How I Got My Act Together

As you might have gleaned from this past week's posts, I was having some "moments." I've been irritable and not very nice to those around me, mostly because I've been frustrated with myself. I've been scatterbrained and forgetful and running late - things I normally pride myself on not being. It was frustrating to me, that I just couldn't seem to be able to get my act together.

Well, I finally had enough, and over the weekend I went out and bought a personal notebook to help keep me in line. Let me share it with you (please excuse the PhotoBooth backwards pictures)

It is just the right size to easily fit into my diaper bag

On the inside, I use the front cover like a wallet - I have my driver's license, debit card, insurance cards, and "club" cards like Kroger and membership cards like for the zoo. I also have a stack of my business cards.

(see that page that says "Leadership" on it? I'm going to get some scrapbook paper and decorate it!)

Behind the card holder, I've tucked some receipts I need to keep, and a bright pink piece of paper where I keep my grocery list - the MINUTE I realize I need something, it goes on the list. AND back there I have several notecards (a thank you card and a couple of generic cards) in their envelopes with a stamp on each. This is because sometimes I'll be at Starbucks or somewhere and think of a card I want to write, but by the time I get home I forget or don't have time. Then, behind that area is a zippered pouch - in there I keep cash, coupons, and a pair of small nail scissors (because I always need scissors when I'm out and about - seriously!)

Then, there's a monthly calendar - here I keep birthdays, trips out of town, and other big things. I keep this synced up with our big calendar in the kitchen.

Behind that is a weekly calendar. For each day, there is a to do list portion and an appointment section. This is where I write down everything, to the tiniest detail. Where I need to be when, and what I need to be doing.

Behind the calendars, there are a bunch of blank pages. Here I'm writing down things that we need - things that I can never seem to remember when I happen to be at certain stores. Like what color hairbows the girls need, what dimension table we need, etc. Again, the minute I think of what we need, it goes on the list.

And finally, in the back cover is a little notepad. This is where my work to do list goes. I've had a system for a couple of years now that works well for me, where I assign priority to tasks using stars - 4 stars means I need to do it today, 3 stars means this week, 2 stars means as soon as I have time, and 1 star means eventually. Usually items end up getting stars added to them before they actually get done. Also, when I write something down, I give myself all the information I need - for example instead of "call John" it will say "call John re contract amendment at 555-1234" that way I can take care of things just by looking at my list, rather than having to look up number or try to remember what I'm talking about. I also keep a pencil (for writing in the notebook) and a pen (because I can NEVER find one when I need it!) in the back.

The night I sat down and filled in my notebook, it felt so awesome - it was like emptying my brain onto paper. That night when lying in bed and the next morning while standing in the shower, instead of having a million little things buzzing through my mind, I had a totally blank mind. Awesome. Not only did it feel nice, it was what I needed to be able to focus on what was important - I could say my prayers without interrupting myself with don't forget to... And I could sit there and nurse Henry without jumping up to take care of something. I filled in the calendars for a whole year - all the way to March 2011.

I carry my notebook with me everywhere. Literally - I sleep with it next to my bed. When I walk across the house, the notebook goes with me. That way when I think of something I need to remember, it goes on the to do list. When someone calls and we make plans, they immediately go in the calendar. When I realize we need something from the store, it goes on the shopping list. That way my sleep-deprived brain is not constantly trying to keep all that information inside.

Sure, I've still got a little mommy brain - I forgot the girls' backpacks Monday when I took them to school. But for the most part, I feel like I have things under control again. I'm not so unpleasant to be around, because I'm not constantly frustrated with myself. And most importantly, I can focus again - when I'm working, on work; when I'm with the kids, on them; when I'm alone, on Heaven.

(I have a Family Notebook that I made a couple of years ago, which I'll write about soon)