I have used many systems to keep myself and all my many roles and responsibilities organised over the years Ive used paper and digital systems. This year I put it all together in one place and I call it My Whole Life Diary.
It started with SimpleMoms daily docket, and has grown into my own system. Here are the sections in my binder:
- A monthly calendar where I write every commitment that we have as individuals or family
- My own daily docket (Ive tweaked Simplemoms so it fits all my roles and responsibilities things I want to remember ever day) It has my daily routine on the left (which includes my cleaning routines) and on the right I have space to write reminders or to-dos for training my childrens hearts, general to-do list, office work, cooking, teaching my children, and blogging.
- Homemaking and Business routines
- Menu planning and Shopping lists
- Homeschool overviews (only overviews and notes to self otherwise the binder gets too heavy!)
- Heart training notes
- Phone numbers
- Birthday / Celebration dates and plans
Keys to keeping myself organised:
- I set aside time each week to organise and plan my week. I print off a weeks supply of my daily docket (each day of the week is different) and then take my calendar and transfer this weeks commitments to my daily planner. I look at my homeschool plans and transfer realistic goals for our study times. I look at our week and plan my menu accordingly (I cant think of anything worse than planning a roast on a day that has me out and about all afternoon!)
- I try and review where my children are at spiritually, morally, relationally, academically and with their practical skills and talents each month. (Ideally this is one child a week)
- I dont change my daily docket to suit my week. Some weeks are just so far from the norm but I dont change my daily dockets on my computer to reflect that. They are a form or chart that reflects the norm. On these crazy weeks or days I just write something up by hand. These daily dockets, are simply a form that serves a purpose they dont have to look pretty. I only change the daily docket when a new season of life happens and the norm changes.
- I do what I can and let the rest go! As I have trained myself towards being organised I learnt very early on that there would be days (most days to be honest!) that I dont get everything done that I plan to get done. This is okay. Ive had to learn that it is okay! I also learnt not to squeeze that undone project into tomorrow but rather find its best time eg if Friday is dusting day, and it doesnt get done, we dont squeeze it in for Saturday, but rather leave it till next Friday but it becomes a priority then. Of course there are things that we dont get done that have to be put to tomorrow but not everything.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this system because it keeps all my roles organised not just homeschooling, not just homemaking, not just parenting, not just business but each and every role I play gets a look in.
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