Decide what you want to plan, organize and record:
I kept two date books, as shown by the photo I took, for three functions:
1) Schedule the tasks in my to-do-list.
2) Record my expenses.
3) Keep a diary to record my feelings and emotions.
Once you have made the decision, choose an appropriate date book according to the tips below:
1) Portable
It should be light to carry and handy to remind you important things at anytime, anywhere.
2) Weekly based for schedule
It’s better to use a weekly based than a daily-based one because it will provide a bigger picture for your schedule. Jot down the appointments and the things to be done in the coming week. Reschedule the less urgent or important tasks so that you won’t overload yourself in a day and lie idle for another day.
Use one color for the planned tasks, another color for the suddenly-emerged tasks. Put a tick for the finished one; a half tick for the semi-finished one; a cross for tasks you missed. After the week was over, take a look and ponder over how much control you have for your own life.
3) Different lists for expenses
Usually people are recommended recording all purchases to keep track on where their money gone. This is a must list that should include three columns at least: date of purchase, item and the price. It’s good to work out the sub-total for a day, a week and a month to give yourself a rough idea on the speed and amount of money leaving your wallet. This may help you check overspending in a continual manner.
Suggest you also record the ATM withdrawal and VISA payment in a monthly planner to give yourself more alert on the expenditure speed and amount.
The aforementioned lists are for done records. To budget your money better, compose a shopping list before the purchase. Use the shopping list to double-check whether you really need that item and if possible, mark down the lowest bargain as well. Follow the list strictly and don’t buy things outside it.
4) Daily based for diary
With many words to say but the space is too small for recording, add a blank sheet if you are using a loose-leaf organizer. You can also stick a separate sheet into the date book. Just don’t miss the recording. It’s a good way to release your emotions. When you look back, you may understand yourself better at a particular moment. It helps self-growth.
Benefits of keeping a date book:
1) Get yourself committed for more efficiency and better performance.
2) Get a bigger and better picture on what you will be facing and need to do.
3) Plan better by rescheduling, adding the profitable ones and deleting the unprofitable ones.
4) Serve as a reminder that you are committed.
5) Monitor your progress.
6) Record the result for investigation to introduce improvement for your future life. Are your plan and schedule always unrealistic and unfeasible? If so, dig into the underlying problem and fix it.
7) Budget your time and money better.
8) Minimize stress.
Date book, planner, organizer, aims at helping people to have better control over one’s life. Data shows pattern, and by examining it closely, we may have a better chance to find out which part is not working efficiently and corrective action can be taken to cope with the future.
Author’s note:
Date book is a good tool for planning and organization. But we also need other tips to help us budget our time and money better. Read more, learn more and put helpful tips into practice, our life will be better off.
How to Steal Time? (12 Time Management Tips)
How to Save Money – Ten Saving Tips
Stop Being a Shopaholic
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