As my week passes on, one thing I am forever grateful for is my calendar and my to-do list. Having these two things with me helps me as a business coach stay organized, prepared, and allows me to set aside time for things that are important to me. Knowing exactly what needs to get done, what I have going on, is more beneficial and satisfactory for me than just something I can cross off my to-do list. It helps me control my life. Now I’m not saying that my life is perfect, but now I can handle any problems or issues that arise just a little easier.
Knowing exactly what I have going on throughout the day as a business coach and manager and having it written down, is extremely helpful, because since I have consistently been doing this, I have not, double booked myself, missed an important event or felt exhausted from running around like a chicken with its head cut off. You need to find a time every day, to sit down and figure out what you have going on, where you need to be, and what needs to get done. I’ll keep my to-do list, and my calendar with me throughout the day, that way if someone asks me to get an assignment done, or I make plans, or even if there’s a problem I need to deal with, I have everything I need to be documented so I can resolve the issue, or add it to my calendar later.
Since I have consistently been doing this, I have not, double booked myself, missed an important event or felt exhausted from running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
That is why every morning when I wake up, part of my daily routine, is thinking through what I have going on, what needs to get done for work, my family, errands I need to run etc. I then type up my to-do list and plan out the rest of my day on my calendar. Now every morning I know I have a meeting at 6 am to meet with the other business coaches, mentors, and colleagues. I know I go to work at a certain time, and I know when I’ll be spending time with my family/friends, exercising, reading and running errands.
Knowing exactly what goes on throughout my day helps me to be organized, helps me be prepared, and then I know when I have free time in case anything pops up. Rather than writing everything down, and as someone who used to try and remember everything that I needed to do, and everywhere I needed to be, having a to-do list a daily calendar causes less stress and makes my life simpler. When you plan out your day, it causes accountability, and the ability to be selective about what you do. Lee Cockerell said “ Time management is not about managing your time, it’s about keeping your whole life under control. Plan the life you want, or live the life you don’t want.” Now I have the right to choose and dictate how my day will go. I have time set aside in my day for the things that are important to me. And most importantly, no more running around like a headless chicken.
