This post is part of the Balanced challenge with Tricia Goyer—and you can join, too!
March 15: Rank Those Priorities (Chapter Five)
At the end of chapter five, there’s a ranking system to help you form your calendar before you fill it. Using the ranking system, revamp your calendar, then take a picture of it to post on your blog. Write a few sentences about what you’re giving up to fill instead with what’s truly important.
Confession! I am currently a woman without a planner. I’ve ALWAYS had a planner and I have an intimate relationship with my past planners. I actively love organizing, color coding, and filling in my days. Alas, with two under two my days have started to run together with a to do list that is never ending. Embarrassingly as a former employee of a Fortune 500 company, I’m actually a Franklin Covey Class graduate and quickly recognize and agree with Tricia Goyer’s message that we should rank our activities with regards to importance and urgency. Once my eldest was born and I began working for myself, I placed my Franklin planner in the corner. I struggled with not being able to complete my daily to do list and the calendar just started to frustrate me. I didn’t give myself enough white space and over-committed myself almost everyday. Being a mother was the first time I really had to come to grips with not being able to get it all done everyday. As a PC user I am committing to developing a better relationship with Google Calendar. As a starting point, I have ranked my priorities as suggested and captured a screenshot of my first attempt with Google Calendar.
Priority 1
- Taking Care of the Children
- Focusing on My Marriage
- Cleaning/Childproofing Our Home (Our home is a fixer upper & we need to make it safe!)
- Praying (Time Alone With God)
Priority 2:
- Career Development
- Generating Income
- Making Home Cooked Meals
Priority 3:
- Taking Care of the Home
- Mommy Time – reading, blogging, taking a bath
- Prayer Group
Priority 4:
- Play Dates – Socialization for the Little Ones
- Requests for Academic Research or Student Inquiries
- Tutoring
- Hobbies – photography, piano, sewing
Loving all that pretty white space 🙂 Happy Planning!