I was going to write about my fabulous birthday/anniversary weekend, but that has to wait. I am just not ready to let go of our moment. Instead, I wanted to share a revelation that I had over the last two days:

Being Productive is NOT Hard.

Yep, I said it. For those who are constantly at odds with Mr./Ms Boss because he/she wants you to make better use of your time, I have to tell you- it’s not that hard. It just takes a little planning.

As you know, I recently became a ‘Work at Home Mom” and while it is not an easy transition, I made a vow- a sort of Labor Day Resolution- that I would make the most of the day so that I can actually feel like I am not lounging all day.

I am going to share with you a little secret. It is a valuable secret and, if it catches on, will turn the Day-Planner industry belly-side up. Are you ready?

All you need to become more productive is a color printer, a PDF Reader, a Pen, somewhere to keep a list, and 21-days to form a new habit. Yep, that’s it in a nutshell. You don’t need to spend 50 bucks for a Franklin-Covey organizer that is filled with tons of stuff you will never use. You don’t need any of these fancy “mom calendars,” because the fact of the matter is, no one can tell you what you need to plan your day.

So how do you utilize these items to help stay productive?

Download the To-Do List and the Week-at-a-Glance Planner

These files are simple and self-explanatory. However, let me say the following:

• A color printer is not necessary, but I like when there is color on my list.
• The Week-at-a-Glance file is just something to help you see the bigger picture. Don’t worry about times unless you have a very specific appointment- in that case, just write the time before jotting down the note.
• The To-Do list has only 15 slots and 3 are filled in with Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Sometimes I forget to eat and then my day just goes hay-wire. This way I can’t forget.
• Look at your To-Do list and Planner while you eat so that you know where you are. Cross things off or add if necessary.
• If you cannot fill in all the lines on the list between meals, then add something FUN and self-rewarding. That way you will never feel overwhelmed or bogged down. Try adding “read to baby” or “have some coffee” and your day will feel less like work.
• make sure to sit down at the end of your day and create the next day’s list. Add those that you did not complete to that list so nothing goes undone.

Finally, if you don’t like my system, that is fine. Design your own in MS Word, but remember, keep it basic and easy.