Tools and Apps for Planning in the New Year

So it’s a New Year, the holidays are long gone and it’s time to get back to work. It’s time to get yourself organised and plan for the next 12 months.

Besides going over those big picture items like business and marketing plans, very important of course, let’s look at some day to day and week to week planning options that could save you time and increase your efficiency.

The first thing you need to do is to ask yourself: Am I a visual person and like to have a large yearly planner on the wall of my office or do I prefer a digital option and have it remind me ahead of time that events or goal deadlines are coming up? Or am I a bit of both?

Your local Office Works or Kikki K shops can help you with all your wall planner and calendar needs. There are many options in the non-digital format for planning and organising your work tasks and To Do items. I have some great contacts if you need any expert help with this.

Going digital with your planning

On to the digital age, which is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid. A colleague of mine only recently gave up her paper diary to submit to this digital age. She found it a difficult transition but also realised there were many less appointments and tasks missed or forgotten.

There are many Tools and Apps out there for the digital option including a simple one called your Microsoft Outlook application. You may like to read the book “Total Workday Control” by Michael Linenberger. It’s my bedtime reading at the moment, and it takes you through a more efficient way of using your Microsoft Outlook application to get you more organised. There are also courses beingrun in the Hills District to take you and your staff through this more organised system.

iPhone Apps for Organising & Planning

Some of the other options are iphone Apps that I have come across and tried out include “Due”, “To Do”, “Reminders”, and “Priorities”. These are the more simple task orientated Apps designed to help you keep track of your daily and weekly tasks.  If you’re not yet at home setting up and using Apps, look for a video demonstration of some of the Apps on YouTube.

If you need a more project orientated App, “Omnifocus” is a great example. You can easily add To Do items or add items to a larger project. There are a lot of visual aids in “Omnifocus” with colours used to show when things are overdue, and a forecasting tool to show when things are due in the future.  You can categorise your tasks by person, tool, or place. You can even attach photos and files, and record Audio. Just go to the Omnigroup website to watch videos, find out more about “Omnifocus” or download the App.

Once you've settled on a method for your new planning and organising strategy, you’ll need an action plan to put it into play. Put aside some time to make a list of tasks you would like to achieve this year. Break it down into monthly and weekly items and create a To Do list that includes the big picture items, medium term, and more immediate and urgent tasks.

This list may take some time to put together so don’t expect to remember everything in one sitting. Keep a notepad or iPad nearby for a week while you compile this list. Once you are happy, break it down and put it on your wall planner, outlook application or App to help you get a plan together for the next 12 months.

It doesn't take long to get into some really good planning habits. Share your new ideas and strategy with your staff and get everyone organised. Just remember one plan of action does not fit every personality. You may need to get your local Streamlined Professional Organiser in to help you implement your new organised plan! We can brainstorm together, get everyone organised, and have a really great 2014.