{"id":5414,"date":"2021-01-10T14:49:27","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T19:49:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maryrajotte.com\/blog\/?p=5414"},"modified":"2021-01-10T15:38:45","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T20:38:45","slug":"planning-a-productive-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maryrajotte.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/10\/planning-a-productive-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning A Productive Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Some people call me the Queen of Organization. I try<\/strong>! Because when it comes to the writing life, if you can\u2019t keep track of your ideas, your stories, your submissions, rejections, what\u2019s edited, what needs editing, what needs to be sent back out or queried\u2026it can get a little hectic<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as I set up my planner for 2021, I thought I\u2019d share my strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a bit of an update from my post last year on using the Kanban method<\/a>. I\u2019ve streamlined things a little, but I\u2019ll share how I sat down this past weekend and spent about 3 hours<\/strong> getting most things organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In A Nutshell:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
  1. Write down all Goals<\/strong> for the year<\/li>
  2. Categorize<\/strong> by type<\/li>
  3. Break down Goals into Tasks<\/strong><\/li>
  4. Schedule<\/strong> Tasks to specific dates<\/li>
  5. Keep track of accomplishments in Monthly Check-In<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    STEP ONE: WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    When I sat down to record all the things I want to do this year, I literally wrote a laundry-list of items. No order. Just as-I-think-of-it tasks. Which is AWESOME but what good is one long list with no structure<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"
    Yearly Goals – but no structure!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    STEP TWO: CATEGORIZE BY TYPE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    So, after the easy part of making the list, the real work begins. And for me, that meant categorizing those tasks<\/strong>. Mine went into 1 of 4 categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Write<\/strong><\/li>
    2. Publish<\/strong><\/li>
    3. Craft (aka writing craft – learning)<\/strong><\/li>
    4. Misc<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      I used this Yearly Goals worksheet<\/strong> to categories the main goals – just a point-form thing with a space to write which quarter I might work on said goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      Yearly Goals – Categorized<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      STEP THREE: BREAK DOWN GOALS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Okay, so now that I have my main goals figured out, I need to plan how I will achieve each goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Out comes the Monthly Goals worksheet<\/strong>, where I break down all the goals for that month into TASKS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Ex. Original Goal: <\/strong>Finish novel revisions in January. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Tasks:<\/strong> Edit Ch 1, Edit Ch 2, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      So, I create a list under each Goal with all the tasks I need to do that month. I will check these off as I complete them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"
      Tasks to complete my Novel Revision goal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      To finish my novel revisions, I want to edit at least 2 chapters a day (because honestly I want to finish these revisions in 2 weeks, if possible)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      STEP FOUR: SCHEDULE TASKS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      After I fill in the Tasks I need to complete each Goal, I transfer those to specific days in the Monthly View<\/strong> of my planner, adding in any new tasks that have come up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Things may move and shift but having at least some semblance of a schedule helps so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      PLAN YOUR WEEK<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Now that all my tasks for the month are in the calendar, I can sit down on a Sunday and create my weekly layout. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      I know this may seem redundant, so you could simply work off your Monthly View calendar<\/strong> and use your Weekly View for new tasks or reminders that have popped up since you laid out your month. You could even use it as a journal<\/strong>, talking about your day – or skip the Weekly View altogether!. Whatever works for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      THE BENEFITS OF A PLAN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      I find writing things down and ONLY focusing on what you need to do on any given day helps SO MUCH. I started to feel overwhelmed by all my goals. Trying to remember everything and flitting from task to task meant I was getting nothing done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This way you have a plan in place<\/strong>, a targeted approach<\/strong> and by focusing on each step, you get much more done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      That doesn\u2019t mean<\/strong> deadlines don\u2019t change. Or new tasks need to be slotted in between others. But starting out with a plan gives you structure and allows you to see how you are moving toward your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      OTHER TRACKERS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Along with my Monthly Tasks<\/strong> sheets, I have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n