy, and cost you dearly!

Here is my recommendation to the question of how to organize your planning: you have to separate things!

WHAT DO I MEAN BY SEPARATETHINGS?

I keep two notepads:

• a miniature notepad that is 1/4 of A5 size (I call it the bmini), roughly the size of a smartphone;
• an A5 notepad, A5 size (I call it the bmax).

THE BMINI: GENERIC INFORMATION

I always start with the bmini where I note the date and list the tasks in a generic way.
Example:

— Appointment with …,

– Work on …,

– Shopping at the supermarket,...

It’s really generic in the form of a list (one dash per line). It gives me a direct visual of the whole day and it takes up less than a page on my bmini. I make sure not to have more than 6 generic tasks per day, which prevents me from overloading myself, getting bogged down and getting confused.

THE BMAX: DETAILED INFORMATION

After completing my bmini, I move on to the bmax. Here, I also start with the date. I only include the complex tasks from the bmini here, writing their title and the list of subtasks they should contain. Here, the shopping list appears (with a possible price estimate).

At the end of the day, I review my Bmini and Bmax. A child’s play that has the merit of transforming my most difficult days into real pleasures.

ULTIMATELY

I plan in the morning. If necessary, I update during the day. In the evening, I take stock, making sure to check off what has been done. I can make observations. I don’t write sentences in these documents; I only write words or short phrases. I want my documents to be as concise and clear as possible.

How to organize your planning? I’ve shown you in a few lines how I do it from my point of view, based on my personal experience. It works for me! This is what I do.

Now it’s your turn!