Group Discussions

Planners/organizers/calendars what do you use?

• 
  I have a really hard time getting organized. It absolutely doesn't come natural to me, but I'm trying to get better. One of my new things is using our calendar to actually write things down. We have a beautiful calendar in our kitchen that I write EVERYTHING in including what's for dinner. I check it before bed and first thing in the morning. Now I'm starting to use the calendar function on my cell phone too so that I can keep everything together.
  
  It's helping a lot more than I even thought it would. Since I now have my calendar set up, I know what nights need to be an easy dinner, so menu planning is easier. Since I have my menus planned out, I know what day I need to go shopping, so I start making my grocery list earlier. I can't believe that I was so resistant to writing things down on the calendar before.
  
  What do you do to keep track of events?

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 5th September 2008
• 
  I am horriable at this but getting better. I still have the habit of writting things down on toliet paper, napkins and any paper that touches my hands LOL my daughter does alot of my newsletters and works on my website, she get's on me all of the time because I hand her notes to be typed on 3 diffrent papers with arrows going to diffrent things because I forgot something and put it on the side to be added. I told you I was horriable LOL. I have my pocket calender I do use for appointments and I am using my cell phone alot also, now that I learned how. I still forget stuff. I forgot 2 weeks in a row fridays are show -n-tell for my class 2 WEEKS! O h my gosh I felt sooo bad. With me I have to make things a habit, if I do it for a month without stopping it, I will continue it. Thanks for bringing this up.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by amanda on 6th September 2008
• 
  I use ical on my Mac. But then, I am on my laptop pretty much constantly all day.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by spacegeek on 6th September 2008
• 
  For the family, I use a Family calendar with 5 columns per day. One for each of the three of us and a column for events and the final for notes. If it's not on the calendar, it's not happening. Next to that I have several squares of white board and cork to make notes and save papers. I have a separate form for menu planning and shopping.
  
  For my personal calendar, I couldn't find anything compatible with the family calendar in the right size, so I made my own, even sold a few. And I'm working on version 2.0 right now. (I love playing in Illustrator!)
  
  Amanda, what might help you is a...a...oh, shoot, now the name completely escapes me...something PDA! Anyway, it's a small stack of index cards held by a binder clip. Keep it in your purse. A second in your work bag if you have one. They're cheap and portable and don't require software.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Jenns on 7th September 2008
• 
  Thanks I am going to try that. How do you do your menu planning?

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by amanda on 9th September 2008
• 
  I keep menu planning really simple.
  
  I choose one thing to have for breakfast all week, and one thing to have for lunch all week.
  
  Then I make a menu for dinners that are a little more special than the breakfasts and lunches. Then I make my shopping list from my menu. Usually I buy a little less lunch stuff than will last all week...because there's always a day or two when we have leftovers to eat...and if they aren't gone in the first 24 hours, we probably won't eat them.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 9th September 2008
• 
  My life would be quite chaotic without Microsoft Outlook Calendar, my wall calendar, and a white board I really love your menu idea mamajama...I'm going to give it a try, thanks!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by MommyOFtwo on 9th September 2008
• 
  I made my own calendar, and maybe improve it once in a while. I am a firm believer that if it takes too much time to keep up with it, is not a good one. I have it on the desktop, since I am trying to use less paper and just check mark it when I’ve done my task.
  When I do grocery shipping, I plan the menu for the following week in advance, so I do not buy what is not needed. I do keep the menu flexible through the week in regard to cooking order, since some are more time consuming than others, therefore plans can change if the need arises.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Zoica on 9th September 2008
• 
  The menu ideas are wonderful! I'm going to try this for next week

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by amanda on 13th September 2008
• 
  I use my calendar on Microsoft Outlook to keep track of appointments, and use my desk calendar more to have a running to-do list. Everyday I try to give myself 5 big tasks to tackle (right now mostly marketing related) and as I complete them I cross them off.
  
  Outlook is great for my husband and I as it allows us to "invite" each other to appointments so that we know what the other ones calendar looks like.
  
  Kim
  Virtu Interiors

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Virtu on 17th September 2008