Whatever method you use – paper, software, or dry-erase markers on your refrigerator door, you need to develop the discipline to write things down and refer back to them. Once you do have that, the product you use doesn’t matter quite so much.

Something to consider for your situation: a software or online calendar and your phone. At the start of every day review your tasks and enter the day’s appointments as reminders into your phone. Keep a notebook or use the notepad function of your phone (even the voice memo feature if you have it) to make notes of new tasks and appointments through the day, then at the end of the day enter them into your software calendar. I use Google Calendar because it’s accessible anyplace you can get an internet connection. But even a paper master calendar will work; just make sure everything get written onto it.

I use my hardcopy calendar–a desktop version bound in leather, no less–for everything. Then I use iCal on my Mac. I’ve used it for years. It has a calendar function and a to-do function with reminders. I also use an office reminder system on my laptop, so I have alarms going off on all systems when something is due. And now I can add a reminder in my e-mail program, so I do that as well. Hope that helps.

Do you have any specific programs or calendars you like in particular? The problem with computer-only ones are that I’m not always at my computer, and my phone calendar is so time-consuming to sync (no, I don’t have an iphone, lol) with my computer and analog calendars that I usually fall back on a hodgepodge of analog and phone reminders, so I’d love to find an easy to use, easy to update, easy to sync, available anytime/anywhere scheduler.

I’m glad it helps, Ryan. I think it’s pretty normal to reassess our work methods, trying to find what works now as opposed to what worked last week. Just so long as you keep doing the work. Somehow.

Good point. Sometimes you can show them the schedule and they’ll realize that you’re working as well. I like your three goals method. Nice.

I’ve found a schedule can also be really useful for getting the “but you don’t have a day job” people to leave me alone and let me work, as well. Keeping a basic schedule lets me train the people around me that I do actually have things to do despite being home all day 🙂

Exactly. It feels good to finish things, I think. I love crossing stuff off my to-do list. 🙂

I love scheduling writing projects. I might not always hit the target (have a chronic health problem, too) but it does keep me moving forward and accountable. Of course it has the added side-bonus of completed projects. I also find that hitting the milestones in a big project schedule gives a sense of completion and satisfaction. Of a job well done. 🙂