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It’s no surprise that I like lists. LOTS of lists. And planners, and calendars, and agendas…oh and post-it notes. I’m sure if you’re a visual person like me, you’re currently nodding your head in agreement and maybe even glancing at your own calendars and lists.
Undoubtedly the act of crossing out or checking the box on a completed task is gratifying, but it goes so much further than that. Staying organized on paper helps to calm my mind, plan my time, and lets everyone else know what I’ve got going on. These to-do lists and other forms of paper organizing also give me a physical and visual paper trail of what I’ve accomplished. Paper clutter may not seem like a big deal, but when I have a new service about to launch or need to connect with my accountant, I can easily look back at the last year and see not only what I did, but also how I got there. And you know what they say, knowing is half the battle.
You must be thinking that I’ve lost my marbles, telling you to embrace post-its and make a flurry of paper lists, but hold your horses. I am not telling you to embrace paper clutter. Instead, I was hoping you could focus on ways to use these tools to their absolute advantage and help get you organized without creating an avalanche in your office.
To get you started on your stress-free organizational journey, I recommend:
1. momAgenda’s Weekly Family Planner Pad
As a mom of 3 kids, my life is hectic. I have one full-time daughter at home and two bonus daughters who visit every other weekend. Keeping track of everyone’s schedule is too much, between everyone’s practice and rehearsal schedules, school functions, my husband’s busy career and all things Organized Chick. There’s no way I can keep this all in my head. Thankfully this Planner Pad has plenty of features that can help me organize our time, keep track of everyone, and even plan meals – so I don’t have to answer 1000 questions. (And maybe hubby can start dinner when he gets home!)
2. Thrive’s Design Your Own Command Center
I believe that the kitchen is the heart of a home. I know that ours certainly is! So that means that it has backpacks on the barstools, mail on the island, a dance bag on the floor by the back door, and of course, the family command board! I love this because it is a completely customizable system that lets you choose your features and SHAPE! Never again do you have to settle for an information wall organizer that doesn’t fit your space or gives you features that you never use. You can add thoughtfully designed elements like cork and chalkboards, folders, a monthly or weekly calendar, a dry erase notes section, and even cups and bins for keys or pens.
3. Mable’s Labels Kid Safety Labels
Having a child with allergies, especially food allergies, is super stressful. Feeling constantly alert about shared snacks and bees is for the birds. These Kid Safety Labels are fantastic. They allow me to clearly mark containers and add custom tags to items like backpacks or gym bags. The labels are waterproof and include a space for a name, contact telephone number, and specific allergens or medical information so that when they’re at practice or on a school field trip, I don’t have to worry about someone giving my child an allergen or not knowing who to call if exposed. A bonus to these awesome labels is that they are waterproof, meaning you don’t have to worry about the labels rubbing off or smearing. Mabel’s labels also allow you to use containers, wash them, and not worry about them getting damaged.
Another thing I love about these labels is that you can use them on clothes as well. So, if your kiddos are lucky enough to attend a summer camp or pool party this year, grab some labels to tag their clothes, and you won’t have to worry about their favorite shirt getting lost.
Remember, paper organization doesn’t have to be a source of clutter and stress. By being thoughtful and choosing the right tools to help you stay in the loop, you can tackle the task of staying organized. Whether you’re thinking about using a planner, notebook, family command board, calendar, or custom labels, organization will come from choosing the system that best fits you and your family. Evaluate how you’re keeping track of everyone and everything now, decide what is and is not working, and then go from there. You may find that the stenciled chalkboard trend is not working and a classic Planner Pad is really what you need.
Until next time, Organized Chick wishes you organized bliss in any form!
Contributed by S. Walter
