I've felt the same way. One thing that really helped was going to bed early and waking up earlier. I'm far more productive in the morning than late at night and get more work done.

P.S. I'm a paper calendar person too. It's right in my face and can't hide behind browser windows.

Miriam,

I'm not a night owl by choice, but it is the only time I can get quiet in the house.  So, I have the terrible habit of staying awake until midnight many nights and then not getting up until 8 a.m.  The fact that it is dark until then doesn't help me want to get up any earlier.

What I tend to do is have an ongoing to do list, and then use a timer and do each thing for say 10 minutes.  When the timer beeps go on to the next thing.  You would be surprised how many things you get done in 10 minutes or less.  The jobs that take longer, you do in smaller chunks.

I'm a big fan of the timer method! I also use the app OmmWriter to give me a space free of all the distractions to just sit and write.

I've gone back to a pen & paper planner. I do best when physically crossing off my to do list!

Shari and Chelsea, I need to get a good timer in the house again.  I've actually thought about timers for the boys so they KNOW when 20 minutes of math time is really over.

Darcy ~ there is something oh so satisfying about crossing off a to do list!  

My biggest problem is being distracted with Facebook and emails so I've started making sure I only have the truly necessary windows open in my browser and that Outlook is closed.  I give myself 10-15 minutes of every hour to do that kind of stuff.  

I have to put all appointments on my phone - or I forget. But I am terrible at organizing to do lists!