On paper, I have loads of time. I should be organised. I should be on top of things, but I'm not. I work from home and can more or less plan my own hours. If I need to, I can work in the evening and use my days to get stuff done. It all sounds easy so why do I find it such a struggle?
This week for example, I've had to request two new school trip consent forms from school after 'losing' them. I have had to re-arrange a meeting with Harry's teacher due to a diary clash, I've missed a birthday party invite and I've been cornered by Jack's teacher for not signing his reading record book. Oooops!
In my work life, I am SO organised. I use lists to get stuff done and everything is planned within an inch of it's life. I seriously couldn't be more organised. I have a system and it works. This just makes me more frustrated with my home life though - if I can do it with my work life, I know that I can do it at home, it just needs a bit of work.
I've tried all sorts to try and keep on top of things - I have a 'school' blackboard where newsletters get pinned, I have a diary and I check reading folders regularly but I've decided that in January, I'm going to treat ourselves to a XL family calendar to stick on our fridge and everything school related is being written on there. That way, we will see it every morning and night, it's visual, it includes a full month so we can plan ahead and Steve can share some of the responsibility too.
The lovely people at Snapfish feel my pain and have provided me with 3 XL Square Wall Calendars to giveaway to three lucky readers. The calendars can be fully personalised and worth £22.99 - they'll also make a wonderful Christmas gift for any other stressed out parents like me! Enter using the rafflecopter below:-
Get a filing cabinet! Just a mini one, and sort everything into folders. Takes a while but once it's done you will never lose another piece of paperwork again.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure everyone can do with being a bit more organised, I'm sure you'll get there. A big calendar is a great idea though x
ReplyDeleteWe have a calendar and notice board in our kitchen - all birthdays, events, kids clubs, etc are written on the calendar and any school letters, invitations etc are pinned to the notice board until they are needed. I also carry a small diary in my bag for when I am out and about.
ReplyDeleteI use a diary.
ReplyDeleteI HAVE to have every appt written on the calendar. I used to be so good but not since kids!
ReplyDeleteCalendars and diaries are definitely the best way to visually organise your life! And I recommend colour coordinating activities ��
ReplyDeleteI have to pin important stuff on the fridge - only way to avoid forgetting things in our house!
ReplyDeleteDo a weekly check with the family, get out all the letters, appointments etc.
ReplyDeleteSaved emails in a folder only just learnt how to do it
ReplyDeleteAs soon as my two come in the door I go through bags and fill letters in. Imogen forces us to sign the trading book as she gets stickers for doing in and nothing motivates her more than stickers. We have a shared google calendar too
ReplyDeletei have a pad next to the couch for all my notes when i think of it things
ReplyDeleteI write everything down in a diary.
ReplyDeleteI am so unorganised so my tip is to tell my mum my palms and then she reminds me !
ReplyDeleteOh me too! I have apps, planners, diaries, calendars and still can't manage it! Love this though. Kaz x
ReplyDeleteI have a diary that I use to keep track of the kids clubs, activity at school and where I need to be!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe got an ikea magazine rack. One bit for Son 1's homework books and one for his school letters and the same for Son 2. Works well as even after I've written it on the calender i still need the letters
ReplyDeleteI need a wall calendar to help me stay on top on my unviversity, work and blogging. This would be awesome to have.
ReplyDeleteI too swear by my calendar its so useful to note everything down.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great calendar, just what I need to keep our family events organised!
ReplyDeletehttp://lilinhaangel.com/
I find it hard to organize my time too especially when I do so much at once. This calendar would help!
ReplyDeletealways plan ahead
ReplyDeletea good routine
ReplyDeleteSet realistic goals and track them
ReplyDeleteMy colour notes on my phone is very useful as I'm so forgetful
ReplyDeleteMy tips for staying organised are to make lists! And lots of them!
ReplyDeleteI put everything down on my phone via an app called keep. Would forget everything without it! X
ReplyDeleteTry to just focus on 1 thing at a time
ReplyDeletei write everything down on post it notes, house is full of them! not very organised though!
ReplyDeletekeep a list on the fridge!
ReplyDeleteWe use Post Its on fridge which we add to as something runs out. Really helps with my shopping list. Also I use folders for important documents. Finally I arrange all the emails I want to keep, into folders I created on Outlook/Hotmail. I also get repeat emails to auto save to their respective folders.
ReplyDeleteI wish I did have some tips for staying organised! I am completely disorganised most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI have a noticeboard and also a diary x
ReplyDeleteUsing a diary and writing notes on my white board xx
ReplyDeleteI rely entirely on my Outlook Task List & Calendar at work!
ReplyDeleteA big calendar along with a notebook to write my to do lists.
ReplyDeleteI love list writing!
ReplyDeleteI use a small diary to write important dates down and post it notes for reminders
ReplyDeleteA calendar, my phone and a blackboard but I still forget!
ReplyDeletejust be methodical,one job at a time
ReplyDeleteI use other peoples tips, my head tells me I'm organised but nothing goes to plan
ReplyDeleteWrite everything down on a calendar
ReplyDeletePost it notes x
ReplyDeleteWe use a "family" calendar with spaces for everyone's appointments and activities. Me and my husband also have an informal weekly catch up to make sure we know who's doing what & when. It's a bit haphazard but it works for us
ReplyDeletewrite everything down on the calendar
ReplyDeleteMany, many to-do lists!
ReplyDeleteGet presents in advance
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be so much on now my daughter has started school. Really hard to keep track of everything so this would help.
ReplyDeleteI got a lovely planner for my birthday and just trying to get in to a habit of using it
ReplyDeleteMy top tips for staying organised are writing to do lists, adding important appointments to my diary and calendar the minute I make them and sticking post it notes on the fridge with the most important things to remember! :) x
ReplyDeleteA good calendar put up in the right place is key to me being more organised, I need to have it in the same room as the phone and with a pen! However, in reality I often fail in buying a good calendar before the new year rush, pens are harder to find in my house than Unicorn 💩 and any personal diary is usually lost by February... I admit chaos reigns!
ReplyDeletei use notebooks x
ReplyDeleteThe only way I can ever be organised is to make lists - if I don't write it down I forget
ReplyDeleteLots of lists!
ReplyDeleteI use the reminders in my phone, but I also have several notebooks. Not very organised there!
ReplyDeleteLists, lists and more lists.
ReplyDeleteI have a notice board and meal planner , i set reminders on my phone
ReplyDeleteWriting lists and filing away all my important letters.
ReplyDeleteWe put everything important on the fridge door as it's somewhere we all visit every morning, it is getting a bit full though.
ReplyDeletei organise eveything for our family, i prepare food for wen wer working n leav out clothes for my fiance n baby girl if im workig, i make a lot of lists too n love a calendr to remind me of things
ReplyDeletel make lists so l know what is happening
ReplyDeletewriting to DO and Done lists keeps me organised.
ReplyDeleteTo do lists and a diary with appointments in. (@PeanutHog)
ReplyDeleteMake lists, and have places for everything - if you know where things are then that's the first step!
ReplyDeleteThere has to be somewhere to put everything so you can find it quickly when you need it. It doesn't matter whether it is a cardboard box or a posh sideboard, keep everything labelled and to hand.
ReplyDeleteI make lists for everything so I know what I'm doing / need to do.
ReplyDeleteI use my phone and set alarms, make to do lists and use my calendar daily to remind me
ReplyDeleteI have an app on my Kindle where i can keep lists and also a calander and small diary i keep in my handbag
ReplyDeleteI use my diary and make lists
ReplyDeleteI make a lot of lists, and always do the worst thing on the list first, the rest seem a lot easier to do then !
ReplyDeleteFile don't pile!!! Really should take my own advice I have piles of paperwork to file :)
ReplyDeleteHave a place for everything and make yourself lists.
ReplyDeleteI write lists of everything I need to do each day, have a good clear out often to rid the clutter :)
ReplyDeleteI put every appointment into my phone calendar with a one hour, 15 minute and 1 day reminder.
ReplyDeleteCalendars and diaries
ReplyDeleteLists, lists and more lists.
ReplyDeleteWrite everything down - whether its on your smart phone or on the back of an envelope!
ReplyDeleteMake lists and always keep the calendar and diary up to date.
ReplyDeleteWrite lists, then lists of lists you need to do, then lists about lists about lists and if you're me then lose said lists and revel in the unorganised mess that you're used to hahaha.
ReplyDeletePut a reminder in your calendar to look at what's coming up next month, so it's not a big surprise when you turn over the calendar.
ReplyDeleteI write everything on my calendar on my tablet xx
ReplyDeleteLists and bill paying
ReplyDeletea chalkboard reminder list is essential in our house
ReplyDeleteI have a calendar, a diary and a box file to keep organised
ReplyDeletescheduling everything on my phone so get continuous reminders and never forget anything
ReplyDeleteI use a calendar to put appointments on, and set alarms on my phone for times when I need to do stuff
ReplyDeletecalendar apps and a diary as I am very forgetful
ReplyDeletediary,calander and apps as I am forgetful
ReplyDeleteI write everything down in a diary.
ReplyDeleteI have reminders on my phone for everything as otherwise everything goes out of my head!
ReplyDeleteI always use a family sized calendar, the ones that have sections for each person in the family every day, I also use a desk diary, personal diary and set remainders on my phone!
ReplyDeletesimply have a list and stick to it
ReplyDeleteI write a lot of lists for things I have to do that day, week etc but I could do with organising tips!. Dxx
ReplyDeleteplan ahead x
ReplyDeleteI write lists in my book and write everything in my notes and calendar on my phone
ReplyDeleteI keep a very organised diary x
ReplyDelete