Personalised planners
In my second post of the year I vowed to be more organised this year. Actually I say that every year around this time and usually I stick to it reasonably well. My problem is that I flit between ideas on how to keep on top of things.
It might come as a surprise to you but I’m not great at using electronic organisers. I love them for planning meetings and appointments because I can just plug it straight into my phone if I re-book my eye-brow wax when I pay or make another appointment at the chiropractor. When it comes to keeping track of what I have to do, what I’m going to blog about/bake/create when and and list all my ideas I’m old school.
I just love to be able to highlight something on my list to mark it as done and then look at it admiringly at the end of the day. Yes I even write things I’ve done on the list and then highlight them to make it look better. You can’t do that electronically!
Personal planners
Last year I jumped between notebooks, scrap pieces of paper and a DIY calendar but still didn’t really nail my organising skills. When I saw this post over on Young House Love about Sherry keeping all her planning/to do/appointments etc in a diary I knew that would be just up my alley.
Yes I know, it’s not rocket science but for some reason it had never occurred to me to keep it all in a diary. I also love that I can plan ahead in it so I don’t forget about any ideas for Easter or Christmas and everything is in the one spot. Unfortunately I read the brilliant post in September last year and it’s a little tricky to buy a diary when the year is almost out.
As soon as I got back from holidays this year I added ‘buy a diary’ to my to-do list (which was a post it on the wall at that stage). I’m a bit picky when it comes to diary choosing. That might be mum’s fault.
Every year for as long as I can remember, I’ve bought her a diary for Christmas. It had to be spiral bound and a week to a page but all on the one side. It’s not an easy thing to find and for the last few years I made it myself. It was rather tedious setting it all out in word and adding images then getting it printed and bound but she loved it.
So many to choose from
It turns out I didn’t need to spend those countless hours of frustration in front of the computer. Personal planner do all the hard work for you. You go online, choose your design, layout, pages, size, colour (the possibilities are endless) and they print it, put it all together and post it to you. You can even choose your starting month so there are no wasted pages if you’re a little late to buy one.
You can use it to plan your menu, decide when you’re going to make which recipe from Claire K Creations 
or anything you like.
Coffee Planner
Thanks to Personal-planner, I have two vouchers to giveaway so you can DIY your diary. What’s even better is they’ve offered to post it further afield than Australia so readers in the USA, Canada and New Zealand can enter too. To enter, follow the instructions below. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This post was sponsored by Personal-planner.
I am Claire & I love food. Here you'll find my favourite recipes, tips, tricks, restaurants & plates full of frivolity with the odd crafty post. New inspiration posted daily.
Designated paper sorters – file, action etc.
Hi Claire! I’m like you, though I spend alot of time on the computer, I like my daily list for organizing as I go. I love to cross things off the list and feel that sense of accomplishment. My problem is that usually I plan way more than I have the time or energy to do!
I have that problem too Chris. Friday is always a mad rush to mark a whole week’s worth of extra jobs off the list!
You know I am the queen of organising, folders, files, labels and of course phone reminders are top of my list! Oh and lists!!
Prioritise and write everything down
I like to make a list when I have a few things to do as I always forget
Oh yes that too Karen I forget everything!
These look great. I like to have more than just an electronic diary too – there’s nothing wrong with exercising your handwriting! I always write out a shopping list xx
That’s true too Charlie. My writing is getting very bad now that nearly everything is typed!
Hehe I remember the days of Filofax’s! I used to live by mine. Now it seems all electronic!
I know… not sure if it’s for the better though.
plan ahead map it out write it down and stick to it im so bad at this and always keep your plans in a book so you don’t lose them or your book
Me too Jody. I’m good at making plans just not so good as sticking to them.
its a bad habbit and i try so hard to stick to it my i can achive that this year
I LOVE my personal planner. I used to have a Blackberry and the diary function on that really suited me but since getting an iPhone, the diary function on that really sucks. I have had my planner for 6 months now and can’t imagine not having it or being able to keep track of all I need to without it.
Have a great day !
Lists, lists, lists!
I find that having a master to-do list is best and then if there are bigger jobs/items I add the overall item to the master list and then have a smaller list breaking the task down into more manageable pieces. That way it doesn’t all get lost in the master list or seem too overwhelming.
I also like to have a dedicated notebook (even just a tiny one) if I have a major project going on (for example we are currently renovating the house we have just purchased and will be moving in to it in about a month). I have a notebook for this (A5 size as this is a big project) and I can have a page or more for each task (such as tiler, carpet, kitchen etc, etc) and can have all contact details, appointment times, notes regarding what we have discussed etc all together. This has been an extremely useful thing to have.
I like the idea of a master to-do list Amie. Good idea with the individual books too. I probably should have a blog book!
I’m a teacher on maternity leave & I miss my diary more than my students! I love planning my day
Haha Carly planning is rather fun isn’t it?!
I have everything written on my notebook, I don´t have any better ideas
Melikey
I currently use iCal for all appointments but find that it’s a little impractical when you’re on the run so now we have a house calendar to map out where we’re at month by month and now that I’m entering UNi, I have a cute little diary from typo. I’ve actually found using the old, unused pages as a journal of sorts where I work through the issues currently running circles in my head.
My tip for staying organised is to label things with a label maker, like my lunch at the office, it ensures everyone know’s what belongs to who!
I keep organised by writing lots of lists but unfortunately keep losing my lists …. would be great to have a diary to write and keep my lists together!
each kid has a basket by the door with all the things needed for school, sport etc. like hats, shoes, bags etc. So when they come home, it goes in and when they leave it goes out. No more “where are your shoes” when you are about to leave
i love these, i am always writing notes and to do lists, i hate it if im not organised. This would be great its a great size to put in my bag and have with me at all times so i never forget things again.
A dodgy little notebook and a wall calendar! The notebook for food items and meal plans – calendar to see month at a glance. What a fab find Claire! they would make fantastic gifts too.
I use my calendar in my iPhone & set alerts for everything!
Plan ahead – lists, google calendar and whenever possible keep things routine.
A little each day keeps the chaos at bay
Lists!
Write everything down as the one thing you don’t will be the one thing you forget
Ask your family questions every day to remind them of what they may have to achieve, do, go to etc. Write the answers down and check them off.
Have one central diary/whiteboard/planner for the whole family. That way nobody can be doubled book, or need to ask the question what someone else is doing on a particular day.
Hmm…best tip for staying organised…for me it would be to write it down!! If it’s not written down somewhere I forget it.
Use a family calendar – they are wonderful and keep everyone informed about what is coming up
Create to do lists, once it’s in writing it seems so much easier to achieve.
I use OneNote to make To-Do lists, you can use checkboxes to keep track and wipe it clean every week. I also love that I can include pictures etc if I want to.
I write lists of thingz I have to do, but I have s 10 min task list, a 20 min task list and a longer one. That way when I have 10 or 20 mins, I know what I can do.
Colour coding – once I fix a colour in my head for a particular event type etc, it makes it so much easier to use my diary/planner and I don’t feel overwhelmed when I open it!
I’m a list girl