I have two 3-ring binders, one with all the rules/orders and the other with all 24 kingdom set-ups at my desk. I have the 3rd Cycle Player Aid (Excel) open on my computer. I have a print out of the previous and current turn I'm working on as well as the kingdom set-up on my desk along with a color-coded Alamaze map (8 1/2 x 11) that I print new from the Powerpoint copy and then update every turn by hand with colored highlighters, black Sharpie, pen, and pencil.
From my Turn 0 turn, I print out a copy of the Kingdoms in the game (and players if listed) and cut it out and tape it to the back side of my map, so I can easily flip it over to remind myself who is playing whom. If a Diplomacy game, I also make notes on the back of my map (in pencil) in terms of how long my NAP, Mutual Defense, and Alliances are and any other brief, pertinent notes.
I have a notepad, pen/pencils, big eraser, stapler, and calculator too ready on my desk.
I re-read my turn (even though I probably already read it 6 times when the turn first arrived) to re-familiarize myself with the current turn and make sure I didn't miss anything from earlier. I then compute how much food and gold I have to work with (production + remaining balance + expected income from things like 150/711 orders less brigade costs and standing orders and make a note of how many orders (via Influence) I have to work with this turn.
Then its just maximizing the orders that MUST get done, SHOULD get done, and LUXURY orders (if I have the necessary orders/gold left over). This is a combination of strategy, tactics, psychology, guessing/luck, accumulated experience in the game, your kingdom's strength/weaknesses, and your neighbor's/opponent's kingdom strengths and weaknesses, and trying to anticipate what my neighbors/opponents might do (or be planning). Who the other players are (if known) can also be a huge factor as many players have "tells/habits" especially in combat. You also learn which players honor their word, which players understand how to communicate (legally) in a silent/anonymous game by certain actions , which players fold early, and which players won't let go and are spiteful even when they should just quit and move on.
How far ahead I plan is also a function of a LOT of factors (e.g., which kingdom I'm playing, type of game, who are my neighbors, how soon until I'm ready to move on another region, how far along are my wizards, ally/enemy status, etc). Sometimes, I'm really only concentrating on the current turn and little more, other times, I'm trying to map out about 3-4 turns ahead.
I then have a list of my X orders in code form so I can enter them just like the Order Entry portal wants them.
I have been known to alter my orders as I'm entering them (and occasionally even after I've readied up (but the turn hasn't processed)). Sometimes I'm really torn between a couple of options (often best spell combinations during combat) and I'll change my mind after sleeping on it. I like getting my turns entered a good 24 hours ahead of time, so I have that luxury of mulling things over (and if the turn runs early... so be it, but I hate being the last person to ready up since it means you're holding up the game).
OVERALL GUIDING PRINCPLES: Control your region on T3, recon/divine PC locations of your region and all adjacent ones asap, recon all squares in region for artifacts and start getting them, get about 6 Princes (for Cities/Towns) and 3-4 Governor/Baron/Counts for villages. Have 2-4 HPs. Get at least one wizard that can Dome, Teleport Army Group, and Summon Death as fast as possible (get all remaining wizards to P3 so they have Intrinsic Presence and can cast 601/602/603 plus Sleep/Ward). Train all of your agents to max (even if just for the status points), I usually have 2-3 training each turn and once one is maxed out another takes his place in training rotation. Get at least 1 Veteran brigade (so you have 565 options) by optimizing pre-combat attack/defense ratios against a PC. Any neighbors that are NOT my next anticipated target, I will do right by then until such time as either they either do wrong by me, become my next target, or they achieve 3 regions and could win the game. Lastly, decide which region I'll be taking next and what the optimal strategy is to accomplish it. Then I just pray that I do all the above faster/more efficiently than my neighbors and get a some good rolls on Unusual Sightings!