"Problem solving can take many forms but, if you try problem solving without any structure, you may end up with a bigger problem. "
People don't make much progress talking about problems or leaving them to be vague, though clearly unpleasant. But there is no reason that virtually all problems cannot be solved to create great solutions that will enhance someone's life.
Put any issue, problem, barrier, challenge in your life in here. Just put them in by date worked on and the problem. There will be in the viciinity of 50 or so, and then you'll find there are duplications that have already been solved or are repeats of what hasn't been fully handled.
Most "problems" simply need new habits to be installed, of action or of thinking.
Putting them in a notebook makes them referenceable for a review and for modification and fine tuning. This will help make you a master of life, without any real problems left.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TIME IT TAKES?
It'll save you an immense amount of time, for a relatively small investment of just a few hours per problem. Repeated the problems will take alot more time and cost alot more in lost psychological well-being.
THE ORGANIZATION OF SUCH A NOTEBOOK
For each problem, there is a form to be completed and kept in a referenceable format. While you could use files and then resort them, I find it easier to organize them in a notebook, where one has the forms filled in in the computer (and/or scanned for easy reference). The advantage of the computer is that if you lose something, you can simply use the free Google Desktop search engine to find it.
You should list any problem on a separate master list for each overall category section of the notebook, organizing them by the section numbers below.
You can enter them by hand, but I find it useful to list them in a word document, inserting them in a table format (go to your word processing "help" and enter "table" and just follow the instructions).
The Categories
Overall
Activities
Education/Learning
Financial/Material
Life management
Philosophy
Physical/Health
Planning
Psychology - I find it best to put this in a separate notebook, as there is plenty of
material to work on.
Relationship - I find that this also merits its own notebook, as there are lots of
challenges to take advantage of and learn from.
Time management
Some separate possible suborganization for the bigger categories:
Psychology
Add other categories, or simply put the unclassified ones in the front.
Behaviors
Impulse control
Addictions (soft and substance)
Habits
Beliefs
Emotions
Fears
Happiness/Unhappiness
Other emotions
The past ("wounds", unresolved items, what learned)
Self-talk
Criticism
Stress
Worry
Anxiety
