A few years ago, Eric bought me a palm pilot. He was sick of my post-it notes all over the house, as well as me forgetting things. Everything was entered into this beautiful little silver box called Palm and the post-its were gone. We were both happy.
For a while. Then, I realized that I was not in the habit of checking my little silver box. I would enter things in, but then fail to follow up and actually do them. So, I gave myself one little post-it to remind me to check Palm. It wasn’t long before one post-it turned into ten and we were right back where we started.
Eventually, Palm’s battery died and he sat, dead weight in my purse, for a year. Finally, I moved him to a drawer and had a brief moment of silence in his honor. Days later, the post-its were back in full force, now joined by to-do lists, my calorie tracker, and my ever-endearing notebooks.
I went through a clutter-removal process (read about it here) and got rid of many of my notebooks, but I still had a few slips of paper I needed each day. In spite of being able to track my food, to do lists, and more online, I prefer to have it written down so I can get to it anytime of day.
Finally, I found a solution. A clipboard bought at the dollar store holds all of my daily papers and a pen. Clipped on to it I have:
· Daily priorities and tasks
· Chore sheet
· Food tracker and Points slider (from weight watchers)
· Index card with a memory verse
· A pen
I have things arranged so that at a glance, I can see every paper. My food tracker and daily priorities sheet are small, and the chore list is a full sheet in the back.
The best thing about this is that I can move it anywhere around the house and it doesn’t look too messy. I always know where my lists are and I can add to them all day long if needed.
I also like having my priorities listed right there. These are things I decide to do during my quiet time every day for each responsibility area in my life. Often times, things I decide on in the early morning and maybe even write down in my journal are forgotten by noon. Having them listed on my clipboard that I reference all day long really helps.
Another plus is that I am no longer searching under piles of school books (like a mad woman with low blood sugar) looking for my food tracker before I can eat lunch. I also spy my memory verse quite a few times a day this way, and let me tell you it is hard to ignore!
I still miss Palm, especially when I am out and need to check my calendar, but this system actually works better for someone like me.
What works for you? Share any ideas for keeping your thoughts and tasks organized!
123pizza says
Brilliant! I have papers all over the place and don’t know what to do with them so I move them from spot to spot. By putting them on a clipboard I have what I need without having to worry about someone tossing them and it won’t look as cluttered.
Ahhh! I’m loving it. I’m so glad I found your blog. Keep up the good work.
Christy H. says
friend sent me your blog since we have the home shcooling in common and oh my husband is a better house wife too! 🙂 He’s a firefighter so he cooks cleans you name it. 🙂 Added you to my favorites so I can keep up on your blog. If you get a chance come by and visit. I dont know that i am as entertaining. 🙂 http://www.christy-lifeisgood.blogspot.com
kristenkj says
I am a lot like this. The Man has tried to get me to use the calendar on the computer, but I just can’t survive without the visuals of my notes everywhere. Paper that I can write on and scratch out and throw away.
There’s nothing like pencil and paper, I tell ya!
Sheila says
I also need the visuals. It’s just quicker than looking things up in a Palm or whatever. Monty got me started with a Franklin Covey planner a few years ago and it’s been great. It has much of my life in it, including prioritized to-do lists, my EVERYTHING and EVERYONE calendar so I can schedule things wherever I am, address/phone lists, shopping lists, long-term planning stuff, etc….all in ONE place that I take wherever I go, and it sits open on the kitchen counter for me to refer to when I am home. When I became a stay-at-home mom, I didn’t think I needed a “calendar” anymore, but I need it so much more NOW than when I was working outside of my home.
PS. I love your encouraging blogs. Thanks!
mamala says
Pencil and paper never ‘freezes’, loses your stuff, or decides an action that I have attempted is ‘illegal’.
Yes, I too, will sign the P and P petition.
As for my hints to help you–Jeepers, that’s why I read YOUR stuff Ang . . .
Becky D says
Ang ~
Good reminder – I read about your clipboard method on your other site and ranked you right up there with “genius”! Good fan-club member that I am, I went right out and bought a clipboard… then discovered that I already had 2 under one of my piles…. then lost all 3… then bought 2 more pretty ones this year when Sammi and I started home-schooling… and now, well, now I actually have all 5 in one place! So… do I need all 5? What if I lose one? What if I break one? Shouldn’t I have one for writing letters and one for Sammi’s wb pages and one for my chores and sticky notes and memory verses? Oh, do you see how I struggle????? At this point, they’re empty (and taking up a whole section of my desk organizer that could be used for some other homeless pile) – all but one. The New Year is coming and I’m using it to make my list of resolutions………………………..
I do love this website!
Becky
Angela says
Becky I think we may have been separated at birth…
Leslie says
I’m gonna get right on this. LOVE it!!!!
.-= Leslie´s last blog ..{NEW} "Make My Monday" & My Word =-.
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