Okay, so I have had a few of you ask me how I stay organized with what I have to do every day. Well, I am a list maker. I love me a good list. I especially love crossing things off my list. It gives me a sense of satisfaction. In fact, I have been known to write things on a list I have ALREADY done…just to CROSS IT OFF! There I said it! Just a little more of my OCD coming out! Oh…and I really don’t like any one else to write in the notebook that houses all of my lists! My husband made that mistake a few times! I have gotten better, a LOT better about tolerating such behavior. Especially due to the fact that I have started to enjoy seeing scribble marks (not from the hubs), but from the kids that sometimes invade my notations.
Anyways, that was a long way to say that I keep a notebook where I write down everything I want or need to remember, lists of things to do, lists of things to buy at the store, messages, websites, crafts, even lyrics to my favorite songs.
That way, I always know where to find something I have written down. No more searching for that scrap of paper I jotted something down on. Each notebook as it is filled is saved so that I can go back and look at it later. This has proven helpful MANY times!
Along with my notebook I carry a planner made by Mead. I always get mine at Wal-Mart at the end of each year so I am ready to go come January. This is where I write down our family’s schedule, appointments, carpool times, soccer games, etc. I also will put in here due dates for homework, etc. It is my command center if you will.
On Sundays, we will sit down together as a family and pay any money to our kids in their checkbook registers or review and approve payments or deposits that they may have made that week. We also tell each other of events that will be happening in the coming week and fill out the Daily planner so that everyone is aware of what is happening and who needs to be where. This allows my husband and I to make decisions about how to shuffle the kids to after school activites and such.
We will also discuss what we want to do or get accomplished over the weekend. That way we are all on the same page and it gets us all moving in the right direction. Now things don’t always run smoothly, and plans can change, but at least we have a family plan and direction to look forward to.
It really helps us to get organized and focus on what needs to be accomplished each week.
What is something you do that keeps you and your family organized and on top of the things you need to accomplish?
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Ditto on the hand-written lists for me, as well as the daily planner! I also sneak in an "already completed task" simply for the satisfaction of scratching it off. Your little blurb about no one else writing on the list made me smile … I'm the same way. However, I remember as a child (and I still do this when I visit my parents) I always add something to my mom's list that is out on the counter … something like "Hug Jaime". It always made her smile when she'd see it later in the day.
I love lists! And I'm guilty of adding things already done to my list just to cross it off! It gives me such a sense of accomplishment if the other things on my list aren't getting done!
I, too, write in spiral notebooks to keep all of my "mind" in one place. I find that if I write it down then it doesn't float around in my head and I can be more creative.
I love this idea! My kids are not heavily invloved in activities at the moment and I couldn't find a day planner that worked quite right for me so I made my own in my notebook. I think I will eventually graduate into something more like yours.
Ahh…a girl after my own heart. I, too, am a list maker to the core! (You're not the only one who writes things down just to cross them off!!) I buy the little $1 journals from the dollar bin at Michaels and write the date on the top of each page (I can usually fit 3-4 months in 1 book). Then, each day has it's own to-do list. If I think of something today that needs to be done next week, I just flip on over and write it down. Then, I don't have to think about it again until it's time to get it done. This keeps me from having a million little things to stress about in my head. Thanks for sharing…glad I'm not the only one!!!
Why is that I love when people share their lists!?! I do pretty much the same thing, except we don't get together each week(we should). I have a huge master TO DO list and then I break in down in my planner so that it is more manageable. Thanks for sharing.
I like the calendars that show me the whole month at a time, that way things don't sneak up on me and then I can jot lists seperately. I have my own calendar that goes everywhere with me (dollar bins at Target-8x12ish) I also have a big one on the side of the fridge so that my honey knows what is going on too. I transpose things from my book to the fridge weekly to make sure that they are all on there.
I love to make lists. They keep me sane! I love my magnetic fridge calendar. I have a normal calendar that I write everything on & then each month I update our fridge calendar each month.
I'm a notebook girl as well, I have them for everything that I do. My husband & sons know not to bother Mommy's notebooks, LOL!!
I also LOVE making list. 2years ago my husband have me a iPone and now my list is in my phone. But I've been thinking of going back to having a list just to be able to cross things out! LOL
Thanks for sharing Love your blog.
Hearing that makes me feel less insane! I do the exact same thing. Different notebooks for different kinds of lists – I often use my bedroom mirror & dry erase marker to write down my weekly to dos so that I see it everyday. There is so much satisfaction in crossing things off my lists.
I actually have the system as you with my "list" notebook. It's funny when seeing yours, I have written some of the exact same things. Clean this, clean that. haha! I keep…..things to do, things to buy, things to make, things to see, things to hear, things to read. Then because we just bought a house, I keep…house things to do, house things to buy, house things to make. i also keeo a list of any kind of new subject that interests me and have a year long list. Great way to keep your mind organized and clear!!! Love seeing other people that do the same thing.
I can relate! I have a notebook with all of my lists. But I'm still training my hubby to not write in it. He will write at the bottom of a page I'm using! He can't even flip to a blank page! I get very touchy about my notebook. That's a good idea to keep your old ones though. I haven't thought of that. Hmmm… I need to go make a list right now.
I am a big list maker as well. It helps me stay focused on the most important things. I also carry a planner with me and write appointments, etc. inside. Growing up, we had a large dry erase calendar on the wall by the phone, so that all of the upcoming events, birthdays, work schedules for the family were in one central place.
So many of you make lists to! I wish there was a fairy that could transfer some of this desire over to me. My husband is a little OCD and he would love it if I would jump on the train and make list too.
Maybe I will give it a try. I love the idea of having a notebook just for your lists though because I always loose my scraps of paper.
Thanks.
I am SO disorganized and I only have one child, 2 dogs and a hubby! I think I'm going to try the lists in notebooks thing. Thanks for the tip!
You know when you do something that feels a little crazy & OCD…and people kid you about it and your husband thinks you're a little, well, crazy and OCD? Well, reading your blog today was EXACTLY a description of MY life…we even have some of the same little spiral notebooks. In a weird and probably slightly sick way, it makes me feel less crazy to know that someone as cool as you and I have something in common! :)
from one list maker to another, your admission of writing things down just to cross them off rings true!! Lovely post!
"I have been known to write things on a list I have ALREADY done…just to CROSS IT OFF!"
Glad to know I'm not the only one who does that!
I love lists as well! Thanks for sharing your process. I love to hear how others utilize notebooks and planners! One question though – is your notebook segregated in any way? i.e. are websites, lyrics, and books all mixed in with your to-do list?
I am so glad you publicly admitted to adding things just to cross them off, I thought maybe I was the only one. We have a family bulletin board wit a calendar that we hang in the laundry room, which is where we all come in and out of the house. Everything goes on that calendar, then we sit down either Sunday or Monday night and organize our activities. I tell my family if it is not on the calendar it is not going to happen. Then I add it to my iphone to give me reminders of where everyone needs to be.
I'm jumping on this bandwagon. I am also a list maker. I have a Wal-mart planner that is my central place to write things. I have spiral notebooks for crafting and church, and another dollar store planner for dinner menus. I too have written something on my list just to cross it off, but don't tell my husband! :)
Do you divide your notebook into categories ex. bills, to do list, etc.? I bought a med. size spiral notebook with 3 divided sections. This worked ok, but ran out room in certain sections. I have alot of down time (empty nest and only work part-time) so don't feel as though I have a lot "to-do". I would appreciate any further advice. Love your blog!
Your blog is very nice, but why all the free publicity for Walmart? You've mentioned the store several times. Cheap prices, but at what cost? I understand that your family is your number one concern and low prices are hard to resist, but you should keep in mind the message that you're sending to your children.
I LOVE organization and definitely thrive on having lists, planners etc. I have always sworn by my yearly paper agenda and just recently moved to an electronic tool (yes my blackberry!) BUT still find that nothing beats a notebook for those always necessary to-do lists! So yes, I travel with both my smart phone and a little notebook!
I BEG TO DIFFER WITH YOU…I AM THE MASTER OF LISTS! LOL REALLY, AS I HAVE RAISED 8 KIDS, I LIVED BY LISTS EVERY DAY. IT TAUGHT ME TO BE SO ORGANIZED AND IT CARRIES INTO MY CALLINGS TOO..I'M ALWAYS TOTALLY PREPARED AND AHEAD OF TIME TOO. I GET TEASED A BIT ABOUT IT BUT IT'S THE WAY TO GO FOR ME! COME SAY HI ;D
I HAVE to make lists all the time. My parents are awesome and bought me a massive desk calendar that I hung on the wall. I also carry a 'calendar' with me because I'm in college and need to keep up with classes. My desk has a keyboard tray which I use for my various lists. I may look extremely unorganized but its the only way I can keep my ADD/OCD brain straight! :)
I nominated you for a blog award! Come see! I really love your blog, Keep it up!
You're not a true list maker until you start color-coordinating them. True. (Who knew?) I keep a large binder, divided into color coded sections for the six main roles in my life: Church Things, Meal Planning, Cleaning Systems, Finances, Kid Systems, and Holidays.
Wait, it gets better.
Then I fill out a large desk calendar (with my lovely colored pens) each month. And it's so big I have enough room to pencil in all the extras that come up. My grocery list is a pad of paper tacked up next to the calendar, so I can rip them off and take it to the store. Weee!
Why is it so fun to be like this?
Wow! You guys are a bunch of list-making junkies. Glad to know I am not alone in my obsessiveness. We should start a support group. And apparently I could be much worse hearing now what some of the rest of you do. HeHe!
I do have my lists sectioned off and tend to keep my lists of books, movies to see, websites, crafts I want to make in the front and leave a few pages for each section, with my lists of things to do in the middle or back so I have room. But sometimes the pages are as jumbled as my brain feels while trying to manage 7 schedules!!
Um…don't really know what the Wal-Mart comment was about. I actually don't really like shopping at Wal-Mart. I think they have TERRIBLE customer service. So I rarely shop there. I just happened to have gone there recently to buy my 2010 calendar there, as I have not found the specific Mead style at other places. I picked up the icescraper the same shopping trip. I only mention where I purchase things because I know I will get a few comments or emails asking me where I bought something.
Anyways…I love hearing about your other great ideas at organization. Thanks for sharing.
And thank you for the awards! I really, REALLY appreciate it!
I keep lists too. In a notebook. But I definitely don't have as much on my plate as you do!
So funny that you mentioned you like to write already accomplished things down just so you can cross it off. I just did that yesterday because it didn't feel like I was accomplishing much when I looked at my list. How funny we are!!
Gotta love lists!!
I'm organized with the notebooks at work but do not currently use one at home. Now I'm thinking I should run out and get one to try to organize myself! LOL Hey, It's a new year – no better time to start something.
Also, I wanted to pick your brain a little about the comment you made about your kids' check registers? Is this a reward/allowance system? I'm VERY interested as I need to figure out a motivational tool for my kids (really I know it sounds like I'm a slacker from my comment above but I do things – I just don't use notebooks) :).
My six children are all grown–lists got me thru years of baseball, scouts, soccer, piano, voice, stressful church callings, weddings, missions and now grandkids! I love lists! I have a 'honey do' list on the frige of jobs for hubby. I have to smile because when my married kids come home to visit they will always check out the 'list' do a job and cross it off with a big bold line! List makers live on!!
Yet another list maker here! (and, yes, I write completed tasks on my list just to cross it off!)
I use a three-ring binder with dividers and loose leaf paper. When I have a list that is nearly complete, I can then transfer the unfinished tasks onto a new list and throw out the old one.
My categories are: Books (that I want to read), Music (that I want to download), Movies (that I want to see), Recipes to try, craft projects, home renovation/decorating projects, gift ideas (this is where I jot down all those great ideas for someone specific so when the bday rolls around, I have a list of ideas!), to do lists, shopping lists, websites (For example, The Idea Room is on there with a list of projects that I want to do.. I've already made the ice wreath twice and have all the materials to make hot cocoa on a stick!…my nephew loved making the ice wreath with me too!)
Thanks for your inspirational blog!
I was randomly browsing your blog yesterday and I must say, you inspired me. <3 I had a planner lying around my room and decided to put it to good use, i'd like to thank you for giving me the motivation to start getting organized.
Kay, the whole Walmart comment has me bugged. They made it sound like you are an awful parent for shopping at Walmart. Even if you rarely go there, you are free to do so as you choose!
Anyway, I love your blog, I just stumbled upon it yesterday! But I have put it on my list to check everyday ;)
I have started crossing items off my list using pretty colored highlighters! I love how my lists are pretty when I have been super productive! I too thought I was the only one who put things on my list that I have already done! lol
I am a huge list maker myself. I write my list and I add all of my personal appointments to both my home and work email calendars.
And I too have a confession – I also like to write things on my list that have already been completed. A) It shows how productive you are, B) You never know when you will wonder when something was done and C) It feels SO darn good to cross it off! :)
I too am a major list writer!! The only difference with me, is that they are horribly messy lists in my little notebooks and I sometimes grab what ever scrap of paper is near me. I love list writing and I LOVE putting a line through the accomplished tasks, I just wish I was a wee bit more organized. I try to use the lists to make me a bit more organized, but it never seems to work :( I think I need more pointers on this!
Lists, love them and I couldn't keep my day straight with out them. I use old envelopes from mail then I can throw it away when i'm done. This is only helpful when it's a grocery list or cleaning list but still, it helps. I also have a calendar hanging and one of my own for personal use. I started just using a note book each week to make my own calendar and i found this even more helpful since some days are way busier then others and I can use more space for some days and not so much for other. I also love cork boards to make list and hang them up so i can see them and remember what needs to be done long term.
Lists, day planner and a calendar! I also sometimes add tasks I've already completed just so I can cross it off! It made me laugh when I read that you (and seemingly lots of others) do this too! :)
Love it!! I used to use an expensive, thick type planner, but have long since switched to cheap Mead planners and a notebook similar to you. I love Mead's At-A-Glance Academic/Fiscal Planner with months at a glance which goes from August to the following years December; 16 months which I really like because it gives me more months and time to transition into a new one each year. It has plenty of blank pages to write in my addresses/phone numbers and important info. in the back.
Then I use a Carolina pad 8.6 in. x 6.5 in. note book that has 3 divided sections and a pretty cover. A section for random notes/ideas, one for my "to do" lists, and one for my menu planning and shopping lists. Together they are big enough to have room to write but small and light weight enough to keep in my purse.
This system keeps me sane…
I love lists!! You have really great handwriting by the way :)
I could have written this post myself… I also write EVERYTHING in spiral notepads and my husband is not allowed to write anywhere near it. And I'm also sad to admit that I write items down that I have already completed just so I feel like I did something at the end of the day. I thougth I was the only crazy one :) The one thing I don't do is keep them, that is actually a great idea. I have a seperate one that I write notes from church each sunday, I do keep these though… I love going back and reading all the key points when I'm having a bad day. It instantly changes my perspective. My kids are still little 1&3 so we don't really have a lot of activites that need scheduling but when we do, I love your idea of having a weekly meeting. I LOVE your blog. Take care,
wow, I thought I was the only one who added things to my list that I already did just to cross them off! lol Sounds like lots of us do this.
I do that all the time, I even do that just before my husband gets home to make it look like I did more that day.lol
Thanks so much for sharing your list addiction! That is one of the memories I cherish about my Mom. It comforts me to pull out one her lists when I'm missing her. She's been gone for 3 years. We made fun of her lists, and we marveled over how many we found when sorting through her belongings. My sister was happy to point out to me that she's noticed that I may have a list or two in my purse and at home. How does that happen?
OMG, where have you been? I have been in an organizing mess and I just posted about how I am surrounded by paper and in need of help. I asked woman of the blog world if they were up for the challenge and I happened upon you. I love your ideas and can't wait to follow you. Check out my blog and my dilemma.
I just have to tell you…I scrounged up a notebook we had at our house that the girls had not found yet. I started this and love it. I already had a planner/calendar but the notebook idea is fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing…you are awesome!
I am also a HUGE list and schedule maker. I have a day by day plan of chores to get done around the house posted on my fridge. That is just for the week in, week out chores that have to get done. Then I have my monster list of all the other things to get done, as well as the list of errands that need to be run, and a list of things my husband needs to do. Then, at the beginning of the week I go to my monster list and put a star next to all the things that HAVE to get done that week and set about doing them. Life is MUCH less stressful for me when I have a plan! (Oh, and I have also been known to write things down that I've already done just so I can cross them off!)
Your an LDS! I knew it. I saw books on your bookshelf that looked like similar to mine and what sealed my suspicions was the RS meeting. Your a great home maker. My PB says I will be a skilful Homemaker. I hope I’m as creative as you are and organised. Definitely using your organisation methods. Thank you for sharing your talents.