Kat’s Organizational Forms….

Posted on 03.19.07 in Pregnancy General and there are

Well, here they are. My lovely forms. Yes...formS. They’ve evolved.

I now have four of them:
1. Goals Overview
2. Weekly Overview
3. Daily Overview
4. Project Planner

Download The Forms
Click here to download the forms.

How To Use Them
Here is an outline of how I use them.

Goals Overview
The Goals Overview form is meant to just give a high level overview and reminder of why you do what you do.

Your life goals should dictate your yearly goals.

Your yearly goals should dictate your monthly goals.

Your monthly goals should dictate your weekly goals.

Basically, your goals should impact every task you set out to accomplish so that you are focused and have vision for the things you do everyday.

Weekly Overview
The Weekly Overview is the form that started it all.

Goals
At the top of the form is a reminder of my goals. You can use any goal level that you want, but I’ve chosen my yearly goals. That way, every week as I plan my week I am reminded of where I am headed and what I hope to accomplish. This helps me to say no to things that aren’t relevant.

Projects
The next section of the form is the Project List. This is just a list of the projects that I hope to make progress on or complete this week. Again, the purpose of this section is to keep me focused and on track.

Actions
The main section of the form is the Actions section. This is where I list all the things that I hope to develop into habits. I allot points for each action and at the end of the day I add up the points. I am very competitive, so I enjoy trying to beat each previous days’ score.

At the bottom of this section are two areas that help me evaluate my day:
1. Input/Output - I tend to really enjoy learning and reading. Sometimes I spend more time doing that than writing or creating or being productive. I use this section to simply put a ratio of my performance for the day. This sometimes helps me realize why I didn’t get very much done.

2. Barriers/Excuses - If I didn’t accomplish something that is on my list for the day, I try to figure out why. I list the reason here and then try to think of a way around or past it. For example, if I didn’t have a Bible study time with my girls I ask myself why. If it was because we were rushing out the door, I need to try to wake up earlier the next morning so that I can make sure that we have time.

Planning
The final section of this form just helps me have an overview of the week’s meals and events. I keep most of this info on my laptop, but I like to have it in my notebook as well for easy and quick reference.

Daily Overview
As always, my goals are at the top to keep me focused.

This form just helps me keep track of my day. Again, I keep all this info on my computer and my iPod, but by rewriting it on paper, I’m more likely to remember stuff and I have easier access to it while I’m running errands and such.

On the left is a list of all the events that I have for the day and on the right is a list of tasks I want to accomplish. I also use the tasks section to make note of new things I think of throughout the day. If a task is a MIT (Most Important Item - I usually pick one or two tasks that I MUST finish for the day) then I put a ! beside it.

If a task is a new item I just thought of I put an “N” beside it. If I think of a new project that I need to add to my list I put a “P” beside it. These notes just help me sift through everything at the end of the day when I add the info to my computer.

Project Planner
The last form (for now...there is still a week left before the baby is due) is the project planner. Anytime I think of something I need to do that can’t be done in 1 step or within 5-10 minutes, it becomes a project. I make sure that this project is inline with my goals and then I list the purpose of the project, the overall goal of the project, any related deadlines and then I use the outline section to make notes.

Finally, I break the project down into 5 minute tasks that are easy to accomplish. I’m much more likely to start something if it doesn’t seem intimidating and breaking it down into simple steps helps me overcome my tendency to procrastinate.

Conclusion
Well, there you go. The product of my nesting phase. I’ve only used the Weekly Overview form for a few weeks and the other forms for even less than that, but thus far they’ve served me well. If you try them out, I’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions on how to tweak them. 

The Comments:

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I’m so impressed and horrified at the same time.  I may have to download those suckers to examine them for further use or evidence of mental breakdown.

"I’m so impressed and horrified at the same time.”

I feel pretty much the same way about my current organized self…

Eyes. Glazed. Over.

Heart. Palpitations.

Sorry, Kat. You lost me at “Well, here they are.”

I’m sorry to say it, but I agree with Chaotic Hammer...you lost me immediately.  (I silently promised to come back later and really look at the forms, though.)

I’m very excited about these forms.... I feel like I am using you though......

Kristin,
You’ll have to let me know what you think…

These are really great!  In a sense you completed the task that I have been trying to do for a few weeks.  I am going today to make color copies.  Thank you again

Color copies....

I’ve been making due with grayscale copies because our copier is out of color ink.

I can only imagine the joy and life that will be breathed into these lovely form when printed in all their color and glory.

Ahhh....enjoy.

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