Category: Blogger Tools

Timeboxing Vs To-Do List

I like to use both methods. Goal setting is key to every entrepreneur and to reach your goals your Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) you need to take small steps toward the desired BHAG every day.

Goal setting is the method most of us used to get things done, but should we use timeboxing vs to-do list? It mainly depends on how good you are at accomplishing tasks and setting realistic time frames for your business and personal projects.

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What Is Timeboxing

Timeboxing is simply good old fashion calendar management. Using a digital calendar/planner (I prefer a week-at-a-glance planner) you allocate time to projects based on your estimated completion time; or you slot a specific time each week to complete a repetitive task.

When you timebox items on your calendar, aka schedule them, you are committing to set aside a time during the day to complete a task. If you can’t complete it, you can least make progress on your project.

This works really well for long-term goal setting along with tasks you perform every day/week. For example, keeping up with social media can be a full time job, but necessary in this tech age. Try blocking off one hour on my calendar every morning to address social media. Check all of your accounts, respond to messages, post new pics/info, etc. On Friday, schedule two hours to give yourself time to plan and schedule posts for the next week. This way, you are not checking in every few hours. Unless there is something that needs immediate attention, you can be confident you will have scheduled time to respond.

To-Do Lists

As far as a to-do list goes, we know when were are composing them that there is way too much stuff listed to get done in one day. Additionally, we tend to chose the easiest items on the list to complete, leaving the large, time-sucking projects until tomorrow. Can you say procrastination?

Don’t get me wrong, a good to-do list is an awesome tool.

But it ends up being one of those things that basically keeps notes of what needs to get done. The items roll from day-to-day. Some may get checked off, but many eventually end up on the calendar when they become a priority or a fire, Yikes!

What Works Best

I like to use both methods, they work well in tandem. Goal setting is key to every entrepreneur and to reach your Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) you need to take small steps toward the desired BHAG every day. Timeboxing will help you accomplish these baby steps if you set aside specific, dedicated time slots for them.

I hope you enjoyed my take on timeboxing vs to-do list. You might want to read my Planners Make Goal Setting Simple article where I review my 2021 planner. I would be lost without my planner, for sure!

Okay, on to tackling my GHAGs!

Sandi

Planners Make Goal Setting Simple

Remember the feeling of getting all new school supplies. It was the sign of a new beginning, a new year, a new you. I feel the same way when I get my new planner, it’s a time of anticipation, wondering what the new year will bring. The best part is planners make goal setting simple.

Remember the feeling of getting all new school supplies. It was the sign of a new beginning, a new year, a new you. I feel the same way when I get my new planner, it’s a time of anticipation, wondering what the new year will bring. The best part is planners make goal setting simple.

Like everyone else, I pray for the world to be a healthier and safer place in 2021

You know those beautifully composed desk photos, where they are pristine and uncluttered? Well that’s not my desk, it’s totally a hot mess. I work, a lot. Who has time to clean and organize?

My desk

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The one thing besides my green shake and computer that has its own spot, is my weekly planner. I love my planner. I would be lost without it.

planners make goal setting simple
Can’t live without my planner


Computer calendars are great, and I enter important appointments in my phone so I can get a reminder, but the lions share of my schedule goes into a planner. I like to see my entire week’s tasks and appointments in one view.

What I track

If you want to succeed with goal setting and tracking, all the experts will tell you must write your goals down and they must be measurable.

You must write your goals down and they must be measurable

I track deadlines, social posts, newsletter planning, appointments, exercise, and all the must-do’s in my personal and business life. For entrepreneurs, these tend to be blended together so why not keep them in the same calendar.

In 2020 I used a weekly planner with daily columns and plenty of spaces for notes. It worked fairly well, but I track repetitive tasks every day. The biggest one is my social media and blog posts. I found myself writing my list out for each day and that was taking way too much time.

This year I searched for a planner that had a week-at-a-glance and space for me to list my daily goals only once, but check them off for the entire week. I found the perfect planner. Boxclever Press Planner 2021 gives me the flexibility to see my goal success weekly while only having to enter them once a week – not seven times!

I have two websites, so I need to double up on all my social media to keep them both current, keeping track of when I get it done is crucial. This page opposite the weekly glance page is perfect for tracking all my daily tasks without messing up my deadline and meeting notes.

planners make goal setting simple

The Boxclever Press Planner

So cute!

How cute is this planner, right? The best part is the Boxclever Press Planner is it’s available on Amazon — my favorite go-to shopping site — I’m sure it’s one of your favorites too.

This planner comes with lots of bells and whistles and is a great value. It is half the price of some of the designer planners.

I love that it has cute yearly and monthly goal blocks. Remember, you need to write them down. Your goals need to be actionable and measurable.

Of course, it has a monthly calendar view.

Finally it has a pocket in the back with stickers – they look like they would be fun to try. The ribbons are perfect to keeping your place. I carry my planner around with me when I travel and I’m always flipping around trying to find my place. Ugh!

planners make goal setting simple

Getting ready to set your goals for 2021? Now is a good time to review how you did with this years goals and get ready for next year. Check out my primer Goals Are You Best Tool For Success to give you a jump start on your 2021 goalsetting.

I hope you enjoyed my review of the Boxclever Press Planner. No matter what type of planner you chose, remember planners make goal setting simple!

Wishing you love and happiness in 2021

Sandi

Video Blogger Tools That Won’t Break The Bank

Subject matter – start with your back yard, or your street. Take a walk, enjoy the neighborhood. Look for something interesting. The just start video taping, you can edit later.

Here is a short list of tools that will take your video blogging from struggling to Wow-you-did-this-with-your-phone with video blogger tools that won’t break the bank.

Subject matter – start with your back yard, or your street. Take a walk, enjoy the neighborhood. Look for something interesting. Then just start video blogging, you can edit later. You will need to take quite a few videos to find your style. Keep at it.

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Phones and cameras

Use your phone. I have an iPhone XS Max with 512GB. This phone has lots of storage and takes great pictures and videos. Get as much storage as you can afford. Videography takes up a lot of storage. Amazon has this phone unlocked and with a Renewed Guarantee at a pretty good price.

The new iPhone 11s are out but you can still get some refurbished ones.

Anyway you slice it, you need a good camera to take videos. I like my phone because it’s always with me. I also like Apple because the free editing software is pretty good.

If you prefer, a DSLR works well too, but it’s like duplicating everything you carry with you. I know enought to get myself in trouble with a Digital SLR camera, but there are lots of great reviews on Amazon. Make sure it has decent video capabilities.

Lighting

For on site production – a simple lighting kit will work well. When I’m photographing something in my studio or where I have control, I use a very inexpensive lighting kit that works perfectly. It’s a three piece lighting set from Limo Studio.

Lighting while you are traveling is a little trickier. Trying to catch a great shot of your dinner in a dimly lit restaurant is almost impossible. This small, rechargeable selfie ring from Meifigno has three light modes and just clips on to your phone. Slip it on, snap a few mouthwatering photos, and store it away, perfect.

stability

For stability you will need a tripod, I love this inexpensive tripod with bluetooth from UBeesize. It is perfect for when I want the camera stable and remote access.

My new fun toy is the DJI OSMO Mobile 3. This sweet little gadget stabilizes your cell phone and offers multiple controls to create stable videos while you are walking, running, and any other way you are moving fast. It takes all the jiggling out of the video. And it’s not as expensive as you would expect.

I hope you have enjoyed drooling over these Video Blogger Tools that won’t break the bank! I have fun using them, and it has upped my vlogging game.

Check out my two Youtube Vlogs:

My new vlog, Travel With Sandi

Bespoke Fashion and Sewing With Sandi

Here’s to getting lost in the journey,

Sandi