Organizing With A Dash of Cute...

I'm an Organizer.  A Planner.  I like to know what I'm doing next week...even next month.  My job requires that I be organized...but really...it's who I am.  I find that if I don't write things in my planner they get forgotten.  This may mean that I have too much going on in my life.  Yes...that's probably exactly what it means.  However, I like to plan and organize my time...files...and documents.

About Technology.
Technology is fun for me.  I like learning new software, online tools, etc.  I really enjoy participating in social media like Facebook, Twitter and Blogging, of course. I use online tools like Google Docs every day as I switch between my home office and my office on campus.  All of our documents at work are electronic and we use very little paper.  That all works really well for me.  Things are easy to find and they don't get lost or damaged like in the old days when I first started working 20+ years ago. 

But...

I'm a tactile person.

I like to write.

...with a pen...

...on Paper!

Someday I may actually have an iPhone or a Blackberry.  However, I'm pretty sure you won't see me punching in my calendar appointments and to-do lists on the latest smart phone.  Writing it out every day helps me to process what I need to focus on and it forces me to SLOW DOWN.

I use a planner, notebook/journal and a binder for planning and organizing.  They are portable and everything is in one place.

Cute is important too!  I've used all the planners like Franklin Covey and Day-Runner, etc.  They work well, but they are expensive and the affordable ones aren't that cute...at least to me. 

This is how I organize my time...

I use the Monthly Calendar to record appointments, events, special dates, etc.  Each week I transfer that information to my Daily Page. I try to set aside some time on Sunday to look at the upcoming week and transfer appointments and tasks to the appropriate days.  This gets adjusted every morning, though, as I review what I finished the day before and what needs to be done that day.

My Daily Page is in the Notebook/Journal that goes with me everywhere.  This journal not only has my Daily Page but it is also where I record my thoughts on the current bible study I'm doing, grocery lists, meal plans, monthly budgets, and daily notes about my life, etc.  Needless to say, I'm lost without it. My Daily page for tomorrow is below.  Near the top of the page I list my appointments, dinner menu and anything important that I need to remember for the day.  I separate the columns for my work tasks and my personal tasks.  I like having both lists on one page because sometimes I'm able to combine tasks and it helps to have it in one place.  Because this daily page is also in my journal it's easy to make notes about what I'm thinking about during my bible study and transfer a quote or thought to my daily page and it's a reminder to me all day. 

I now use a Binder for my work projects and I also have binders at home for filing.   I don't use file folders in drawers except to file in an archive file drawer once a project is complete.  The binder I use for work is the one in the photo above.  Every project I'm working on has a tab in the binder.  I use binder pockets to store documents or 3 hole punch the documents for each project.  For example, the event I just finished has a tab and all the contracts are there along with agendas, participant lists, menus, etc.  The binder saves space and it's portable.  It goes with me for my work at home and to all of our events.

The binder I use at home also replaces file folders in a drawer.  I have a large 5 inch binder for each year.  In the binder is a tab for each important document that comes to our home.  For example; home mortgage, homeowners insurance, bills, bank statements, etc.  As these documents come in the mail, I just throw them into the binder (usually in a binder pocket instead of 3-hole punching) and it's done.  The binder sits on the shelf for approximately 5 years and then I can discard the contents and re-use the binder.  This system saves space in my home and it's so easy for me to find what I'm looking for when I need it.

I'm not an expert by any means, but these ideas work for me.  I enjoy hearing about how others organize their life so I hope you'll share your own ideas in the comments!!

Until Next Time,

Jackie

Filed Under..."What In The World?"...

Let me just say that I love Missouri.  I was born here.  I was raised here.  I choose to raise my family here.  Missouri has a lot to offer.

We have two great cities if you're craving some culture, shopping and a little excitement.

We have lots of rural areas if you want peace, quiet and open spaces.

We have mountains, streams, professional baseball teams, museums, open air markets, flat lands, farm land, amusement parks and zoos.

Missouri is a really nice vacation destination....

Especially...

If you enjoy bringing your cooler and radio and shedding your clothes in broad daylight while sitting in a fountain with your sweetie in the middle of a city.  Because Missouri wouldn't want you to take LESS of a vacation. 

What in the World?  (chuckle)



Until Next Time,

Jackie

*Photo courtesy of O Magazine and brought to you by the Missouri Division of Tourism.

Practice Makes Perfect...Well Almost...

Good Morning! 

You may know that my paying job is working for a University and a major part of my job is organizing the events that our department holds each semester.  Today is the first of those events and it unofficially marks the beginning of our semester.  Classes don't actually start until next week.  Most of my job in preparing for the workshop is over now and I can take a breather while the presenters do their work with the workshop attendees.  I usually hang out for most of the workshop to ensure all the details are falling into place and if they don't it's my job to find a solution.  Event planning is the most enjoyable part of my job.  I've now organized this particular workshop 9 times in the last 4 years.  It's fairly well organized and runs smoothly.  Of course, as I write this post, a person comes in who hasn't registered ahead of time but is planning to attend.  It's okay.  I plan for this. This is where the Almost Perfect part comes in.

I bring my Portable Office (laptop and my online files...oh how I love Google Docs!) with me to the workshops and I'm able to work once the workshop gets underway.  However, it's hard to do much work during our August workshop because we're located in the center of campus and there are many orientations and other events going on at the same time.  It's fun to see students navigating their way through campus.  It's a big campus.  30,000 students. 

Organizing.  I've learned a few things in my years of doing this kind of work. I've learned to rely on a checklist for each event, my planner and my online calendar.  I've learned to revisit my organizing after each workshop and make adjustments for the next event. 

Details and Planning.  Planning and Details.  It's my life for the next 16 weeks with a short break and then it starts again the next semester.  In the next post I plan to talk about how I organize my Time and about a new Binder System I'm using for our personal files at home, the files for our Home Based Business and for all my activities at work. All simple concepts...but my life quickly gets out of control without them.

Now, back to the office to do a final check for tomorrow's session of this workshop and to finalize details for the the next workshop...only 4 days away!

Until Next Time,

Jackie