I use a weekly compass card, popularized by Stephen Covey.
(see a larger image)
It helps me keep my eye on the important stuff of life, not just the urgent. Each week, I list the main roles in my life — husband, father, friend, relative, citizen, business owner, writer — and then I write down one or two things I could do in the next week that would improve that role. It’s way different than a to-do list. See the “Subordinate Clock to Compass” section of this Covey article.
I tried the electronic version of the Franklin Covey planner a few years back and it sucked big time. It may have improved since, but I like writing on the cards, usually on Sunday mornings at the coffeehouse. Last week, I added a step to my morning routine: review what I wrote on the card and see if there’s something I should try to schedule in that day.