Friday, January 21, 2011

Get Organized with a Household Notebook!

I LOVE this notebook.
I seriously can not function without it.
I even made one for my sister for Christmas.
It contains everything I need to stay organized and productive.

Contents:
Weekly To Do List
Menu Plan
Grocery List
Daily Schedule
Budget
Contact Information
School Information
Projects
Shopping List
Medical Records
Info to Keep

I loved this post by Missy from So You Think Your Crafty. She has some great ideas that i want to add to my Home Notebook. Enjoy!


So I'm sure a lot of you get the itch around January to re-organize and get your life back in order like I do. My problem is that right around October, my motivation seems to go right out the window and all our daily routines go to pot. I've tried a lot of things in the past, but this one has helped me out the most.

It's my "House Happenings" book. I got the idea from my wonderful friend Sarah. She is perfect. Like 100% without flaw. I'm not kidding. A few years ago, when I asked her how her house always looks so nice and how she still has time for everything else, she shared her secret. She pulled out a plain old 3 ring binder and forever changed my life. When I put mine together I changed a few things to fit my family and our home a little better(and I tweak it every year), but the key point is the same...maintenance.


Spend 15 minutes a day focusing your cleaning on one major room/area of your house with a last minute "attack of the hot spots" (areas that seem to breed disorder & clutter) right before bed, as well as one day a week to different "chores" you have to do. That way you spread your weekend load throughout the week and just maintain it as you go. I'm not saying my house is now spotless and ordered all the time(I do have a 2 yr old) and that every little thing gets done, but it's a heck of a lot better.

Here is what's inside my book.


I have it split up into 9 categories - Routines, Calendars, Menus & Recipes (for the upcoming week), Church Info, Missy's Notes, Abbi's Notes, Brad's Notes, Budget, & Goals.


Under "Routines" I have a morning and evening checklist...



and a daily checklist. It has a daily "chore" or theme that the day focuses around (Monday is the wash day, Tuesday meal planing, Errands on Wednesday, Thursday is paperwork and letter/thank you note writing, Friday is for any needed home projects, Saturday is a family fun day, and a day to relax on Sunday).



I also have a checklist of what to focus on for each of the 15 minute cleans under this section. It may take more time than the 15 minutes at first, but once you get it to where you want it the maintenance is easy.



The other sections are all pretty much self explanatory. It's a fantastic way to keep everything together so anyone in the family can be on the same page.


Do any of you have a system your family uses to stay on track?





*PS - Are you thinking about what projects you want to link up to our first Linky Party this Friday? It doesn't have to be new, or even this weeks theme. Just something inspired by SYTYC. I'm excited to see what you guys have to share!



11 comments:

  1. Love a good organization notebook! I do my spring cleaning through a notebook as well. I first found it on Sarah's blog "Clover Lane". Here are my links.
    http://theboatwrightfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/spring-cleaning-2011.html
    http://theboatwrightfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/spring-cleaning-2010.html
    http://theboatwrightfamily.blogspot.com/2009/02/spring-cleaning_26.html

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  2. I am not for sure where to start. Is there anyway you could upload your pages to give those of us a base line to start with.

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  3. I like this idea as it's altogether and looks good too! I use a corkboard near my computer which keeps track of daily chores; a daily pocket holder in my family room for all the kids activities, school stuff and apts; and I carry a clear folder which holds monthly calender sheets (3 for each month) with all activities, bills and creative planning written on each square. It also has a daily planner sheet which I fill in the night before, as well as spaces for Plan B,C or D if necessary! I also attach a sticky note that I write a shopping list on so I can tear it off and stick it on my purse as I walk out the door.
    My biggest problem is writing it all down, lol!

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  4. i love, love, love this idea and i have been looking for a life notebook of my own!!! since i have been in fulltime mommy mode (from NICU nursing, mind you), i've gone from being an extremely organized, take charge person to lately catching myself chasing many "shiny butterflies" as my sil calls it. i can't get nearly as much done for myself as i'd like, because i chase my tail most of the day, and the other part of the day my 15 month old "helps" me. so, i was wondering if you'd be willing to share a little more in detail the details of your daily routine sheets and cleaning - are they the same every week?? please let me know if you'd be willing - i need help!! thanks!!
    summer
    http://icouponjesussaves.blogspot.com

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  5. I love this! I actually drug my husband to the store to get a binder, page protectors, and dividers! If you could upload or give more detail on your sheets that would help me out tremendously! :)

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  6. Oh! Please share! This sounds a lot like a program I've been trying to start but I always get stumped trying to put together my checklists. Not to mention, yours actually look cute!

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  7. I want a copy, too! Having most of the work done would be great, then I could just tweek it to fit my families needs. BTW I love your blog

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  8. I did it, and HOLY COW! By day two, I could see a huge difference. I cant wait until "cleaning day" so all I'll have to do is a few chores in stead of a whole days worth. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

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  9. Thank you for sharing this!! I have a 2 1/2 yo and a 7mo and I can barely keep up...I get so overwhelmed I don't even know where to begin in this crazyness at my house...This will help so much!

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  10. Is there anyway you can make this available so we have a jumping off point. Thanks!

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