Do you plan each day in advance, and if so, do you find it beneficial? If not, have you ever tried to?

I think that everybody does plan their days in advance to some degree. We all think "tomorrow I am working, I need to pop to the shops and get milk and bread, then I am meeting Dave at 7pm for a game of squash" so in some respects that day has been planned in advance.

Personally I am a mum with 2 boys, I have 2 jobs, a husband and a house to run, so I have to be organised.  My days normally run:-

6am - 7am      - Computer work for 2nd Job

7am - 8.30am - Breakfast, get the boys ready for school, get myself dressed and ready

8.30am - 9am - Eldest Child to school

9am - 12pm    - Housework, Sainsburys shop, doing jobs whilst playing with youngest son, continue computer work for second job, a run if there is time.

12pm - 1pm      - Lunch

1pm - 7.30pm  - Get ready and go to work

7.30pm - 8.30pm - Cook and eat my dinner, catch up with my husband

8.30pm - 9.00pm - Prepare any lunches for next day

9.00pm                  - Relax

Obviously the things do change on a daily basis.  I do not work every afternoon, but I do need to know what I am doing the next day.  Sometimes, if things require more organisation, I need to know what is coming up in the week so I can allocate the time to prepare.  For example, I have my youngest's birthday coming up so I will need to bake a cake and make party games etc.

I couldn't image not knowing what my plans were,  I would feel in such a muddle and I think I would not get everything done!  There would be Post-it notes everywhere.

I certainly find it beneficial to plan in advance, especially if I am going to do something I am nervous about, as it gives me the opportunity to prepare and clear my head before I embark on whatever it may be.

Now don't get me wrong, I do have the odd day when I do not have a list the size of my arm with jobs to do and I have the opportunity to be spontaneous.  On those rare days I like to relax, have a cuppa with biscuits and just chillax!

I never thought I was that organised but writing this has proven to me that maybe I am a planner and I do like my 'to do' lists.  I have discovered that by being organised that I can make the most of my day and it has increased the quality of my life.  I can recommend a book called The 7 habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey.

It presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems.  With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, it is a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity.  The principles will give you the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. 

This book has helped my husband in every aspect of his life including organisation, and the understanding that the more organised we are the more effective we can be.  I am currently reading the book myself and it does make you reflect upon yourself and how you deal with certain situations.  Definitely worth a read.

Though I would love to know how people manage without planning, the idea baffles me. How do you manage at Birthdays, presentations, holidays?