Benjamin Franklin once said,
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
I agree, and I’m acutely aware that when I don’t have a plan for the day, I flounder around, unable to decide what I should work on next.
Conversely, armed with a detailed, specific plan, I’m a task-crushing machine – and I’m sure you can say the same of yourself!
What’s the best method for planning and managing your tasks, though?
As a student, I was always convinced that I’d eventually discover the perfect system. The El Dorado of task management. The Genghis Khan of to-do apps – one that would conquer all the others.
I’ve now learned (and discussed in the podcast episode with Mike Vardy) that task management – and productivity in general – are very individual things. We’re all weird, we all work in different ways, and hence the best system for planning and managing our tasks will be different from anyone else’s.
Today, I’ll give you a tour of the 3-tier task planning system I’ve been developing over the past several months. Built upon a foundation of solid habits, my system uses several different apps, spans the digital and analog realms, and helps me get more done that I ever had in the past.
If you’re unable to see the video above, you can view it on YouTube.
Looking for More on Planning?
Planing and task management are huge topics, and you’ll find even more tips on them in Chapter 4 of my free 100+ page book called 10 Steps to Earning Awesome Grades (While Studying Less).
The book covers topics like:
- Defeating procrastination
- Getting more out of your classes
- Taking great notes
- Reading your textbooks more efficiently
…and several more. It also has a lot of recommendations for tools and other resources that can make your studying easier.
If you’d like a free copy of the book, let me know where I should send it:
I’ll also keep you updated about new posts and videos that come out on this blog (they’ll be just as good as this one or better) 🙂
Video Notes
- Todoist – my task capture app
- Google Calendar – my event capture app
- Sunrise Calendar – the best calendar app on the iPhone
- Evernote – my second brain, where all other ideas go
- Why you should have a daily plan
What aspects of your planning process differ from mine?
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