When I have a lot going on its easy to feel overwhelmed or so busy that I just kind of lounge on the couch watching reruns. I feel like ever since school started, we have been going, going, going. Staying organized is key to any success I have as a mom, business owner and seminary teacher. I'm going to start sharing some of the tips and techniques that have worked for me.
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| Starting the day right: breakfast and planner |
While browsing around Barnes and Noble this summer, I fell in love with this
beautiful planner. Is there anything more exciting than a brand new, blank planner? Just waiting to be filled with to-do lists and activities. I didn't buy it then, I pondered over it and searched around online for other options. I ended up going back at the beginning of August and I am so happy with my choice.
Reasons I love this planner and things to consider when searching for your own:
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| Month at a glance pages |
- It has both a month at a glance pages and weekly pages with one column per day. I use an alligator clip to easily flip between the month and the current week. I use the month pages to jot down future events. For example when I get the activity newsletter from Henry's school, I can quickly put those events into the monthly calendar. As we enter each new week, I check the month calendar and input the info into the weekly pages.
- The alligator clip is also helpful for keeping grocery lists handy.
- The calendar is 18 months. Since I was shopping around for something mid year, I was worried I wouldn't find one. Or that I would be stuck with a blank one where you have to input your own dates. Yuck.
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| How my week starts out. I plug in everything I have planned on Sunday night. |
- Each week is an double page spread with eight columns. One for each day of the week and an extra column at the beginning for general notes on the week.
- Each column has six rows created by a subtle change in color. I have each row marked as a separate area of my life. Appointments and activities, etsy, seminary, blog, gym and menu. I love having a space to put in my menu for the week. Seriously I love how I can compile everything together.
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| Welcome to the madness! |
- Having the separate rows for each type of activity allows me to plan out blog posts and jot down ideas for future writing. I also can spread out all my to do items throughout the week so I don't feel as overwhelmed. I used to write down everything I wanted to get done into one mega list and be overwhelmed by how much there was to do.
- The larger spiral allows me to keep a pen handy for taking notes.
- In the back there are sections for contacts and notes that I don't really use. But there are some rip out shopping and to-do lists that I have found helpful.
- I have looked around at apps for my phone to help me get organized and I never found anything I could get used to using. A pen and paper are my go to. Maybe I just can't get the same satisfaction from an app as physically crossing the items off my list.
- And its really easy to go back to the previous pages and see what still needs to be done.
Keeping on top of all the things I want to do and need to do is key to having any planner system work. I usually start my day by reviewing my notes and any activities or appointments we have planned. Then I keep checking back throughout the day to cross off completed items and add whatever comes up--setting it on the counter in a central location helps me remember to follow up. At the end of the day while were winding down watching tv, I go through it one final time to make plans for the next day.
What kind of planner do you use? Do you have any great organizational tips you'd like to share?
