Even if you didn’t have a calendar in view, you just know it’s January. Resources to help you change for the better, set goals and be most efficient are everywhere…

Yet one thing that often gets overlooked is:

Before we can accomplish anything, we’ve got to be organized!

I know that some of you are amazingly organized with your iCal. Others of us prefer writing things down. What’s most important is finding a way that works for you. Even though I work on a slick MacBook, I stay best-organized the old-fashioned way.

I live by my desk planner (and take it everywhere) because:

• I’m a visual person. I like to see a tangible snapshot of my to-dos at a glance.
• Flipping through pages gives me a better sense of how much time is passing between one appointment or deadline to the next.
• I find it easier to visually reserve chunks of time for my clients.
• My pencil and eraser make things both official and flexible.
• Once a task is complete, I highlight it. (It’s like a mini celebration!)

When it comes to email vs. phone (which I wrote about in my last post), every situation is different. But when it comes to being organized, this is what works best for me. What does that mean for you?

Your timeline won’t slip and I’ll be on top of every step.

Here’s my desk planner in action from a busy week last summer:

When it comes to life goals or work projects, things only get done if we can stay sane and fluid through busy schedules. Within the envelope of organization, the biggest accomplishments are possible!

How do you keep yourself organized? Leave a comment and let me know.

And if you would like to see the difference supreme organization makes during a design project—let’s talk.