Or should that read chores? Stuff that has to be done vs career goals
Here’s a draft blog post that blends your own routine, the way you manage goals, and how ChatGPT fits into the picture:
How I Plan My Goals (With a Little Help from ChatGPT)
Over the years I’ve tried every way of planning my time — bullet journals, productivity apps, whiteboards, even a wall calendar the size of a bedsheet. These days, my system is simpler, flexible, and supported by a mix of digital tools, scraps of paper, and the occasional nudge from ChatGPT.
My Current Routine
Right now, my days have a natural rhythm:
Morning: Gardening and house jobs. Afternoon: Art and relief printmaking. Evening: Cooking, reading, or watching a film.
This changes when swimming club is back in full swing — five out of seven evenings I’m poolside, coaching. That shift means my planning needs to adapt quickly.
My Three-Tool System
I’ve settled on a combination that works for me:
Google Calendar – This is my time commitment space. I block out fixed commitments like club sessions, council meetings, or art workshops. I add deadlines for specific projects so they’re impossible to miss. Google Keep – This is my goal storage space. I keep tick-lists for different projects. To avoid drowning in too many lists, I pin and date the ones that really matter. Everything else is archived or deleted once it’s done. A scrap of paper – This is my action cockpit. Every morning I jot the date at the top and list just 3–5 priority tasks. Crossing them out by hand gives me a sense of progress no app can match.
The Weekly Flow
Here’s how it comes together:
Sunday evening or Monday morning: I review my pinned Keep lists and decide what matters most for the week. I block out time in Google Calendar before the week fills up with other people’s priorities. Each day I make my short paper list, drawing only from Calendar and Keep.
How ChatGPT Fits In
ChatGPT has become my “thinking partner” for planning.
It helps me break large goals into smaller, doable steps. It prompts me to review what’s working and what isn’t. It occasionally rescues me from the “too many lists” problem by suggesting ways to merge, delete, or simplify.
Sometimes I just ask it to challenge my assumptions — “Am I actually moving toward this goal, or just doing busy work?” It’s like having a coach who remembers my habits and asks the right questions at the right time.
Review of ‘Enthusiasms’ by Bernard Levin
This system keeps the big picture visible without letting the details take over. Calendar holds the when, Keep stores the what, and my scrap of paper tells me today. And with ChatGPT in the mix, I get both encouragement and practical strategies for making the most of my time — whether that’s planting out lavender in the garden, cutting a new lino block, or leading a tough swim set on a winter night.
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