Happy New Year!
It’s time for resolutions and promises to make this the year where we all get really organized. No more running late, not knowing what’s for dinner or forgetting birthdays. This is the year right?
We can’t be perfect but I do have a few tips to help you start 2018 on the right foot. A few small tweaks go a long way.
1- Most households have a kind of central hub where plans are made. The side of our fridge is ours. We have a medium sized white board where I detail what plans we have for the month. I use a different color marker for each person, family event and holiday. I make up the next month’s calendar on the last evening of the current month. It’s a real low-tech way to keep organized that works for me.
2- Meal planning is something I hadn’t heard about before becoming a mother. Now 3pm can bring pandemonium if dinner isn’t completely planned out. For as much as I love shopping, I can’t stand the grocery store. If that rings true for you then you might want to checkout meal planning. You shop once and are able to prep meals for the week ahead without running to the store everyday. I’m not at that point yet, but I do love to use a dry erase food planning calendar to get an idea for what to buy. Here’s a free printable for one. A meal service like Blue Apron might also be something to consider.
3- It’s hard to feel happy, organized and at peace if your home is messy. I’m not talking about crayons on the table or play food stuck between couch cushions. Kids will be kids. I’m talking about clutter, messy junk drawers and small spots you swear you’ll get to eventually. I love a printable cleaning calendar. I’d like a weekly/monthly one but a daily one might work for you. Sure, things come up, but I love to use this to get an idea of what needs to be done.
4- Take time out for yourself. Sounds cliché right? People say this so much because it’s great advice. Read a book, have a date night, meditate, go for a walk, just take care of yourself. If you get so carried away in making plans then a little me time will go a long way. An organized mom is a happy mom, but you don’t need to go overboard. This is also the perfect time to evaluate what keeps you busy and how you could benefit from saying NO for a change.
What’s your organization secret? Do you have a favorite planning app or tip?
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