See my video series on The Academic Planner:

Each column of lines across the top of each planner page in The Academic Planner will represent sections of your life.  If you are a college student, you may have a column for each class, then a separate column for self, friends, errands, tasks, etc.  For myself, I label the sections “homeschool,” “tasks,” “calls,” “self,” “house,” and “finance.”  The titles to these columns may change over time; in fact, they are designed to change as you persevere through this planning regimen.

First, take a minute and think about your own life and what categories your responsibilities can be divided into.

Once you have a title for each of your sections, start to fill in the lines below that respective title. What are all the tasks that you hope to achieve relative to just that one area of your life?  For example, in my “homeschool” column I might have, “order additional workbook for Declan,” or, “write our sight word cards,” etc.  Under “household” I might have, “replace furnace filters,” or, “buy water softener pellets.” Once you have completed your first titled category to your satisfaction, move over to the second column title, and ask yourself which specific tasks within that titled area you hope to accomplish?  Complete this cycle for each column you have.

Next, after each column is completed to your satisfaction, using a colored pencil go back and write the initial of the day of the week you hope to accomplish that line item.  For example, I know that homeschool Mondays are tricky, so I cannot achieve many of the outside tasks on a Monday.  However, on Tuesdays, many of the children attend piano lessons so I would be able to accomplish more tasks. I might put an “M” for Monday by just two items, but a “T” for Tuesday by four specific items.  Be sure that your assignments to specific days are reasonable and achievable.

Now that all of the above steps are completed you may begin to use the day and time section of The Academic Planner located on the lower two-thirds of each page.  First, start with known items. For example, I know school starts at 9:00 a.m. each day, and we have lunch at 12:00. I know on Tuesdays the kids are gone from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to piano.  I know I tutor another child on Thursdays at 2:30, etc.  Fill in those items in your schedule that are fixed.

Then, go back to your lists and find the items with an “M” on them for Monday.  Fit them into the blank sections of your schedule making sure your expectations are reasonable.  If you learn you have too many items designated on Monday, switch one over to another day that has fewer tasks. Complete each day of the week similarly. Give your planner an overview to double-check your Academic Planner methodology.

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