I always carry with me my small purse sized planner that I bought from the Franklin Covey company. Every time I've left it home for some reason, I've needed it. So it goes with me everywhere. I don't trust my memory to know if I have something planned for a certain date or not so I always write it down in pencil on my monthly calendar, and on my daily pages I write TO DO lists and TA DAH lists. My planner has a year's worth of small monthly calendars so I can plan ahead being careful not to over schedule myself.
Which brings me to the question of PRIORITIES-you have to CHOOSE and occasionally say NO to things that sound fun and interesting but don't fit in with how you want to spend your time. Everyone's list of what is important to them will vary BUT first on the list should be YOU-scheduling activities that will improve and sustain your HEALTH like exercising, good nutrition and sleep not to mention intellectual/spiritual nourishment and social interaction. Ever hear the scripture about not running faster than you have strength? It applies here but I hear you say...isn't that SELFISH? I think the word SELF VALUING works better. If you are running yourself ragged with too much to do in too little time, your well will run dry and you'll not have anything to give to anybody...unless you make yourself a PRIORITY.
Practice saying NO or let me check my planner and I'll get back to you OR I'd love to but I've just overscheduled myself and can't fit in one more thing. To pleadings of P-L-E-A-S-E, you need to be prepared with lots of P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E and SELF CONTROL. If you don't value your time who else is going to? I have a good excuse now with my new diabetes diagnosis to mention that I really do have to watch my schedule and not overdo. I'm actually trying to do less but MORE in the areas of my PRIORITIES which are God, self, family then service to others.
Priorities are determined by making a LIFE MISSION STATEMENT to focus yourself on what you hope to ACCOMPLISH in this life. My main priority is my Heavenly Father- studying about His gospel plan then implementing it in my life by taking care of my own well being which includes making time to talk or email my family, visiting their websites and planning activities where we can interact on weekends or holidays. We try to visit our children and grandchildren who live all over the US about once a year if possible. Part of family life is our relationship as husband and wife. Since we are retired and empty nesters, we see a lot of each other daily but we also try to have a WEEKLY DATE to eat out and attend something cultural. My life is really a cluster of activities with God in the center, rather than a list of #1, #2, etc. Tell us about your priorities.