In Search of a New System
It’s the first Sunday in December! So, here we are✨
As we approach the new year, I have a renewed focus on organization. The time has come for me to reread (or listen to) Atomic Habits and The Twelve Week Year. As mentioned last month, it’s easy to get overwhelmed balancing work and school, and I am always searching for the best habits and systems to ease workflow.
Sunday Admin: I managed to find a decent workflow for school. My accounting homework, though frustrating at times, takes about the same amount of time each week. I begin taking notes over the weekend, reviewing in class, and then doing the homework assignment Wednesday and the weekly quiz on Thursday or Friday. Sunday became a natural admin day when I meal prep and review the week ahead. Deciding my lunch and dinner before the week begins gives me one less thing to think about. Sunday typically ends with doing my hair while watching 90 day fiancé. Regardless of my workload in the spring, I will continue to leverage Sunday as a reset.
Notes App, GoodNotes, and Notion: Two years ago, I decided to consolidate my 5 journals into a digital note-taking and journaling system. I’ve dabbled with a variety of task managers, Trello, Asana (what we use at work), Todoist, and a variety of other apps. At this point, I have a pack of sticky notes and one dotted notebook for scrap paper. Everything else lives on the cloud. I’ve grown a custom to journaling and note-taking on my iPad with my Apple Pencil and paper-like screen protector. I’ve created the habit of jotting down a quick thought within the notes app. I use GoodNotes instead of notebooks for class. Lastly, I use Notion for big-picture planning and brainstorming. It is also great for keeping track of links! I have a personal wishlist with links and prices I constantly refer to.
Proactivity > Reactivity : That’s it. That’s the tweet.
The busiest season at work begins in January and ends around May. Again, I can’t predict how my spring semester will fall, but I can prepare for what I know. Getting small tasks out of the way, without procrastinating, will certainly ease personal tension around deadlines for school and work. If it takes only a few minutes, there’s no need to wait to do it later.
In the same vane, I am quick to say I absolutely love the planning process, but the follow-through is what I struggle with the most. Sometimes I forget to follow up or take the first step and then the idea is quickly lost. I'm looking for a system for remembering, prioritizing, and crossing tasks off the to-do list. I’ve gotten a few ideas from YouTube (thanks Dad) for creating a filing system for remembering or a second brain to release information overload. I’m not sure what it will look like for me, but I’m looking forward to building on my use of the note-taking apps.
How do you keep track of your tasks and ideas? Do you use apps or traditional pen and paper? You can respond to this email or comment below referring to anything in this newsletter. If you find any interesting organizational tip, please share. I am always happy to hear from you!
I’ll leave you with this. Whenever you are ready, here are a few things you can do before the year ends. There’s no pressure, just a few ideas. I always find myself scrambling trying to set the stage for the new year... but hey, proactivity here.