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Planners and organised people

110 replies

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:14

Is anyone else a planner? I feel like there are frequently threads on here about people struggling to keep up with their busy lives, but does anyone else just shrug and think - make a spreadsheet?

I’ve always been like this, even as a child. I can remember dates and times and have a photographic memory. I picture the days of the week and the months of the year on a continuous rolling wave (in my mind) and can always place when something needs to be done or will need to be booked in by. I don’t get stressed by being busy because I’ve always planned for whatever events are coming up. This is not a stealth boast by any means - it actually causes problems and the older (and more menopausal) I’ve got, the less I can cope with others, even DH, not being ‘switched on’ or needing reminding about what’s coming up and when. I know that this is my problem as I’m probably the abnormal one but it doesn’t stop it infuriating me!

Anyhoo - interested to know if there is anyone else out there who’s similar 😀

OP posts:
VioletaDelValle · 07/01/2023 19:32

Me!! 👋🏻
I get sooooo frustrated on the school WhatsApp groups when parents ask when stuff is happening or forget things we've been reminded about a dozen times.
I want to shout write it in your diary!!!!!!

I have a photographic memory too. I have to stop myself from saying things in general conversation as I can remember dates of things that happened years ago and know the dates of all upcoming events- I know I sound weird so I keep my mouth shut 😂

Always4Brenner · 07/01/2023 19:35

Yes I plan everything budget the lot now I’m on my own Christmas is being planned for this year my trip in March saving for then after that fridge freezer I’ll save for.

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:39

@VioletaDelValle - nice to meet you 🤣 Glad it’s not just me! Don’t get me started on school admin, which is generally known to be shambolic anyway, but sometimes it has me tearing my hair out! I did try and speak to the school about it once and explained that as a working parent I needed more than a day’s notice of events, but very much came away from that conversation feeling they thought I was mad!

Are you a financial planner as well? I have spreadsheets and funds for this and that. My boss always talks about January being a long month because we get paid early in December and I just think - well save the January money for January 😬

OP posts:

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StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 07/01/2023 19:40

I don't have a photographic memory but I do put everything in the calendar as soon as it appears. Then I work backwards - what needs to be done in preparation, when do I have time to do that?

Dh NEVER thinks ahead and it drives me nuts.

TonTonMacoute · 07/01/2023 19:40

I'm a planner but it absolutely has to be on paper.

Years ago I went on a time management course and I have used those techniques ever since.

Im a bit of a fan of lists too - at very busy times I have lists of all my lists...

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:40

@Always4Brenner - ditto the budgeting. Just set up a little Xmas savings account for next Christmas today. It’s reassuring that I’ve found my people!

OP posts:
AWaferThinMint · 07/01/2023 19:43

Me!! We have an excellent budget spreadsheet. I use a paper and digital calendar (paper is just for the days kids take things to school). All insurances are itemised with links to policy documents etc etc.

It just makes life easier. My accountant loves me as my tax goes in early and always has everything attached up front 🤣

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:44

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale - yes! The working backwards, as in, we’re busy that weekend, and next, but if we’re going to X town midweek, we can call at Y to collect Z. I feel like I’m constantly recalibrating and fitting in new events and stuff the kids need for school. DH would, like yours it sounds like, not have a clue and then make a special trip out for something we could have picked up along the way somewhere.

OP posts:
CurlsandCurves · 07/01/2023 19:44

Hello, I’ve found my people!

I love planning and routine. Every week I plan around what my working week looks like, what home jobs need to be done, plan them in, etc. I’m the same with long term and financial stuff too. Helps me feel in control.

As soon as the weekly shop is done the list for next week starts on my fridge planner.

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:45

@TonTonMacoute - oh yes, love a good list! Out of interest, what did you learn on the time management course? Or what stuck with you? Any new tips?

OP posts:
jjeoreo · 07/01/2023 19:46

Am following because I'm kind of the opposite and love to read how the other half live.

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:47

@AWaferThinMint @CurlsandCurves - we sound very similar!

Does anyone else get irritated with others who just don’t plan? Or can’t plan? Sometimes a voice in my head is chanting fail to plan, plan to fail, but I know not to say that out loud!

OP posts:
EmmaEmerald · 07/01/2023 19:48

OP I used to be like you
but now I am a pile of chaos
I don't know what happened.

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:49

@jjeoreo - how do you cope with life? I just couldn’t keep up with everything without my lists and plans and paperwork.

OP posts:
AnotherAppleThief · 07/01/2023 19:49

The only thing that stresses me is when my best laid plans have to change, or when a crisis comes up. I've realised I'm crap at adapting and 'going with the flow'.

Senseofsomething · 07/01/2023 19:51

Me. I plan stuff and organise. It makes life run nice and smoothly. Usually!

Hello fellow planners. 🤗

Sunsetintheeast · 07/01/2023 19:52

I’m a financial planner by profession. My personal cash flow model reaches 2070 (I kid you not)

My electronic diary is colour coded for categories of activity and each family member - it’s very pretty.

All holidays booked next year, just planning ski and summer 2024. I have a chart for all exams and mocks that reaches to 2027 so I know what we can or can’t do.

My week is also quite structured.

I’m never late

I’m not always convinced it’s healthy

Sunsetintheeast · 07/01/2023 19:53

I can also cook as to me, it’s reading and planning!

VioletaDelValle · 07/01/2023 19:55

Yes to the working backwards!! I do that daily!

I'm organised with budget but for me it's more about my time.

I tone it down a bit a work as I want to be liked but my organisational skills have definitely helped me as I work with people who are notoriously disorganised so it helps.

My absolute superpower is knowing exactly when a picture was taken. Providing I was there you can show me a picture and I'll tell you the exact date it was taken. My friends test me randomly 😂

Hollyhocksauce · 07/01/2023 19:56

Definitely a routines, planning and lists person. I didn't used to be like this but due to my chaos I decided that I needed to get organised, so I did. It's taken about 4 years to bring order to my life - now I'm on top of finances, housework (mostly!), calendar, work, life admin, passwords etc. I've slowly found ways to address each area of chaos.

I've decided that on weekends I'm allowed to not follow any of my own rules/routines and just relax and go with the flow, as that feels important too otherwise everything can become too rigid and controlled and I feel like I'm trapped in a design of my own making.

Kazzyhoward · 07/01/2023 20:02

Yep, I'm a planner, but not the kind of "list making" planner, I just get on and do it, whether it's replying to an email, booking a holiday, paying a bill, cleaning the loo, or whatever, so I don't have a "to do" list at all, but I do have a list of "key dates" of things like the car MOT, house insurance, etc - things that happen yearly that are easy to forget - I deal with those as soon as I can, i.e. book the car in for service and MOT exactly a month before the MOT expires (to get the full 13 months etc).

I went on a course years (actually a couple of decades ago) which was all about time management but basically a "just do it" approach, where they advocated not to constantly make and review lists, but spend that time on doing something instead, basically, as soon as you know something needs doing, just get on and do it!

On the same course, they extolled the virtues of "touch it once", which was more relevant back then as it was all about when you get a bill or a letter or whatever in the post, rather than putting it on a pile or noting it on a list, you decide if it needs action, then action it and put it away, or if it doesn't need action, file or bin it - the idea being to keep an empty "in tray" so you're not constantly wasting time looking through the in tray, organising, reading the same paper several times over a number of days, etc.

I first applied it to work, which was a revelation, as it works so well. Then I applied it to home. Obviously, needs modification for the internet world as you don't get many paper invoices or letters anymore, but I apply it to my email in box, which I keep absolutely empty. As emails arrive, I reply instantly to any that can be answered quickly, then delete rubbish, file the ones not needing attention in a number of folders, which just leaves the ones that need a bit of work, which I just work through.

For holidays, etc., I just get on and book as soon as we've decided where/when we are going, that includes car hire, attraction entries, etc., as well as insurance, flights and accommodation - I get it all out of the way in one "go" as it's more efficient, and once it's booked, I can forget it all and look forward to the holiday rather than worrying about what I have/havn't booked or making lists of things still to do!

Always4Brenner · 07/01/2023 20:04

Plannerspannermanners · 07/01/2023 19:40

@Always4Brenner - ditto the budgeting. Just set up a little Xmas savings account for next Christmas today. It’s reassuring that I’ve found my people!

Already done and started I’ve been told I’m so organised people are really envious where I live. I love planning and saving for things for my home I don’t do holidays don’t drink smoke my dvds etc are my huge hobby.

makingarunforit · 07/01/2023 20:05

Yes, I used to be like you.

Now I have an insanely busy job which is pretty well organised but I am so bloody knackered when I finish that the rest of my life is falling apart.

Don't assume that people are disorganised because they are useless or not as perfect as you.

Iizzyb · 07/01/2023 20:08

makingarunforit · 07/01/2023 20:05

Yes, I used to be like you.

Now I have an insanely busy job which is pretty well organised but I am so bloody knackered when I finish that the rest of my life is falling apart.

Don't assume that people are disorganised because they are useless or not as perfect as you.

Me too. I had ds, my lovely job went crazy, ds is now 10, I moved to a more family friendly job. It wasn't. Then covid... and other things. If I wasn't organised we would sink in a week but it's not like it used to be now...

Always4Brenner · 07/01/2023 20:09

No one is useless we all have our different ways of coping planning.

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