A Little Plan, A Lot Less Stress
They say it’s not stress that causes heart attacks, but the feeling of being out of control. True or not, I find that my week is more productive, and the people around me are nicer when I take the time to plan my work. Sunday is a good day for that.
As a writer, I’ve found it efficient to gather my ideas first, when my mind is free and fresh, to make note of them and then to returrn to them later to write.
I made this a tool to help. Come look.
The Big Idea Weekly Planning Tool
This is a simple fill-in-the-blank tool that you can cut down and adjust in any way to suit how you work. Keep it near for marking ideas as you have them. Use as a chef might plan a menu for the week — note ingredients, especially rare spices in the form of facts and detail, as you think they will add interesting nuance to what you write.
Ideas Forming
Here I note ideas not yet formed. They’re germs of ideas that haven’t germinated into something I can write about yet.
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Ideas with Promise
Monday Title: _______________________________________________
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Tuesday Title: _______________________________________________
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Wednesday Title: ____________________________________________
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Thursday Title: _____________________________________________
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Friday Title: ________________________________________________
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These are enough to get a focus on the BIG IDEA of what my week will be about. As I work on one piece, my mind is aware and sensitive to what is coming up. So I unconsciously do things and consciously notice things that help the upcoming ideas form further. While I work on one, I keep adding notes on the others.
I have these sheets hand for holding on to my idea “fodder” in key places throughout my house. They are a great stress relief. I no longer try to keep every idea and detail organized in my head. I’m no longer overstraining my memory. I can pay attention to my life and the people in it.
Everything is more organized. I have more time to write. My work is productive, and what I write has better thinking behind it. I enjoy writing more, knowing that the next idea is waiting for me when I need it.
My brand value is stronger.
Will you try this tool? Do you have tools that would work well for you?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you think Liz can help with a problem you’re having with your writing, check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.