Well, not really! I haven’t planned the whole year, nor would I want to, but I have made my planner my friend and I hope to use it to be more organized and prepared.

 A number of years ago, my daughter and I attended a Franklin Covey seminar. It included a full day of training on the importance of having one location to keep track of appointments and to do lists. All of that was helpful, but there was one thing I took away from the day that I will never forget.

It was the I-Beam philosophy . . .

Maybe you have heard this before? The trainer asked us for what or whom we would be willing to walk across an I-Beam, you know steel support beams that vary from about four to eight inches in width.  If you were at one end of the I-Beam, what would be on the other end that you would be willing to do a balancing act to get there.

Of course, it depended how high it was off the ground. A foot or two, and we would all go across for almost anything; six feet, eight feet, twelve, twenty . . . we now had to do some thinking. Finally he asked if the I-Beam  spanned the distance between the top floors of two high rise buildings, what would be in the other building for which we would be willing to risk our lives.

Wow! That was food for thought! Like most everyone in the room, my list was short. Then he asked, “Why is it that we seldom spend the majority of our time, on the things we list as most important and valuable?”

Do you ever look at your planner and feel overwhelmed by the clutter? Sometimes the clutter in my day can be more of a challenge than the clutter on my kitchen counter!

Well, it is a new year! Yippee!! I have a new planner, and a new plan. I am going to organize my days and plan them according to the I-Beam philosophy. I will make my lists, schedule my appointments, and then take a little time in the morning or the night before and rank my to dos according to their importance. It something doesn’t have to be done that day I will give myself permission to move it to the next day, without calling it procrastination - especially if it gives me the freedom to spend time with someone I love. I will plan time to care for my home, even if I am only able to manage one room at a time.

I found a great magazine put out by BHG, called Storage. It had many suggestions on ways to stay organized all year. My favorite section was a month by month storage plan for organizing your home one room at a time. That is perfect for me, and it fits my budget. I am able to plan the space, decide on the changes I want to make, and purchase any items necessary to make my life easier.

I am so excited about 2009! Don’t you just love the beginning of a new year, a fresh start? A little dreaming and planning, and a whole year ahead ….

I know there are many ways to use your planner. I would love to hear some of your suggestions, and if you’d like to share - we’d love to know . . . for what/whom would you be willinig to cross the I-Beam?