I LIVE ON A GRID. I call it The Grid. It’s a character in our lives to some extent, and everyone who knows it makes fun of it, and I’m good with that. Printed on a large white board, written in erasable dry marker, The Grid sits on my desk, in full view as I write, mapping out the seven days of my week and how I live them. On it is written even the incidentals—“walk the dog,” “stretch,”—as well as the truly important chunks of my life, like “write,” “meet the bus,” and “gym.”
My memoir students tease me about it; my family says things like “Am I on The Grid?” and you know what? That means it’s working.
If it’s on The Grid, I do not have to worry about it getting done, instead freeing me to be creative without that horrid, “OHSHITIHAVENOTPAIDTHEBILLS” thing.
The bills, by the way, are paid Fridays from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM. I highly recommend The Grid, especially if you work at home.
Of course, my sister has her own grid. And, of course, her version is the highest of high tech, since that’s how we are, in the She Said, She Said ways of life. If there is a whizbang new media way to do anything, she knows about it months in advance, owns the first copy, masters it, recommends it to me and I pretty much ignore it.
Which is one way to tell that we’re sisters.
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What an awesome idea, and it sure beats the heck out of my monthly wall calendar! What do you use for your Grid? Posterboard? Is it a template you write on? I may have to adopt it!
Hi, Amy. I use one of those large white dry erase poster boards, with dry erase markers. Like all good things, learning to live on The Grid begins with a retail experience. Get on The Grid, sister. You’ll be glad you did. And thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon.
I do hope less stubborn people (pot calling kettle black, I know) will go look at the amazingly simple, sleek “grid” that the extraordinary graphic designer and blogger swiss-miss came up with, called (tee hee) TeuxDeux. I know you disdain your older sister’s choices, Marion, but perhaps this one will be a mind-changer? :)
I love TeuxDeux, and all manner of other computer-based gridlike things. However…the idea of seeing it in front of me, on the wall, inescapable, is very appealing. Maybe one day, Marion, you’ll let us see a picture? Worth a 1000 words, you know…
I love the idea of computer and phone based planner-type things but at heart, I remain a dedicated paper girl for that kind of stuff.
I love to shuffle through the pages and there’s room to doodle and take notes and clip things. . .
Every time I try to use an electronic alternative, I find myself transferring the information from a paper source into the device. So much easier to cut the extra step and just keep the paper.
I’m a list-maker, calendar-lover and a tech-junkie so I do things both Roach sisters’ way and more — there’s a big paper calendar (with a folder for each month; love that) in the kitchen — I need that to see months at a time, and my daughter needs to know when school events etc are; a huge dry erase board in my office with TO DO lists and a grid I made out of electrical tape; …. but I enter appointments and obligations in my iPhone too (this doesn’t take nearly as much time as it sounds!) because I like how it will ring an alarm at me 15 and 30 minutes before – plus so many people send me meeting invites that end up in my calendar that it all meshes quite nicely. The problem with using the phone calendar only is when you’re on the phone and someone tries to make an appointment … I have not mastered that skill. So I am over-calendared. But it helps me avoid being over-scheduled. And I tend not to miss things.
Oh, I’ve always carried a little pocket calendar in my purse because I keep lists in it. Trying to break that habit, though, and did not buy a 2010 one.
Marion,
Thank you for posting this. I’ve thought about it ever since I heard you mention it at the Ladies Luncheon. Great ideas here. I also have multiple calendars and address books, have to break that habit . . . I might try the TeuxDeux being the sister that knows the tech stuff and watches everyone’s eyes start to glaze over when I talk about it.
Nancy
I do appreciate organization. It is the best preemptory strike against frenzied chaos I know of. That said, as a happily retired, just saying “no” for a change determined volunteer-on-sabattical, the mostly empty calendar posted on the refrigerator is more a wry salute to overbusy days long past.
I look at every empty space on my grid and smile, seeing each unscheduled day as another small victory against over functioning!
I think I like the idea of this digital grid! Thanks for sharing. Checking it out today (should that be on my grid??).
:-)
Hi, big sister. Nah. I’m a Grid girl through and through. Another She Said, She Said, yes?
Hi, Paige. Oh, absolutely. I’ll bring it to our next TSP sister’s meeting. Thanks for asking.
Hello, Roadchick. Yes, that’s what happened to me, exactly. Since I spend so much time at my desk, this system is the one for me. I look up, see what’s next and move on. Come back soon, please. We love hearing form you.
Hiya, Elizabeth. “Over-calendered,” is my new favorite phrase for what ails so many women. Yup. You bet. That’s it, absolutely. The Grid has a reassurance, and in that reassurance, I can write for the various outlets for which I write and not get crazy. Hope it helps you.
Hi, Walking Satellite. Lovely to read you here again. As a tech sister, you’ll love TeuxDeux. Margaret adores it. Whatever your chosen method, I know for sure that scheduling is the first best step to having time to write. Write on. And do come back soon.
Hey, TexasDeb: Wry salutes are the best kind, yes? Enjoy those empty spaces. You’ve earned them, no doubt. Though do fill some of them up with more visits here, please. We love hearing from you.
Hi, RachelRose: So glad you like the idea. Yes, scheduling checking out The Grid is, in fact, the first step toward living on one.
I love it. After my kitchen wall is repaired, I am putting a large dry erase board up.
Hi, Anne. Delighted to read you here. You will thank me. That is, when everyone quits teasing you about it. Enjoy.