How I Am Managing My Time for 2017

If you read my goals for 2017, my focus word is balance.  I decided to have a focus word and make my goals centered around that.  To help with balance, one major thing I needed was to utilize the resources I already have.  I am a huge fan of my planner and my appointment calendar (I posted about that here, too).  But there are a few other simple tools I use as well.

Here are the things that always help with my time management:

Planner

I’ve been a big fan of the Simplified Planner because of all the space to write things.  I am a list maker and like to have my meal plan & blog posts right in front of me.  I also use the notes section at the beginning of each month to write out my monthly goals.  I had gotten to the point that I didn’t have time to use this anymore, and I was really struggling.  I usually spend every Sunday going through my calendar to make sure I haven’t over extended myself and that I am not missing anything.  I also have DG go through his calendar and update me on anything he has going on during the week.

Appointment Calendar

DG and I sit down at the beginning of each month and go through the monthly calendar.  Here is where we add meetings, any appointments we have, practices & games for DG, events, and birthdays.  It’s a really nice way for us to have a general overview of the month.  I keep it hanging in plain sight so we’ll always know.

Blog Calendar

I use Emily Ley’s monthly calendar to organize my editorial claendar each month.  I try to write in pencil in case things change, but I have loved utilizing this for a way to track when I have sponsored posts that have to go out on a certain day or when I’ll post travel guides, etc.  It makes it easier to communicate with brands.

Google Calendar

I sync my Google calendar to my iPhone and this is crucial for when I don’t have my planner with me.  I also have a space for DG’s events, which makes it easier for me if I’m committing to plans for both of us.

Apple Watch

My Google calendar syncs to my Apple Watch, and I love having my events as a reminder.  I also really like that I can get my reminders on my watch as well.  I have really been utilizing this recently and it has been a major help.  To be completely honest, this was a major reason why I got my watch last year.

Weekly Planner

Every Monday when I get to work, I sit down and use my weekly planner to write out my week’s committments.  This is where I write my meetings down, deadlines for reports, and any other expectations for me that week.  While I love a to-do list, this also helps me stay on track.

What are your keys to managing your time?  Is there something I should try?

I hope you’re easing in to 2017 this week!

xx

Linking up with Jenn & Jessi

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