One of my Favorite things to do is to crack open a brand new physical planner. So you can imagine how fast I was to offer my honest review on The 7 Minute Life Daily Planner ($24.95) from The 7 Minute Life.
I will admit I was a little afraid that what normally happens when I get a new planner would happen during my review time period. Can you guess what that would be? Well, for starters I would rush home all excited and totally convicted to turn over a new leaf. This was it.... organization and structure was going to seep from everyone of my pores if it had to kill me!!! I would be pretty "gung ho" for about 3-4 days and then slowly but surely my scattered thoughts and piled up "to do" list would completely overwhelm me to the point of disgust.
So, with that happy thought hanging on in the back of my head I was determined to try my very best to make this planner thing work. So, was it a hit, did it work for me? I'll tell you that answer in a minute, but first let's go over a few things about this planner.
The 7 Minute Life is a time management company created by Allyson Lewis, a motivational speaker and author of The 7 Minute Solution, The 7 Minute Difference, and The 7 Minute Daily Planner. I connected to her instantly because she has battled with health issues too. Since my health decline 10 years ago because of Lupus my priorities changed Big Time!!!! I love knowing she believes just like me....Life is a Gift, a Blessing Beyond Measure. Through her products, Allyson encourages everyone to prioritize, organize, and simplify. This Planner is a sturdy 7.3" by 8.5" spiral bound physical planner, consisting of 271 total pages and was design to allow us to each be our own Architect and Contractor in our lives. What a Concept!! :)
I will admit that it does feel more geared to someone in the workforce or that has a home based business. But, with a few changes you can customize it yourself to make it work for anyone business or no business. I do hope and pray that maybe in the future Allyson may create a planner just for the stay at home or homeschooling person. Hint Hint!
In the very beginning of the Planner you will find an extensive introduction. How to get started is mapped out for you step by step. It is quite the journey to go through. Once you are ready to join the "7 Minute" Revolution the magic begins.
You start out with a worksheet on Prioritizing the values most important to you. This was eye opening to me. It's one thing to know what's important to you, but to write it out is another. I think that's one of the points in doing this. :)
The next page helps you unlock your purpose and passion. I I had a hard time with this. My life growing up in foster care didn't really set me up on a bright road ahead staring what I could do in life. I was taught that I had no purpose, so why even try. Just existing was problem enough for this world. Thankfully through God I know this to be different. But, it still isn't any easier to put out in black and white. So, honestly that page is still blank in my planner as of right now.
One of my FAVORITES in this Planner is the Mental Clutter page!!!! With a task and action column. I am nothing but 1,000 sentences swirling around in this head of mine. Allyson wants to slow that swirling down. Get it out and on paper! She says it takes up your valuable time and diverts you from success! I so agree with that, what about you?
Next you will find pages for 90-day, Financial and Life Goals...pretty self explanatory. Unfinished Work and Home tasks along with Home repairs, you have work and personal connections list. I mean there is something in here to fit just about every need. The 90 day Calendar worksheets, Monthly Calendar at a Glance and Grocery List check list is easy to use too.
But the Star of the show is the 90-Days worth of 2 page spread Daily Progress Reports. Here you will find sections that may or may not work for each household. Daily Contacts on the left I turned that into my Family To Do list for the day. My most life changing addition to my Daily routine thanks to this Planner is the 5 before 11. The night before I write out 5 things that have to be done by 11am. What makes this so effective is the night before you don't have emotion wrapped up into what needs to be accomplished. So, it's not mixed in with a million things that come up magically overnight. :) I have all 3 of my Kids doing this every single day even on the weekends. Even Dad hopped on board with this and is using it at work.
I also find the What I Spent Section helpful. Just a quick total everyday keeps a little handle on extra spending. The extras like water intake and meals is a great bonus too. And right there in the right hand corner is the daunting question....Did I do what I said I would do today? Yes, it sure is right there in your face. Become woman and men of your word. This has been a hidden blessing here in my house. I am always the first to make up an excuse for myself or anyone of the kids. Well, not with that question!!! :) I need that yes or no box checked every night, what about you???
So, what did I think? Well, I love the Revolution behind it and everything it represents. Having had a home-based business for almost half of my adult life I appreciate all the components of the planner. Right now in my life there are a lot of sections in the Planner that needed to be renamed to work effectively for my daily life. Does it work for me a Homeschooling Momma? Yes, it does....with some crossing out and re-purposing. What about with a business or 9 to 5 job? For sure, and what a major change in your daily life you would see. Check it out now and let me know what you think about this Quality Planner!!!
Twitter - http://twitter.com/allyson7minutes
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/the7minutelife/
Google+ - http://plus.google.com/+AllysonLewis7/posts
You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/user/AllysonLewis
No comments:
Post a Comment