How to Use Your Planner After An Event

Most of us use our planner to prepare for events. We take note of upcoming weddings, parties, and business meetings. We decide what we need to do in order to be prepared when these events begin, but what do we do after the event is finished?

Take a wedding for example: Unless it’s our own wedding, there usually isn’t a lot to do in the way of preparation. We note it in our planners, purchase a gift and attend. But we can also mark the date in our monthly calendar tabs or future calendar pages so we can remember their anniversary. Small things can mean a lot.

The same applies to holiday parties and neighborhood get-togethers. Quickly jot the address of the party and the name of the host in your planner so you can send a quick thank-you card when you return home. Also, if you reference the party and host information in your monthly index page, you’ll have easy recall next year.

Remembering small things is important, but sometimes you have to keep track of more. Consider a business meeting. This is a time to take notes and plan ahead. If you are given an assignment and a deadline, be sure to note it in your planner during the meeting. Turn ahead in your planner and jot reminders so you are sure to finish your tasks on time. If you’d like to remember your notes, add a page flag to your planner page to help you find them later. Also, be sure to utilize the master task list at the beginning of each month. Keeping a running list of action items there will make it easy to find your most important tasks.

Take notes of team members who are working on your projects so you can follow-up with them at scheduled intervals and give them your support. Track your projects in much the same way you would your goals. Set dates for each step of the project from concept to completion and do all you can to meet or beat your deadlines. Track your progress in your planner.

With daily concentrated effort, your planner will become one of your most important productivity tools. It won’t take long before many of the items mentioned above are simply habits you follow. Of course we’ve only begun to describe the various ways your planner can make the most of the big events in your life. We’d love to hear how you use your planner—particularly after a meeting or big event. Share a few secrets to your success in the comments below.

Happy planning!