I’m not a student anymore but I was for most of my life. I also absolutely struggle to break down tasks and unless I see a list of what I have to do physically in front of me, it is so hard to recall it and feel motivated to do it. I found that a notebook that shows me everything I have to do for a week or for a day, helps tremendously. I used to use the weekly moleskine but now I use a Hobonichi hon (though they also offer weekly layouts).
Also Hobonichi has a weird community of enthusiasts. the sub Reddit is amazing for creative inspiration. hope that helps.
Mar 2, 2025
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thank you !! i will list this as something to try, for some reason i forget that physical notebook planners exist and i just use my phone calendar which just isnt the same 💔💔
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the only system that works for me is having one big calendar in a prominent place at home and a small calendar I carry with me.
For the big calendar, I use a Poketo Spectrum Wall Planner. That’s to keep track of bills, social events, & travel plans.
My small calendar is a Hobonichi Techo Planner for smaller tasks, reminders, and lists.
when I’m good about using them, I actually show up to things & I’d recommend that!
Jul 19, 2024
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I use notion for organising my university work, shopping lists, monthly goals, etc.
For day to day tasks I use Microsoft todo. Not only does it make a really satisfying noise when you tick things off, it’s also really handy for me in a morning to get everything I need to do for the day physically written dow instead of it being stuck in my head. Also writing down small, easy tasks can help me to feel more productive with my day even if the task is just making lunch or having a shower.
Google Calendar is also my saviour. Super easy to use and makes everything all organised. My friends and I even have our calendars synced, which helps organising plans with them so much easier
Not sure if this is of any use either but I also keep a spending diary so I can stay on top of my finances. I find it’s really helpful for me to physically write that down in a diary and at the end of every week work out how much money can get put into my savings. Staying on top of it all is the key!
Apr 18, 2024
I try to keep my full time job organisation in the office exclusively because I don't want to take that home with me but I note any weird hours I've got upcoming in my Google calendar. At work I use a weekly organiser where I can write lists of things to do/meetings etc and move them between days fluidly if I don't complete them. If it's a really busy week I use highlighters to prioritise which tasks I need to get done in order of importance. I also have a monthly whiteboard calendar with all upcoming events (I work in a music venue) and meetings and a whiteboard where I can write notes for the upcoming month. I also have my rota for the next three months stuck up in front of me with every day off I have planned so I know exactly where I need to be and when. I'm balancing a full time job and various creative pursuits and also life so I have to be hyper-organised with my schedule.
For general life organising I use my phone calendar for every time I need to do anything or meet somebody or be somewhere. I use different colours for different stuff (ie. Social, time sensitive, work). I find myself struggling to sleep if I know I've got things to do so adding in a calendar note for the next day so I don't forget is very helpful for easing anxiety. Generally I find visualisation to be the most useful thing and the more prepared I am the less stressed. Also means I can be flexible with my schedule cos I always know where I am.
I have used Evernote note taking app for ten years but I hate that they're charging for it now and I can't make any more notes without paying. Very annoying because it was convenient to be able to note on my phone and have it go straight to my laptop but I will not be convinced to pay £60 a year for an app I want to use for free lol so now I use Google notes on my phone.
I also have a very beautiful roadbook consisting of four notebooks: one for poetry/lyrics, one for art project notes and sketches, one for life admin lists and tasks, and a large ruled one for anything that requires a bit more working out or long form ideas. It has extra space in I can stuff any helpful scraps of paper in too.
In general too I find organizing things I use on a daily basis into categories really helpful. For example my bedside table has a little area for health stuff, one for ongoing research, a to be read pile, a tech box, etc. I think of it like "high traffic areas" so anything I'm using daily needs to be within reach and everything else can be further away or more hidden. This is part of my ethos for choosing that the things I use daily to be beautiful and enjoyable to use where possible to make life a little bit better.
Apr 14, 2024
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No screen Sundays. If I want to listen to music its CDs or radio. If I want to watch a movie, no I don’t. If I want to see a friend, I will make plans with them on Friday or Saturday to meet up. As a result, I read more, write more, and sit with questions like “did Citizen Kane‘s 50 year winning streak in the Sight and Sound critics choice survey end in 2012 or 2022? When did Stephen Merritt come out? Whats the etymology of Whitsun?“
This is something that I have practiced off and on for many years but I’ve been doing it every week since December and I love the way that it just allows me one day of true freedom and rest.
Jan 22, 2025
Mar 3, 2025
My calendar this year has 52 of these week at a glance pages but I don’t think that way. So, I've been inspired by Ross Gay’s Book of Delighs to start recording the little moments and sensations that bring me joy throughout the day. An analog pi.fyi, if you will.
heres some of what I have so far:
- Waking up to the sound of my upstairs neighbor‘s footstep. It sounded nostalgic. Felt like company.
- Strawberry jam
- feeling tender for strangers: their lips, nail colors, their small wrists. Thinking of all the lives we hold gently.
- A young girl bought an LP at the bookstore just before I left. She stroked its cover with love
- Green tiles —the mint shade always makes me think of Jancie
- Charlie’s little bop and punch dancing to some German language punk
- lunch with Katherine, curry Brussels sprouts
- small talk at the photo studio. The photographer's brother was named after their dad, stole his identity, bought jet skis.
Jan 13, 2025