Last night while reading a riveting book on organizations, I used a coaching client's business card as a bookmark. It is a reminder of several things I need to address with that manager.
On my nightstand is a bottle containing some pills which I take, one each morning. I turn it upside down before I go to bed so in the morning I'll know I haven't taken anything.
Little tricks, but important ones. I'm a list-maker of Olympic caliber. Two inches from my left hand is an open Moleskine notebook which has today's work list. [Oops. I just added a missing chore.]
I also keep a calendar in a Circa notebook; a practice which is quaint but effective. As a booking site for meetings and projects, it is the Holy of Holys. An item is not official until it is posted there. I've found that keeping more than one calendar is dangerous and prefer the pencil and paper approach. Note cards are also heavily used. [I knew a priest who used to put those pink telephone messages on the floor between his desk and the door so he'd remember to return the calls before leaving for the day.]
At least once a week, I like to review projects. Anything that is lingering gets red-flagged and either given a high priority or examined for why it has been lagging. [Sometimes the Inner Procrastinator is sending a warning signal.]
Lately, I've been immersed in a bunch of material for my online classes. [More on those later.] This box is leadership, that one is ethics, and the stack over there is crisis management. Others include EEO, harassment, supervision, disability and veterans issues as well as a unique class on Arizona.
"Immersed" is the right word and that's why a system of reminders is important. It keeps chaos at bay.
Somewhat.
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