Organization can seem like an impossibility sometimes. It’s a goal that many aspire to, but often it is hard to figure out how to get to that point where your life is run like a well-oiled machine. Organizing your life can be difficult because there are so many different methods that can be implemented. There is a theory that if you write something down, you are more likely to remember it. A DayTimer could be the first step in trying to cut down on life’s chaos.
Most of us today have such a busy life that being organized seems a dream you can only hope to live. Plenty of people try hard to get some control back in their lives, by making resolutions and buying calendars or Post-It notes, but the new habit never seems to stick. While you may think they’re just for the rich executives, a DayTimer could be the answer to getting organized and scheduled.
Many people think it’s impossible to be organized. Having your life carry out like a well-oiled machine and never feeling rushed, stressed, or frazzled seems like a great goal, but it’s tough to achieve that smooth functioning. Once thought to be the little black book of rich executives and powerful CEOs, a DayTimer might be just the thing to help get your life back on track and moving towards that ideal goal.
DayTimers come in all shapes and sizes. There are leather bound DayTimers that make you appear to be professional and put together when really you aren’t. There are cheaper, paper, wire bound DayTimers that shout to the world that you barely have time to take a shower and this is your last attempt at trying to systematize. There are also many options in between.
The great thing about purchasing a DayTimer is that it is not what is on the outside that counts; it’s what is on the inside. All DayTimers come with paper and plastic inserts. The inserts include things like calendars, to do list pages, phone number and address pages, and appointment pages. You can buy these by the package, or you can customize your own. If you need more plastic inserts for business cards, and less note pages, you can buy different sections according to your needs.
There are different methods for purchasing a sufficient DayTimer. Most people find that shopping at a local office store will provide enough options for them to choose from. The DayTimers are standard with the refills being sold with the DayTimer or separately. The pages can be purchased by the different sections that they are categorized in, or the company has packages that are pre made for you. The binders can cost anywhere from $38.00 and above. Some would argue that shopping locally is more convenient, especially when the time comes for refills. All DayTimers have pre-punched holes that line up with their specified binder, so make sure that the pages you buy fit with the binder that you want.
If you are a platinum multi-tasker, you might want to visit the website DayTimer.com. They offer customized DayTimers that fit your daily needs, schedules, and occupations. The website also is a one stop shop for things like office accessories, and a beautiful selection of briefcases.
Writing things down in a book, and then having to keep up with that book, can seem like an extra job for some people. There is still a way to stay organized without killing trees. You can find software online at shelltoys.com that is compatible with Windows and tailor-made for organizing. The organizational software allows your computer to provide reminders, to-do-lists, tasks, and due dates. The program can make appointments for you and assign files to designated areas. The best part is that this organizational program comes with a feature called the Personal Assistant. The Personal Assistant manages everything for you, so it is impossible to forget anything. The program is available for download for only $24.95.
The hardest part of sticking to using a DayTimer is writing things down and sticking to the schedule you’ve laid out for yourself. The extra time you’ll need to initially invest to fill in your DayTimer may seem like a waste, but in truth, spending the few minutes to jot things down can save you hours in the long run. If you work a lot with computers, there’s software available that will replace a DayTimer. Shelltoys.com offers organizational software that’s fantastic for putting order in your life, and the program has a Personal Assistant so you’ll never forget anything again.
Shelltoys.com offers organizational software, if you’re the type of person that prefers a keyboard to a pen. The program will help you put your life on track with reminders, to-do lists, tasks and deadlines. There are some other features that can be attractive to individual users. Filling it in with your appointments or tasks is fast and easy, which will save you hours down the road as you stop being scattered and start to lean towards being a well-oiled machine of functionality. Offered at $24.95, Shelltoys’s Personal Assistant software really is worth the purchase.
The DayTimer method does not always work. I own many DayTimers that were bought with good intentions, but they are collecting dust in my garage anyway. If it doesn’t work out, these DayTimers make great pretend briefcases, storage, and diary uses for your children (or chew toys for your pets). There are those who swear by their DayTimers, claiming that their lives are encompassed inside these leather bound books, but sometimes it boils down to personality because, there will always be those lives that cannot be completely contained by a calendar and page refills.
Of course, scheduling and organizing with a DayTimer might not work for you. Everyone is individual with their own traits and habits that need to blend with a DayTimer’s features and not hinder them. Some DayTimers end up collecting dust with blank pages, and some get pushed aside to eventually be thrown away. There are many, though, that swear DayTimers are the bibles of their lives, and plenty more individuals are grateful to have their schedule all in one place. It’s certainly worth a try!
Should you be one of those rare people that just can’t seem to make a DayTimer part of your life (my DayTimer is out in the garage, tucked in a storage box), they make great play toys for kids who like to pretend they have briefcases or can be given to a teenager for use as a diary. If your DayTimer ends up taking that route, at the very least you will have given getting organized a solid shot.
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Don’t Count Time, Make Time Count!
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