I have tried many different day planners in my time. This past year I attempted to use technology and use my Iphone and computer for my day planner. I mean how could this go wrong??? I can sync my phone to my computer I can sync my phone to Geoff's...it sounds perfect right? Well maybe for some people it is, but for me it just didn't work. I never miss appointment, but with this planner I did. Things got missed, it didn't sync correctly, or who knows.
As the new school year was approaching and this year I was going to have 2 kids in the school system, work, co-chair MOMS, teach Kids Church, help with KfC, be a part of Bible Study, have 2 kids play soccer, basketball, baseball, take swim lessons, parisi, and who knows what else I knew I needed to come up with a new system that would work for me. I knew finding one is the store that fit my needs was out of the question...believe me I have looked!
The following is what I have come up with and thus far I am LOVING it. So, I decided to share with the rest of you. Maybe you are looking for something and some of my ideas for organizing my life will work for you.
I chose a very pretty 3-ring binder to be my new lifeline.
I like to remember birthdays and anniversaries of those special people in my life. However, my brain needs a little help. So, I printed out this birthday/anniversary organizer to help me.
I also decided that this school year it would be very beneficial and save time if I would do some meal planning. So, I have a section just for that.
I went into iCal and printed out a blank month, so that I could write in my meals for each day. Keeping in mind which days I work, the kids have practice/games etc.
Then behind the meal plan calendar I have my Master Grocery List. You can find the list here. With this list you are able to customize the list to suit your needs.
Behind the Master Grocery List are the recipes that I am going to need for the upcoming week. At the beginning of each week I go through the recipes and add the items that I will need to get at the store to my list.
Now for my monthly and daily planner. I again printed out a blank iCal calendar for each month, so that I can see a month at a glance. On this calendar I write in when there is No School and when we will be away.
Then after each month I printed from iCal each week at a glance. I printed mine to start at 8am and end at 7pm. I have a tab to find each month easily and one marked "Today" so that I can find the current week quickly.
That is what is currently working for me. What works for you and your family? I am sure there are always ways in which I can improve "My Lifeline".
