develop a planning tool that works for me

I decided to use google calendar to be able to monitor progress of my projects, particularly when working on computer. It’s current version is really user friendly, intuitive and visually attractive.

And I’m already using freemind software for different purposes – it is going to be heplful in splitting big tasks into smaller ones and keeping the whole thing in one place, so that I could still see a big picture reading a mind map, and not a bunch of mind maps as I used to do so far.

The only thing is I need to get used to is a a new routine – planning and revising on a weekly basis.

Have been thinking about this fiercely last coupla days again and browsing Lifehacker. I even came up with a checklist for my ideal system, not that I have designed it yet. I also feel bit embarrassed about all this (in a way the obsessive compulsive GTD Church never seem to be), as if it’s evidence of a failure in some other area… ANYWAY, my criteria were:

Want it to be visual
Want it to motivate me
Want it to have built in balance
Want it connect little steps to the big
Yet not demotivate me from taking little steps
Would be good if it recorded what I HAVE done as well, to motivate me further ie past successes

(Jings, have I just described 43 things?! – But it’s not chunked enough for me – and not portable obviously.)

I like Barbara Sher’s goal planning system whereby you only ever see the next step – but equally I don’t wnana feel like I’m living a tickbox existence.

In other news, I did at least quit my crazy shift job and am now working 2.5-3.5 days/week.

Wrote a letter to myself from end of year detailing accomplishments and I have made a plan based on that, with monthly targets etc which I copy weekly versions of into post its in front of diary. Seems to be working for some times, not all.

1. Still haven’t found what I’m looking for… # Although I’ve been trying to be more aware of my energy levels and simultaneously trying to improve them whilst not pushing them. ie noting my energy’s say, 3/10, so I might not do all of the thing I planned for today, maybe do a third. This sounds like an escape clause I know but I have been v guilty of designing rigid systems to fit myself into which then aren’t sustainable. Ah – the magic word. Is it sustainable?

aka a notebook….This is about fact I think I’ll open a journal to help me with poster project… BUt I was fantasising about my ideal journal or notebook today.. It would basically look like a moleskin A5 from the outside but inside, Tardis like, it would consist of looseleaf pages but still have a notbook feel cos they’d be folded A4 sheets, temporarily attached in some way…Maybe just by a rubber band at the centre (God, I AM a genius!) So baiscally I need a dead moleskin cover, and a rubber band and I’ll be in business. No hole punches required. Actually my system sucks…Cos I want discrete pages in sets of 4, and the rubber band thing would only work if the whole bunch of paper was folded as a oner. Damn. OK, what if the notebook outside had half sleeves to hold the pages on each side. Or just TWO rubber bands, on for the L and one for the R. Hmm…. I’m not alone in obsessing about this stuff, I just read a page on the Hipster PDA with all this guys fussing and fretting like me, it was so sweet!

As mentioned in another goal….going to try to work with my shifts rather than agin them by doing comics on my late shifts when I have days free, socialising on my weeks of earlies etc. Worth a try…

From Jan Gehl’s website

GEHL Architects have developed a unique working methodology that is based on the principle that people’s priorities are the most important driver in the planning process for cities.

Creating a quality environment for people is paramount and must be considered before anything else in order to achieve a lively and sustainable public realm!

First we consider LIFE
– then we consider SPACE
- then we consider BUILDINGS

Therefore our planning and design solutions aim to enrich the lifestyle envisioned for each project.
Once the human dimension is established, we form a spatial strategy for public space. Finally we work to shape the built environment, ensuring that the relationship between people and buildings supports public life. This people oriented philosophy, focusing on design solutions that can improve quality of life, is our number one objective with any project.

I think this connects intimately with my goal about depth because I feel that really is my uber goal, if you will. I think you can do any number of things but if you are in s shallow state while you do them, it’s all surface. Whereas if you can do the dishes with depth – by which I mean, peace of mind, reflectiveness, contentment… It’s like you are grounded, at the centre of the wheel. Is this an utter illusion? Have I half-read too many meditaton/theology books, did I get hold of A Life Of One’s Own at way too tender an age? But Milner’s words still hold today, absolutely.

Just looking back at one of first entries where I talked about balancing “hard stuff”, “easy stuff” and “fun stuff”, “social stuff”…I mean, maybe it is actually that simple…Like when C makes meals and he insists we cover all the food groups!

Still haven’t made much progress on this. I’m probably at my least goal-less in years. Combination of working shifts and my BF moving in I think – I hope that’s all it is, anyhow. I listlessly (ha) draw Steven Covey grids but then don’t get around to scheduling them or if I do it’s totally halfheartedly with a sense that I won’t do it. I didn’t used to be like this, whassup? Am also keep a Milner style diary periodically, but I find it pretty depressing to see how trivial and anxious my wants are during the day – to quote Milner, “Mostly to do with people liking me” – absolutely!