3 Simple Rules I Use to Keep My Life Running Smoothly
From scheduling to goal setting
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I find most organizational systems over-complicated and overwhelming. Today, I’m sharing 3 simple systems I use to keep my life running as smoothly as possible.
Rule One: One Big Goal at a Time
I have a mind that runs a mile a minute, but I force myself to constrain my energy and attention to no more than one big goal at a time. The reason? When I try to do too many things at once I fail at all of them. By choosing to focus on a singular stretch-goal (instead of many smaller goals), I can minimize distractions and stay laser-focused. This practice of extreme constraint is the reason I have been able to write and publish three books in three years.
Rule Two: One Calendar for Everything
I use Google Calendar for both life and business, because having more than one calendar to look at would make me very cranky. As the primary keeper of the information for our family (parties, social events, school holidays, travel plans, etc.). I’ve also set up family calendar sharing so nobody has to ask me what we are doing and when. Here’s a simple guide to calendar sharing on Google.
Rule Three: Set 3 Non-Negotiables Per Day
I’ve replaced making a lengthy to-do list with a prioritized list of my 3 non-negotiables for the day. My friend Laura calls this “bottom lining it.” Example:
Move my body for at least 30-minutes
Write and edit the article that’s due
Book reservations for Emilie’s birthday
My list typically includes something work-related, something health-related, and something friends or family-related. Ask yourself: if I only accomplish 3 things today, which are the most valuable and important?
What rules and systems have you found to be helpful in streamlining and simplifying your life? Please feel free to share in the comments below.
Shared calendars are a lifesaver. We use the iPhone one but we have about 6 of them showing (one each, plus a joint one and one for a charity we’re both on the committee of) so it’s colour coded for what kids going where. If it not on the calendar, it’s not happening. Means we don’t have to text each other constantly to find if we’re free for stuff too
This is kind of simple but I now only make to do lists for the week ahead. When I made daily to do lists it felt like I was failing because everything I didn’t do that day just got moved into the next day and so on. Now everything has a week to be achieved I typically get to about 90% of it. Of course the more immediate things get an asterisk and are prioritized - a little bit like your 3 top things. Also I schedule time in my calendar for things that might take time. I also like Gretchen Rubins ‘power hour’ where you schedule an hour a week to sit down and pay those bills, make those phone calls etc and take care of all the little pesky admin tasks at once.