Everyone gets the same 1,440 minutes in a day, it’s what you do with those minutes that counts.
I think about all the things I want to accomplish, the memories I want to make, and the milestones I want to be apart of.
Each year I make a planning binder that helps me accomplish my goals and stay on task. I am an organized person but can easily get distracted and forget what I set out to originally accomplish. Like now for example, I started out cleaning the kitchen, paused to help my sweet boy with Legos, my sweet girls with cake pops, I had the thought for this post so I sat down to write it out for fear of not remembering it later.
Like now for example, I started out cleaning the kitchen, paused to help my sweet boy with Legos, my sweet girls with cake pops, I had the thought for this post so I sat down to write it out for fear of not remembering it later.
Now I have to circle back around to the still messy kitchen! 🙂
Back to the planning binder-Pinterest is filled with printable planners in all shapes, colors and sizes! You can also get some pretty ones from places like Target or Staples.
Check out my Pinterest board of different planners and goal keepers that I have come across:
Follow Cathy | three kids and a fish’s board make the most of your time 2015 on Pinterest.
In my planning binder I like to have these things to help me make the most of the time I have been given:
1. Yearly Goals:
These are things I want to accomplish in my personal life, my blogging goals, family goals etc. Some of my goals for this coming year are include losing five pounds, starting my own link party, and saving money for a great summer family vacation.
2. Daily Calendar:
I have calenders and sticky notes everywhere to keep track of all that we have going on from day to day. This planning binder that I create is the central one that I refer to most often. It has every activity, meeting, doctor appointment, volunteer things, get together, and party that our family needs to be at.
3. Daily Tasks:
I make a list of tasks and things that I need to accomplish each day. I do this partly so I don’t forget and partly to push myself to do the things that need to be done that are not necessarily my fave things. On my list of daily tasks, you would find household chores, what bills to pay, where I am volunteering, and blogging tasks.
4. Blogging:
I keep a whole separate binder for blogging to keep track of blog ideas, recipes, link parties and more. In both binders, I have a list of blogging tasks and goals. I figure if I write it down twice it will get done!
5. Wish List:
On my list are the things that I would like to do or purchase this year. If there is something on my wish list from the year before that I have not been able to get I either add it to the top of the next years list or talk myself out of it completely. A couple of things on my wish list this year is to purchase a REAL camera and to go away for a weekend with my hubby!
Since keeping a planning binder, I have learned a few things! I have learned not to be disappointed if I don’t achieve a goal, get something from my wish list, or if my daily tasks are not always complete! Life sometimes gets messy, busy and complicated so I give myself grace.
I keep a planning binder to give myself a way to be organized, to keep motivated on my goals, and to stay focused on my tasks, and to continue to dream about my wish list! 🙂
This post was originally shared in January 2015!
Teresa Moody says
I totally into doing planning lists and daily goals. Thanks for the Pinterest link! Fellow sits girl here!
CathyM says
Hi Teresa 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by and checking this out! I love planning lists as well, it makes me feel so accomplished at the end of the day! 🙂 Whoo Hoo for SITS girls!
Leslie says
I wish I could be this organized. I do plan on making a blogging binder to keep with me. I'll be using post it notes to help keep that calendar up to date. I wish you the best with your goals this year!
CathyM says
Having a blogging binder has really changed my blog and has allowed me to see how much I have grown! I love post it notes, they really are amazing! 🙂 Wishing you the best with your goals this year as well! Thanks so much Leslie for always taking the time to stop by! 🙂
Kirstie says
Love this! I love getting a planner and since my birthday is at the beginning of the year, its always a must have on my wish list, but I think I need to add some of these goals to it! Happy New Year! Thanks for the ideas!
CathyM says
Happy birthday Kirstie! What a great beginning of the year! I love getting a fresh planner, it's the little things in life! 🙂 Happy New Year! Thanks so much for the visit, I truly appreciate it!
Jo-Anne Meadows says
I will often lay in bed and make plans but when I wake up I have forgotten what the plans are that I made before I went to sleep.
CathyM says
Hahaha! I have done this same thing so many times before! Sometimes it is days later before I remember!
Maria Brittis says
Thanks for sharing your great post on budgeting your time, hope you can share another great post at Fabulous Friday.. Maria
http://www.simplenaturedecorblog.com/fabulous-friday-party-time/
CathyM says
Thanks so much Maria for taking the time to stop by from the party! See you soon! 🙂
Becky Dempster says
Great tips for making good use of your time! Thanks for sharing at Motivational Monday!
CathyM says
Thanks so much Becky!!
Becca says
I am not good in time management. One of my goal this year is how to stay organized and how to making good use of my time. Thanks for the inspiration! wish me luck!
CathyM says
Thanks so much Becca for checking out this post! It's a great New Years Resolution-you go girl! 🙂 Best Wishes on achieving the goal to stay organized this year!
Caroline @ In Due Time says
I have never been a list maker, but maybe I should try? I am sure it would help me stay on task more!
CathyM says
I have lists all over the house on all types of paper, and list on my phone and I still get sidetracked! 🙂 Thanks Caroline for coming over!
Samantha says
I love my calendar! And am getting ready to set my new goals for the year! I personally like having a monthly calendar area and then a daily one! I also keep a running list of task to do!
CathyM says
Yay!! I love setting new goals, it feels like it gives purpose to your time!! Thanks Samantha for sharing your tips on how you organize your time!
Angie says
I need to work on getting RE-organized. I have found and downloaded several freebies and I have Sue Hooley’s day planner (that I won off another blogger’s giveaway). It’s just a matter of utilizing my tools and buckling down and doing the work.
CathyM says
Oh, I’ll have to check that planner out! Thanks Angie for taking the time to stop over!!
Marissa says
I am totally a planner as well… and yes there are so many great resources around! And still I ended up making a new monthly scheduler and tracker for 2016 for my blogging… maybe it’s an addiction….
CathyM says
I love planning too!!! 🙂 Thanks so much Marissa for taking the time to stop over, I truly appreciate it! 🙂
Jennifer DeFrates/Heaven Not Harvard says
I know for my blogging goals, I need to be more organized. I’m always scrambling at the last minute for a blog, when I could be writing many at a time and publishing them later. Thanks for the encouragement!
CathyM says
Keeping blog organized can be hard!! I have made it a mission to write things down and stay organized so I don’t get overwhelmed!! THanks so much Jennifer for coming over! Happy New Year!
Ifeoma Samuel says
Hi Cathy, this is lovely and useful!
Getting organised and ready 2016.
Thanks for sharing.
CathyM says
Thank you so much Ifeoma!!! 🙂
Danielle says
I love the beginning o fa new year because it’s a new slate on which to write! We’ve already got our goals down for the year and specifics on how to get them done! Woo Hoo!
CathyM says
Me too, Danielle!! It’s such a great feeling! I am writing my goals now!! Yay!! 🙂
Krista says
I’m glad I’m not the only one who needs separate sections for blog planning, family stuff and everything else! I’ve tried so many planners to bring everything together and at the end of the day a binder that has different sections seems to be the only thing that works for me!
CathyM says
Hi Krista! Happy New Year! 🙂 Hope that you are great! I love binders and color coding them, and dividing them into sections! It’s the little things! 🙂 Thanks for stopping over!