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BUZZZZ.....
No... it's not the latest gossip... it's the buzzing of the busy bee.
I just emailed a friend in Manila after more than a year of silence. Instead of telling him about the past, I told him about my current and future activities. I was surprised to learn that I have so many things to do: work in school, family matter, hobbies, extra-curricular activities, personal projects... In fact, I was overwhelmed for a moment.
This means that I have to be super organized. The laptop and the internet connection in my boarding house is a lot of help. An extra phone with a camera also, especially having access to two cellphone networks. All the techie stuffs are there but my secret weapon is surprisingly a very simple object...
Okay, so if I mention it here it won't be a secret anymore, duh? I don't mind sharing it. A couple of friends have quizzed me about it and I have obliged. What's the fuss? It's just a simple notebook!
After years of experimenting with different types of organizers, I finally settled on a simple notebook to organize my life. The greatest advantages are: availability, portability, and flexibility. I can buy any notebook anytime, I can choose the size most comfortable to carry around, and I can organize the contents any way I can.
My style is.. When you open the notebook, on the left facing page are two columns: one for notes (assignments, phone numbers, etc..), the other for money spent and received. On the right facing page are also two columns: one for things to do, the other for scheduled work and appointments. Each item in the "things to do" column is numbered. The numbers are placed in the "schedule" column so I will know when to complete the task. As soon as I finish it I cross it out. At the end of the day, the unfulfilled tasks are transferred to the following day...
Sounds simple. It is! Like everything else, what makes it difficult is the discipline of doing things. I told my friend that I cannot allow myself to get distracted. I already made a list of my greatest distractions so I can keep watch.
People might think that it's a dull life to be dependent on a notebook. I don't think so, because my social life also gets scheduled in. I make sure I have time to meet friends, play badminton, write blogs, watch movies, etc... In fact, I stay in touch with more friends than the "normal" person. I'm very much aware that all work and no play makes Troy a dull boy (hehe).
Putting order is a great way to start the year.
