In a previous article I wrote about one of the best products I ever used on the market called the Finishers Journal. The best part of the system is something I’ve now incorporated in a hybrid bullet journal type system I’m working in this year.
(Yes, I still love the bullet journal. If for nothing else, it boosts that creative side in me like no other planner can do!)
As someone who needs structure in my life, I began to have difficulty getting all the To Do list work done. Because the demands to do them wasn’t there, nothing got done.
So I went back to my Finisher’s Journal concept and began to deconstruct the format.
What worked for me? And what didn’t?
What worked…
Having a goal set in place to accomplish within a specified time period was definitely necessary. Without a deadline, it is too easy to let the goals slip away unnoticed until it is too late.
Setting deadlines for goals…
As I began to restructure my upcoming year, I took out all the notes about my goals that were in place since about 2018. One of them that I kept putting off was to start my own business by the time I reached a certain age.
I have now three months to accomplish what I had been putting off for over 7 years. So THAT one became my ultimate goal to get done before this year is out.
And I’ve got the plan now in place to do it.
Timeblocking…
The other thing that worked well in that journal was the concept of Timeblocking. This is slightly different than the old planner systems that used Timeboxing, which is a similar method that sets aside specific periods of time to accomplish specific tasks.
But there were limitations in this concept..
In order for this to work, a target goal must be established. Then it gets broken down into smaller, more manageable, bite-sized chunks that will be distributed during a 90 day period of time with a deadline due date.
But there were limitations in this concept, so I had to modify sections of it to be more flexible and not so tedious to keep writing things in the schedule. The end result is a mix of both Timeboxing and Timeblocking.
SMART System…
The SMART (Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timebound) project management system in baked into this planner. Each goal must be broken down into realistic, achievable steps. Without it, it is too easy to get lost in the weeds, or see the entire elephant and have no idea how to even get started to accomplish the goal.
Without it, it is too easy to get lost in the weeds…
Implementing it has helped me make sense of the direction that is needed in order to make reaching my goal actually doable.
Progress tracking…
Reviewing what worked and what didn’t work to move that needle is essential.
As each week in completed, a series of checks are done to make sure the goal is still on track. Reviewing what worked and what didn’t work to move that needle is essential. Without it, what wasn’t helping will turn into frustration because the problem is never identified. And it may continue to cause a hinderance the further down the line the weeks go.
At the end of each week, a mark is placed on a timeline chart on the master page to indicate that progress is being made on the project front.
Setting due dates…
An absolute must! No due date, no reaching your goals. Like setting up my business…7 years later.
Quarterly reviews…
Reviews are the most essential thing that must be done in order to streamline processes. If you don’t figure out what is causing the bumps in the road, the road will always be filled with boulders that will not only slow down progress, but become a source of frustration if those boulders aren’t recognized, removed, and replaced with a more positive direction.
And that could be a simple as breaking down the problematic steps with more steps in certain more difficult areas of the process.
What didn’t work…
Quarters – 90 days…ugh!
I don’t have ADHD, but the irritation of having certain types of projects take that long made it feel like I’d never get to the end of the road. And it became tedious instead of helpful.
So I changed my goals to a more manageable, easier accomplished 30 days instead.
Timeboxing…
I also didn’t like the constraining concept of Timeboxing for specific tasks, such as Personal and Business project steps. But I had to Timebox off certain repetitive tasks around those areas or I would forget to do them – like exercising and eating.
Yeah, I’m one of those who gets distracted by the chaos around me, or way too hyper-focused when I need to get certain things done.
Kind of ruins the entire day from the moment I get out of bed!
Repetitive tasks…
They give me a list of the basic tasks that I must do daily or I will forget them.
So I changed it to boxing off specific times for repetitive tasks to be done throughout the day no matter what else is going on. They give me a list of the basic tasks that I must do daily or I will forget them.
Like exercising, feeding the pets, and taking the pooch out.
And eating. Eating is good.
Changeable tasks…
Then I figure out daily what needs to be done the next day for Business and Personal projects. Did I need to move an unfinished project step to the next day? Or did I complete more than I had written down during the course of that blocked off period?
That single act forces me to constantly review the goal for the week to to stay on track.
That single act forces me to constantly review the goal for the week to to stay on track. And it allows the flexibility to fill in the steps needed on specific days to do what was necessary to meet that week’s deadline.
So I made my own pages with those tasks built onto the pages. And if I need to modify anything, I can always tweak and reprint, adding it back into the binder without having to throw my precious BUJO to the wind…again.
Time breaks…
The other thing I couldn’t quite visualize was my breaks.
Every person needs to set the amount of time that works for them to focus on their tasks. Some people work at a frenetic pace, totally focused, for 20 minutes at a time with a 10 minute break. Others work for 60 minutes with a 15 minute break.
But I work somewhere in between – when my time is constrained. My sweet spot is 45 minutes with a 15 minute break. So I set up the daily time block planner in my printed Bullet Journal to accommodate those time periods.
Then I set my Tomito on the computer screen or my favorite Time Timer on my desk, to remind me to STOP WORKING!
Does it work? Most of the time. Other times I’m so focused I just ignore them…not good. That’s the problem with being “in the zone”.
I only realize how stupid it is to NOT take those breaks when my blood sugar drops and I get overwhelmed after working straight through the breaks!!
Page numbers…
I keep adding and subtracting design and layout elements. Renumbering is a nightmare!!!
So my system is built on adding the DATE of the item for my list instead of the page number. (If I even decide to use one…)
Bound pages…
If I mess one page up, the entire system is thrown off if inside a bound bullet journal. Not one to think outside any box, I learned a trick from another Bullet Journal enthusiast.
Use a binder.
When one page is messed up, just print it and readd it to the journal in the correct spot. No more renumbering, covering up mistakes with sticky paper or white out, or ripping out messed up pages.
What was added that was missing?
- Divider pages allowing for creative design.
- Weekly overview pages to preplan additional activities around work and personal goals.
- Monthly overviews for current and future overall planning.
- Daily Gratitude pages.
- Needs and wants list.
- And notes/drawing pages at the back to keep from losing traction on my love of art.
- Index pages now refer to dates, not page numbers.
PLUS I have freedom and flexibility to test drive a variety of design options each quarter or 30 day increment if I wish! Redesign, print, punch holes, add rounded edges, and plop it into my new A5 binder. An option I never thought of for a Bullet Journal concept.
I love the design process. So for me, I now have a much more robust. Workable, less labor intensive, personalized preprinted Bullet Journal.
Lovin’ it!
But for those of you who don’t want to go through all that hassle and really like preplanned planners, you really can’t go wrong with the Finishers Journal!
