Day 1 trying a daily planner to self-improve, big fail & now feel worse. Any advice?

[ReadytoFeelWorse]

I was given a SelfJournal as a gift. This one >>: https://bestself.co/products/self-journal

It's a daily diary planner based on the concept that if you have a goal you need to have consistent daily action to further it. If you want to exercise more, you need to plan to do 5 mins every day that sort of thing. Climb a mountain by walking 10m a day.

One of it's big things is that you have to fully plan your next day so that you know what you are doing all day and can tick off your consistent daily action towards your goals.

I've had a horrible personal time recently so thought I'd give this ago to try to improve my life and make some forward progress. I filled it all in last night and was all enthusiastic. It's now 5.30pm and of the14 things I had carefully planned out and timed, I've only done about 3 and now I feel even worse and like a failure

Anyone used this sort of day planning method successfully? Any advice or should I just accept it's going to just rub my nose in my failings every day?

I went for a short walk inspired by @tokennamechange so now I'm up to 5 things. 😊

I use finch, I set the widget large on my home screen, so I can't forget to check it. I have self care things, and my 'must do' things, I find it very helpful. I never get right through the list but just checking in each day helps me focus. Instead of exercise I put ' go outside' so it's less mentally taxing, and I don't feel guilty if I've not gone to the gym. I think keeping your initial list small, then adding to it is a lot less overwhelming than filling in a whole schedule, which just makes you feel bad for not completing.

Trouble is, I don't think there's any evidence that those methods are actually effective in a personal capacity. Business planning maybe

If you have the platforms, follow Oliver Burkeman. He started off as a productivity guru in the Guardian but realised it was futile and even counter productive.

That is ridiculous. Choose one or two things and focus on that. Start by working out what is difficult about it at the moment and how you can make it eaiser. Depending what it is, it doesn’t need to be everyday.

An all or nothing approach is just setting yourself up for failure.

@ReadytoFeelWorse I only have one daily task, and that’s to do my best.

So I’m always happy that I’ve achieved - however little or much I did that day. I find that I usually get through a great deal though and I don’t feel guilty when I stop and chill.