Forward Thinking for 2022

[Greg44]

As the rain/snow mix is already starting to fall, I am out installing the vent covers, draining the hoses, attaching the facet covers. I come in the house and passing around
the birthday card for my father (Christmas baby). I had planned on getting them a digital picture frame with wi-fi so all the kids could send them pictures. That was the thoughtful gift, except shopping on the 24th I learn that the digital frames were an online item only. I am inserting cash instead.

This seems to be the story of my life. Wrapping gifts the morning of, getting the car serviced the day before we leave for vacation or an out of town trip. I really need to plan better and be more pro-active than reactive to most everything in my life in 2022. As they say failing to plan is planning to fail. That is a bit harsh, but a lot of truth there. I like the thought of being forward thinking. With elderly parents, I have a lot of forward thinking that needs to be done in the near future.

Suggestions on making this happen? What has/hasn't worked for you?

[razz]

I schedule needed services on my iPhone calendar either a reminder to arrange the needed service or to phone
and actually schedule it with few 'alerts' such as a day or week ahead to warn me of anything that needs attention. My phone is my daytimer for the day, the week and the year.
Insurance premium due dates are planned a year ahead; health appointments as needed; vet appts, zoom meetings, volunteer activities, preplanned bank withdrawals are noted, expiry dates for refunded airfare, etc. It is all on my phone. Because I have all Apple products, the same calendar shows up on my laptop and iPad to remind me.
I needed one central registry which made my life a lot easier.

[Teacher Terry]

I keep a paper to do list on my end table next to my chair, paper calendar and phone calendar. I am a planner:)).

[happystuff]

I have set up and hope to be fully utilizing my bullet journal system. I have it set up and have started using it. Hoping the transition into the new year will get me setting up and using the functions I need and want.

[herbgeek]

I'm a paper person- there's something about the writing process that cements thoughts for me better than typing on a computer does. My medium of choice are index cards- its so satisfying to me to be able to write a line through items that are complete. I typically keep a running list of things that need to be done soon and review that weekly/every other week. I may have multiple lists going on simultaneously, such as errands on one, and tasks tied to specific dates or holidays on another.

I really really miss my Palm Pilot from the old days. It turned my handwriting into text. I find phone and tablet keyboards harder to use. The Palm was simple to use, and you could get apps like you can today (although the apps were also quite simple- this was the 90s). So I'm not averse to using technology, I just find it harder to use than paper.

[iris lilies]

I'm a paper person- there's something about the writing process that cements thoughts for me better than typing on a computer does. My medium of choice are index cards- its so satisfying to me to be able to write a line through items that are complete. I typically keep a running list of things that need to be done soon and review that weekly/every other week. I may have multiple lists going on simultaneously, such as errands on one, and tasks tied to specific dates or holidays on another.

I really really miss my Palm Pilot from the old days. It turned my handwriting into text. I find phone and tablet keyboards harder to use. The Palm was simple to use, and you could get apps like you can today (although the apps were also quite simple- this was the 90s). So I'm not averse to using technology, I just find it harder to use than paper.

Herbgeek I’m with you, I love making a line through my paper list items.

The last couple years of my work life had me drawing lines through items on my whiteboard on Fridays. It was very satisfying, and I sat there and looked at them and that carried into the next week for a day or two before I erased them from the whiteboard.

[Tradd]

Reminders app on my iPhone and phone calendar app for me.

[pinkytoe]

I use an old-fashioned steno pad with to do lists categorized by admin/house/misc. I put stars by those things that need immediate attention. There is a spark of satisfaction when crossing things off the list and for whatever reason it keeps me on track. I normally start a new list every two weeks. The list also reminds me when to ask DH to do things like change heater filters since I don't want to be responsible for everything.

[Tybee]

I used to use, and plan to return this year, to a neat card system that had cards for things to do daily, every other day, weekly, monthly, seasonally, and yearly. So the real strength was that you'd have say a seasonal card for getting your oil changed, and once you did it, you filed it ahead for the next 3 month period under the right month--same for doctors appointments, etc. So your Christmas shopping card would pop up by October. You put each task on a separate card. It worked great.

My husband and I were saying we wanted to set it up this year, for this house. It's great too because you can delegate, divide up the cards, etc. And it takes the responsibility out of your head and puts it out there for everyone in the family to take a card.

[jp1]

At work we use the outlook calendar. I add all my personal stuff to it as well so that I have just one place to keep track. If I were to lose my job unexpectedly I would have to recreate all the stuff that is in it that’s not work related.

[rosarugosa]

I am also a fan of the paper to-do list. Nothing compares with the joy of crossing off a completed task!
I have a day by day section, and then another section at the bottom of the page that contains things that need to be done "soon," say within the month. Then I have a separate page for longer-horizon items and projects.

[catherine]

As the rain/snow mix is already starting to fall, I am out installing the vent covers, draining the hoses, attaching the facet covers. I come in the house and passing around
the birthday card for my father (Christmas baby). I had planned on getting them a digital picture frame with wi-fi so all the kids could send them pictures. That was the thoughtful gift, except shopping on the 24th I learn that the digital frames were an online item only. I am inserting cash instead.

This seems to be the story of my life. Wrapping gifts the morning of, getting the car serviced the day before we leave for vacation or an out of town trip. I really need to plan better and be more pro-active than reactive to most everything in my life in 2022. As they say failing to plan is planning to fail. That is a bit harsh, but a lot of truth there. I like the thought of being forward thinking. With elderly parents, I have a lot of forward thinking that needs to be done in the near future.

Suggestions on making this happen? What has/hasn't worked for you?

Greg, this post is music to my ears because I am constantly waiting until the last minute to get things done. When people say that by Thanksgiving they have all their Christmas shopping done, it doesn't compute. I consider my Christmas shopping a success if I'm back home by noon on Christmas Eve. I'm also on delay mode with car tune-ups, doctor's appointments, travel plans, birthday gatherings, you name it. I like to think it's because I live for the moment, but in reality it's because, as you say, I fail to plan--but no, I do plan, but I ignore the plan until push comes to shove. Bullet journals teach you to use the symbol of an arrow for tasks advanced to the next day because you didn't get them done, and I have more arrows than Native Americans on a bison hunt for specific tasks that last weeks on my to-do list before I can check them off as completed.

So I have no advice, but just wanted to commiserate. I think the only thing that has helped me is becoming more uncomfortable as I get older with the panic I feel when time is running out. I was fine with it when I was younger, but now it seems like a waste of precious time.

I really, really admire people who have an innate sense of timing when it comes to getting routine things done. I have never had it.

ETA: from a theoretical perspective, Stephen Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Influential People" has as Habit #3 "Put First Things First" and has a quadrant you're probably familiar with: Urgent/Important; Not urgent/Important; Urgent/Not Important; and Not Urgent/Not important. The idea is to work towards the minimizing the time spent in the second two and maximizing time spent in the first two. But, in my world, reality doesn't conform to this nice theory.

But if you're never read this really amazing book (other principles in the book DID change my life), definitely read it.

[Greg44]

I too am a master list maker and too take great satisfaction checking a task complete. Nothing worst than doing getting something of great importance done and then I open up my bullet journal and realize it isn't even on my list! Yup, I put it on my list then mark it off! People think that I am very organized, maybe that is why I am bum humbug around the holidays, because my real disorganized self if revealed to all.

...I have more arrows than Native Americans on a bison hunt for specific tasks that last weeks on my to-do list before I can check them off as completed. Too Funny Catherine! I can totally relate. There are some items i just stop carrying over!

I am pretty good about day to day things that need to be done, it is just looking forward to more major events. I think part of this issue is I don't know what to buy, so I procrastinate. I don't know what to say on cards to send, put off getting things done because I hate to spend the money, etc.

[happystuff]

"Nothing worst than doing getting something of great importance done and then I open up my bullet journal and realize it isn't even on my list! Yup, I put it on my list then mark it off!"

I do the same thing!!! LOL.

[iris lilies]

At work we use the outlook calendar. I add all my personal stuff to it as well so that I have just one place to keep track. If I were to lose my job unexpectedly I would have to recreate all the stuff that is in it that’s not work related.
When I worked I use my work outlet calendar to for personal stuff. I figured if anybody at work really wanted to see what I’m doing personally, let ‘em.