One day I was looking for my keys and my 4-year-old told me, " You need to put your glasses on mom". I told him, "I am not blind, my glasses just help me see better" and he said, "so they can help you see the keys in your hand". Yes, I couldn't find my keys, and I didn't realize they were on my finger on the same hand I was holding my phone with (hides in shame). That was the day I said enough is enough! I have to find a better system to stay organized and on track. It's embarrassing to admit that your 4-year-old sometimes reminds you where you put things. Especially when they are in your hand!
I try to remind myself to stay vigilant and be present. Vigilance to me is being consciously aware of what you're doing. It's being fully present. Lately, I have not been and it was starting to show. I started missing small things because in those moments my mind was thinking of something different. How many times have you read a text or email, where you mentally respond and forget to reply? Or you couldn't remember if you locked the door, so you run back to make sure? In those moments we don't know what we're doing because our mind is in a different place. We're wondering if we'll make a big sale or thinking about lunch when we haven't even eaten breakfast yet lol. Staying organized as working parents/co-parents is often challenging. We’re all so busy working, trying to have a life outside of work and kids, building businesses, and trying to raise children into adults that don't need to heal from their childhood. Without a system and balance, life can seem hectic. When you're not being vigilant time can easily pass you by.
That's why I am always looking for ways to not only be a more organized mom but also a more organized businesswoman. I work a full-time job outside of the home that I consider my side-hustle. Between that job, my photography business, printables, illustrations, and being a mom my schedule is constantly full. I don't have it all together all the time. I am a work in progress, constantly evolving and learning as I grow through life. I make mistakes, I forget things, I get distracted, and waste time. I am always trying to be better at time management. I want to be able to fit all the things I want to do and need to do in my life. Sometimes I get distracted and off-track then life pulls me back to where I need to be.
Here are a few ways I keep organized.
DE-CLUTTER
Everyone is different and for me if my space is cluttered my mind is cluttered. It's so easy to accumulate items. Over the years we've accumulated a lot of supplies, clothing, toys, and items that are no longer needed. This summer I started to slowly de-clutter and get rid of things that no longer bring us joy. The fewer things we have the easier it is for us to stay organized.
WAKE UP EARLY
My day always goes better when I have an early start. I set my alarm clock for 3 am every morning. I know this isn't an ideal schedule for most, but it works for me. You might wonder what am I possibly doing at 3 am? Well, it's the perfect time for me to have my morning reflection, workout, and get organized for the day.
NIGHT TIME ROUTINE
Having a good nighttime routine sets the pace for my early morning start. During my night routine, I plan out my schedule for the following day. If I have a rough night, I'll most likely have a rough start in the morning.
NO TECH
When I'm spending time with my son or working on big projects my notifications are turned off until I need them. My goal is to be intentional with my time and to stay vigilant. If I'm teaching my son how to ride his bike and I'm responding to messages I'm not giving him the full attention that he needs. There is a time and place for multi-tasking you just have to figure out when that works for you.
MEAL PLAN
You never know how the day may go. If I don't have an idea of what I want to make I'm most likely to say forget it and grab some takeout. Meal prep for me is making a list of everything I would like to cook for the week on Sunday and adding a free day.
DELEGATE TASK
There's a time when you have to recognize that you can't get it all done alone and that's okay. The more task you delegate the more time you have and the easier it is to stay organized. If you don't have a family to help out, figure out which task doesn't require your touch and hire someone.
CHORE SCHEDULE
I created my own home cleaning printable to help me keep track of my home. I often get lost in cleaning and will find myself deep cleaning the whole house. With this printable, I'll deep clean a certain area in the house every day.
CREATE A FAMILY CALENDAR
This is something new I started doing. It's not easy keeping track of everything, remembering family events, and remembering to tell everyone. I use google calendar and send out invites.
TEACH YOUR KIDS TO HELP
It saves me so much time by teaching my son to clean up after himself and to help around the house. When you start early it makes it a lot easier as they grow. I give him small responsibilities such as putting away his toys, putting the trash bag in the can, wiping the walls, and helping me sweep.
WRITE WRITE WRITE!
I love using printables it's an easy way to stay organized and putting things on paper always helps me remember. However, when you're on the go you may not have access to your printables or planner. I also use Evernote, Asana, Google Calendar, and Milanote to keep track of everything when I'm on the go.
What are some ways you keep organized?
