My Warsaw City Guide went live before I actually had a chance to wish you Happy New Year so I’ll start by saying a belated one!
2020 is here and I’m prettyyyyyyy excited about it. I love the prospect of a fresh start. It does wonders for my motivation and this year is no exception, especially since I have a brand new collection of stationery to get stuck into.
Getting stuck into it was exactly what I did last week when I sat down to plan my work for the few weeks ahead. I’m doing 2020 a little differently though based on the things I learnt from last year’s plans and thought I’d share the process in case you’re stuck when it comes to where to start.
Create an everything list
I talked before about having separate to-do lists for work and home in this post and, while I stand by the fact that can be helpful, it’s not something I’m planning on continuing. Combining the two gives me a much better overview of everything I need to get done. I’m also less likely to let things slip through the net because they’re in different places. Sure, the ‘everything list’ is longer but it’s comprehensive and I don’t look at it every day. Instead, I transfer the weekly to-dos from my notebook into my diary which brings me on to my next point…
Allocate days
Once I’ve come up with my ‘everything list’, I’ll break it down into what needs to be done that week and when. Taking into account deadlines, workload and my personal schedule, I’ll allocate each of my tasks to a day of the week I’m aiming to complete it. This really helps me to keep focused and avoid starting every working day wondering where to begin. It’s also motivating to me as a neat freak because not getting something done would mean crossing it out. The thought of doing that to my new diary hurts just a little.
Keep goals in mind
Speaking of the diary, it’s a layout I’ve never really tried before. It combines my usual dates with to-dos, notes and goals which has been really helpful so far in terms of planning. For me, the goals contextualise the to-dos and acts as a constant reminder of why you’re doing them. Another great way to stay motivated.
Reflecting
I’m also trying to make more of an effort to reflect. Looking back at what content did and didn’t work well, which months I could’ve worked more and where I’d taken on too much etc. isn’t something I’ve been the best at in the past. I’m hoping keeping track will help me be more intentional with growing my freelance business in the future. That’s why I’m incorporating it into my planning process for the year ahead.
Are you trying something new when it comes to planning for 2020? How’s it going so far?
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