The Weekly Rundown
I'm thrilled to be bringing in guest bloggers to the Little Red Stool Organizing website. If there is anything specific you would like to hear about from an expert, let me know and we'll see who we can bring over. Today I'm proud to let Meaghan Langston bring you just a small sampling of her expertise on organizing your calendar and to-list. I HIGHLY recommend her and her Calendar Consult (see link at the end of her article).
The Weekly Rundown
How to organize your calendar and to-do list so you’re ready to take on the week
Guest blogger, Meaghan Langston, Business Clarity Coach
Every Sunday I take a look at the week ahead and plan out my priorities. If you’re like me, this probably sounds like it’s easier said than done. Why? Because once we begin to look at all we have to do in a week we can feel overwhelmed and even paralyzed. Maybe you’ve felt this halfway through a closet clean-out in your home and just wanted to give up.
I wanted to create a method of clearing out my to-do list and planning my week that was simple enough to be done on a regular basis, but thorough enough to meet the needs that arise on any given week. That’s when I developed the Weekly Rundown.
This process is perfect for individuals, couples or families (though my husband will tell you he’s not too keen on calendaring). I do this by myself and it eliminates so much anxiety and helps me sleep much better! Not to mention, I am able to get through the week knowing exactly what I need to do each day and spend time on the things that matter most in my life.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Gather your to-do list all in one place. That includes the scribbles in your notebooks, the sticky note on the fridge, the voice memos on your phone...anywhere and everywhere you have recorded the things that need to be done. Get them together into one complete list.
Here are a couple other places to check for tasks you may want to add:
Text messages: Is there anyone you need to get back to, appointments you need to schedule, friends you need to call?
Email: Are there projects that need to be completed? Requests for information or items that need to be returned?
Calendar: Take a look at what is coming up that week. Is there anything you need to do to prepare for those events, meetings or appointments?
Step 2: Now that you have it all in one list, you are going to categorize them into the environment in which you need to complete the work. Some things need complete focus and attention, while others can be done with the TV or kids playing in the background. Some things require you to be in your car, while others you can accomplish from the comfort of your couch.
Making separate lists will help you with step number 3 where we will place each thing back into your calendar. But first, if you are having trouble separating your list, here are a few categories you may try:
Car
Office/Desk
On Your Phone
At Home
Step 3: The last step is to build these to-do’s back into your calendar. Each task on your to-do list will be assigned a designated time or day to complete it. Start by first planning a time block for the categories that are most full. For example, if you have a long list of things in your errands to run in the car, then you can block out 1 or 2 hours one day to accomplish these. Add the event titled “errands” in your calendar and then when that time comes, pull out your errand list that you’ve now created.
After each of the big categories have been given a time block in your calendar, the remaining miscellaneous tasks can be added at the top of one day in your week to be accomplished at some point that day. At the end of each day, take inventory of the list that was supposed to be completed and move anything undone over to the following day. Repeat this process until you get to the last day of the week and any remaining tasks are given priority in your Weekly Rundown planning for the following week.
Now it’s time for you to give it a try! Keep in mind that this method works only if you come back to your calendar each day. Give yourself some grace as it takes time to build any habit into your lifestyle. If you can begin the process of planning out your weeks and giving your tasks a time to complete, you’ll be well on your way to mastering your to-do list and making the most of your time.
If you try the Weekly Rundown, I’d love to hear about your experience. Tag me on Instagram @meaghan_langston.
This method and more is included in my $50 Calendar Consult which can help you further organize your calendar, email and to-do lists.
About Meaghan
Meaghan Langston is a certified professional coach and small business consultant located in Durham, NC. She began her coaching practice in 2020 with the vision of creating a world where women really can have it all. Since then, she has helped over 30 clients across multiple industries align their life and work with their values, clarify their goals, and pursue their passion. Meaghan stands apart from other coaches in her empathetic and supportive approach, pushing clients to have courage and realize their true potential. To learn more about Meaghan Langston Coaching, visit www.meaghanlangston.com.
