When it comes to getting all my projects done each month, I feel I get rather sluggish until the end of the month. Then I try to get all the projects done at once. Causing me to get overwhelmed and annoyed. This year I decided to try something different and break all my projects into small tasks. I created a monthly to do list printable which allows me to write down all my projects. Then I can break them up into tasks that I can complete each week. By spacing out all my projects at once, I was able to create a system for staying productive that will last the entire year!
How To Stay Productive With Monthly To Do List
Create Major Project List
Sit down and create a list of all the projects you want to accomplish. There are a lot of home projects we want to do this year, so instead of trying to do them all at once, I created a giant list of all the projects we wanted to do this year. We have some big projects and some small projects. Bigger projects were easy to come up with. Things like redoing my office is a large project that I know will take lots of time to complete. While smaller projects, such as touching up paint, are things that need to get done but aren’t as time consuming. All those projects, big and small, are added to the list so I can see everything we want to accomplish this year.
Designate Into Months
Some of the projects aren’t going to be done this month, while others need to be done within the month. Write next to each project the month you would like to have them completed. Space out projects throughout the year so no one month is overwhelming with projects. This also helps when you are budgeting for any larger projects. That way you can space things out around company bonuses or yard sales!
Break Projects Into Tasks
Once you have designated each project into months throughout the year, then break each project into smaller tasks. Touching up paint is already a small task, but redoing the office is a major project. So I broke up the project into small tasks. Things like create long desk space, clean out craft supplies, repaint room, and find chairs are just some of the tasks for that one large project.
As I am breaking the projects into tasks, I am recording those tasks onto my FREE Monthly To Do List Printable!! This helps me get a better idea of everything I want to accomplish this month. Then I schedule the tasks into weeks for the month.
Schedule Weekly
Using the Monthly To Do List printable, I recorded each task broken down into different weeks of the month. This way, I know I am not over scheduling my weeks with too many projects. Or waiting until the end of the month to get everything done. I am able to space things out throughout the month to make completing the tasks more manageable.
Because I needed a way to maintain my growing project list, this monthly to do list planner has helped to keep me on track for projects. And it has helped with our budget!! For more productivity tips on how I manage time, check out this post!
