10 Organizing Tips {For Your Home/Business/Blog}
A couple of weeks ago, a reader asked me to share my organizing tips on the blog and I thought it was a great idea. So I am making this post part of my taking care of business series. If it helps her, then it might help you too. My organization ways have changed in the last few months as I am trying to be a better blogger and business owner, in addition to somehow manage to keep the family and household organized, clean and fed. The idea of wearing so many hats can be daunting, but if you simplify it, then it doesn't seem so overwhelming. Here's how I am coping all of my duties lately.
ONE // Daily lists & Notes // In addition to making daily lists, I keep three notebooks {see them in the above image} where I make notes. One is for blog designs, one for blog ideas, and one is for the home.
TWO // Monthly calendar // I have been using Emily Ley's free printable for my monthly calendar. Get yours here and see an example below. I use a binder that holds my calendar and the other printables below.
THREE // Work/Blog Housekeeping & Personal Finances // I generally reserve the 1st and 15th of the month to do blog/work & home housekeeping which include paying bills, updating my business finances, and doing maintenance on the blog. Here's how my September calendar is looking like so far.
FOUR // Blogging // If you blog as well, Emily Ley has a great free printable for a blog planner which I am also using to plan my posts for the week. Get it here and check out her other great printables.
FIVE // Seasonal overview // I recently adapted this new season outlook to my organization and I am loving the idea of looking at the overall season in addition to my monthly calendar. This one is from Jess Lively and you can download yours here.
SIX // Weekly Overview // Since I loved the overall season outlook, I came up with my own weekly outlook/goals sheet and printable. I make lists all the time and note my monthly calendar of things going on that month, but it's nice to see what's going on during the week in all aspects of my life. So I included the following categories: personal, family, work, blog, order, and other. I added the "order" category as most weeks I am ordering something for someone or myself. On my order list right now is to get Halloween costumes for the kiddos, diapers, new soccer cleats for AJ, and a bike helmet for the hubby. This also helps me budget our finances for that week. This print-out is by me for you and me. Download yours here and select print actual size on your printer options.
SEVEN // Taming the inbox // This tip is primarily for the blogger or business owner who is overwhelmed by emails. I recently adapted this technique outlined here by Jess Lively and it has helped tremendously as my business and my blogging grows. The post includes setting up email canned responses for the same questions or requests you get often and I used this handy and simple graphic I found on Pinterest from Meg Biram to learn how to set up canned responses.
EIGHT // Your Desktop // A while back, I shared with you how I am keeping my desktop organized, because if you blog or run a business, sometimes your desktop can get pretty busy. Anyway, see that post here.
And the last two pertaining to your home: chores and dinner planning.
NINE // Household Chores // Unless you can hire some help to do your house cleaning, here's a great cleaning calendar I try to abide by. And it doesn't always happen, but it's a good general schedule. This one is by Jenny.
TEN // Dinner planning // For dinner planning, I make sure to stock our fridge with easy meals that I have proved to be easy in the past and favorites at our house. I generally have an idea of what I am cooking throughout the weeknights. Some nights I bake twice the amount of chicken/beef I need for a recipe and that way later in the week if for some reason cooking a dinner doesn't appear to be happening, the meat is already cooked and all I need is to assemble some veggies on the side. I have blogged about a lot of easy meals so check here for some ideas.
Finally, if you haven't found what works for you, give this a try. And don't give up on staying organized until you find what does. Get creative!
P.S. The ladies mentioned on this post are great sources for you to follow on this matter as well.
P.S.S. I will continue this series in the next few weeks so stay tuned to more posts about blogging, business, and staying organized.
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