You have laid the foundation for organization through Dreaming, Writing, and Breaking it down.
Now it’s time to put all this work into action.
Create a To-Do List. To-Do Lists are prioritized lists of all the tasks that you need to carry out, starting with the most important.
As I said, my organization technique is the basically the same that I learned with the Franklin planner in the ‘80’s. It has the computer-age advantages with Mind Tools. You can read and implement it from the Mind Tools website.
It is worth the time it takes to get organized. Time spent with this activity will truly enable you to reach higher heights no matter what your ‘end goal’ is.
This system took me through a successful college carrier and through raising eight children. Now I’m using it to succeed in online marketing.
It’s taken me a few months to transition from pencil and paper to a keyboard and word document but when I did, it was liberating!
And it saves time!! A friend of mine, Louise Steiner wrote a post on Time Management and it compliments my ideas of To-do lists!
To be able to store my list on my PC desktop where it is MUCH more orderly, is wonderful! I have simply created a ‘word’ document entitled ‘Personal To-Do List’ and written everything I needed to get done.
To do that, you simply:
open a new page in Word,
Write the title on the top of the page, I wrote “Personal To-Do List” then “enter”
click “Table”
in the drop-down menu click, select “Insert”
then click “Table”.
On Number of columns: 1
Number of rows: 35
OK
I’ve written everything I need to do on the list. Each morning I review the list of my tasks for the day. It’s easy to copy and paste items, moving them to the top of the list, showing importance or urgency (if you need a new line, simply go back to Table and click. On the drop down menu hover over insert, then you’ll see where you can add rows above or below).
As I’m working through my goals and a thought or idea pops into my mind, I simply open my list and write it down. When I complete the goal, I can delete it.
I have a ‘publisher’ spread sheet for various items that I need remembered. When I have completed a task, I’ll write the details at the assigned spot on my spread sheet to remember. At the end of every day, I review my list, making changes where necessary and click Save!
I would love to hear how you manage your to-do lists! And I’m curious to know how and when you figured it out!!
July 15th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Linda,
As a matter of fact, I am creating a to-do list for this weekend. I have set aside or lost time to complete some projects and I find a list gets me back on track. Plus I feel so empowered and lighter when I can check off items, no matter how big or how small.
Great idea!
Val
Val Wilcox recently posted..Go With the Flow
July 15th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Yes Val!
I totally agree! I have much more focus! And I love having a list to add my thoughts to so I don’t stumble away and get lost!! I’m anxious to read your last post!
~Linda
July 16th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Hi Linda,
I worked off a daily planner each day of the week. Naturally some days are family days but the rest in order to accomplish anything, I look at my list…I still like the pen and paper thing…then I send my results to a team leader. Keeps me accountable.
rebecca
July 16th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Hey Rebecca~
Thanks for commenting! I’m glad to hear you share another idea! Why don’t you get a picture attached to your comment! Check it out here: http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/
July 16th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Hi Linda Grace,
You always have helpful and powerful info! Getting organized is soooo important! I have always been very organized naturally, so unless I have a big event like Christmas, I tend not to use extensive lists.
Now that I working my online business AND still raising kids, that habit is not serving me well. This is a good reminder that I need to start a system….your system sounds great…I’ll give it a go!
Thanks,
Mentor Mama
Nancy Burke Barr, JD recently posted..Mentor Mama’s Marvelous Mixer
July 16th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
I wish I were so organized. I make a to do list and then I have 4 things that come up that seem to be more urgent. Thanks for the ideas, I will work on that!
Holly recently posted..What is a Workout
July 16th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Holly~
Thanks for your comment! Why don’t you get a picture attached to your comment! Check it out here: http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/
July 16th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Hi Linda
My upgrade to diaries was a great improvement 
This is a great idea to have it sitting on your desktop, I can see how effective it would be because of the convenience of it.
I currently work from 2 desktop diaries, one holds ‘to do’s’ for my MLM Business, and the other is for my blogging, social media and everyday stuff. At the moment this is working for me, I’ve used lists for as long as I can remember, however they started out as being just pieces of paper
Thanks for sharing your useful tip Linda.
In Health and Harmony.
Toni
Toni King recently posted..The Infinite Intelligence Of Our Subconscious Mind
July 17th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Linda,
Staying organized has been a major issue lately. I’m going to implement your strategy (probably on an Excel spreadsheet) and get going. Thanks for the inspiration.
Darlene Davis recently posted..Building Your Twitter List 101
July 19th, 2010 at 5:21 am
Good morning Linda
and here I thought I was organized
excellent series you put together and I am going to start using the Mind Tool’s site
Thanks Linda!
Peter Fuller MBA recently posted..Support my entry to the Famousbloggers ComLuv contest
July 19th, 2010 at 7:35 am
Peter,
You’re so kind! You are organized! We can always use reminders to get focused again!
~Linda
July 24th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
I love it Linda! I always write my to do lists on paper but I love your suggestion to in Word. Thanks for sharing this tip.
Angela recently posted..A Cool Free Seo Tool For Your Blog Posts and Articles
April 14th, 2011 at 8:23 pm
It always boils down on what are your priorities in life. How you give value to a certain issue.
April 15th, 2011 at 6:02 am
Yes it does!
Why don’t you get a gravatar? I’ll show you how here http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/ then leave another comment and let me see!
Linda
May 6th, 2011 at 5:13 am
Hello there Linda! I’ve been keeping track of your posts here. You always have great inspiring articles. Thanks for your advice on making a “personal plan to do list” it helped me a lot. Also I don’t have to worry anymore about not being able to do some stuffs just because I’ve forgotten them.
Regards,
Karen
May 7th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
You’re so kind Karen. Thank you for visiting! Blogging is my new found passion! Was it you that I said this to the other day? I am no longer to work outside the home due to my MS experience. I’ve spent the past 18 months learning to blog. I’ve finally decided my niche. I’ve found my purpose in my circumstance. I started another blog that I’m spending most of my time on. http://msrelief.com. You can visit me there too, but unless you have MS, you probably won’t be able to relate! Tell me about you, I briefly looked at your website. Is that your full time job?
Linda
Why don’t you get a Gravatar? You really can use any picture, it doesn’t have to be you, can be a baby, an animal, what ever you want! ~ I created a post to show you how to get this simple and free account! Check this out here: http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/. After you get one, come back, leave a comment and let me see!
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:32 pm
I think this is the best step in goal setting. Taking action is the last step to fulfill once goal.
October 24th, 2011 at 12:16 am
Action is always the hardest but most important step!!