For busy people

For busy people, keeping track of everything that needs to be done is very difficult. If you are the type of person who has a lot to do or is simply forgetful, setting a schedule for yourself and using a daily planner to coordinate activities will keep your day flowing smoothly.

Daily planners come in several varieties. People should pick one suited to their individual needs. If you need to schedule your day into hourly increments (normal for business people), a planner divided into hours for you may be appropriate. However, if your activities are varied and follow uneven time increments, a planner with unlabeled pages or sections will be fine.

When planning your day, be realistic with the time you allot for each activity. Many people have the tendency to underestimate the time needed to complete a task because they don’t account for delays - time spent waiting in line, sitting in traffic, or doing other things that go with the larger task at hand.

Add time cushions to the schedule where there is a reasonable chance of a delay. This may include, but is not limited to, rush hour traffic, long lines at the store, limited parking or even people who talk a long time. This will make your day less hectic and keep you on schedule.

If it is a day when you don’t have to get up at a specified time, especially a Saturday, make sure to wake up in time to complete everything on your list. Most people tend to sleep in late, and if you have an extremely busy day planned, it may be simple enough to get started too late to get everything done. Write a note to yourself at the end of each day, reminding you what time you should get out of bed the next morning.

-Keeps track of things that need to be done.

-Makes sure you know how long each task should take.

-Lets you know if you’re running behind.

-Reminds you of the little things that you could be doing when you

are delayed in doing something else.