Following on from my Day In The Life post, I thought I’d share how I stay organised! I balance a full-time job (as a PA), an Etsy store and this blog as well as managing chronic migraines. Being sick regularly means I have to be super organised and plan some contingency ‘recovery’ time into my life too. So, here we go!
Filofax Planner
I am a big fan of paper. I also adore my smart phone and tablet, but my Domino A5 filofax keeps my entire life in order. I divide my planner into various sections and keep notes, diaries and ideas jotted down at all times.
My health section includes migraine diaries I can take to my neurologist so we can assess the patterns of my attacks regularly.
Follow Claireabellemakes’s board Filofax & Planning on Pinterest.
Editorial Calendar
Blogging is hard work let me tell you. I couldn’t stick to a regular posting schedule unless I planned in advance. I tend to plan a month in advance using the WordPress Editorial Calendar Plugin and also this printable calendar by the Elli Blog. Scheduling is definitely essential as I plan my Etsy shop marketing strategy into my blog life too.
Monthly Budget
About 8 years ago I read a book about managing personal finance and ever since then I have drawn up a monthly budget. I keep track of all expenditure in a handy app called My Spending which allows you to download graphs and data each month. G and I both use this and it is great way to see how much of our pay goes into Starbucks!
Daily To Do List
In my Filofax planner I add a weekly to do list with tasks for each day including my cleaning, business tasks and personal items. There is nothing more satisfying that crossing off a completed item. I use this 7 Day to Do pad
Apps and Devices
I use a number of apps on my smart phone and Nexus 7 Tablet
If I need some downtime for meditation I use the Headspace app.
Meal Planning
One of my new year’s resolutions was to keep my home life in order with regular meal planning and cleaning. We have stuck to the meal planning as much as we can and it has helped make our food shop go further. I also think we are eating better as a result. The cleaning schedule has been the hardest thing to keep up with, especially on migraine days.
The blackboard wallpaper we used is very cheap and available on Amazon here
Thoughts on Productivity
I make it a personal mission to never waste a moment. Having tasks to do every day can be exhausting, but I find that keeping organised is vital so I don’t become overwhelmed. And believe me I have those moments! That’s when G steps in with a cup of calming tea and some encouraging words and I know I’ll be OK.
How do you stay organised? Please do share your tips for us all in the comments. I love discovering new ways to keep my life in order because man it’s hectic!
I’m loving this mini series – lots of useful tips and I love the ‘week commencing’ board! I really need to start using monthly planners [perfect excuse for more stationery shopping!] and I love the Headspace app as well for when it all feels a little overwhelming x
The Things She Makes recently posted…White Pleather and Gold Phone Cases
Pleased you have enjoyed it! I will have a think to see if there is anything more I can add to the series. Planning is definitely my excuse for stationery shopping 🙂
So helpful! I am so bad at organising and staying focused I am determined to make a change and hopefully add a bit more structure to my days and weeks. Jealous of your gorgeous Filofax!
Love your blog
Amy
Thanks for following and commenting Amy! Hope the tips have helped and maybe convinced you that a Filofax is the best way to keep organised hehe!
Oh I wish I could be this organised, I don’t think I could manage it even if I tried as my kids are so unpredictable! I do try and stick to a general pattern of what I do during the week but I don’t have it written down or set in stone. Maybe I need to start!
Oh yeah I reckon adding kids to the mix would be super hard! I admire you!
I love this post/ series! I follow a similar pattern to you, but I also use Trello a lot- a very intuitive list making app that I have on the iphone and PC to create boards for different areas of my private life and blog. The same woman who introduced me to Trello also introduced me to the 30/30 app, which is very handy when I need to be extra focused/ productive one day. I think I’ll use it more when both my kids are in school, but I already see the benefits of it.
Carin recently posted…Over to you: 2014 reader survey
Thanks for sharing your organisation tips too Carin. I’ll be sure to check out those apps!
Well you have totally inspired me to become more organised! I live in chaos and find it so hard even remembering the tasks that need doing! I end up with lists everywhere and so few items get ticked off! I think I will start by making little goals and building up to the organising excellence you seem to have going on! Jen xx
Jen recently posted…Paper cutting 3
Glad to have helped Jen! Good luck with keep organised. I find pretty stationery and planners always helps 😉
Sounds like you’re super organised m’dear! 🙂
Hubby and I make a menu of evenings meals and even our lunch box contents for taking to work. We then go and buy those ingredients, so that we don’t overspend and are only getting what we need, don’t waste food and also know exactly what we’re having on which day. We split the cooking and washing up as equally as possibly and also ensure that we don’t have the same thing each week. We try and make a healthy balance of veggie meals, fish and meat. It works an absolute treat and certainly takes the stress out of it all, knowing that it’s me to cook tonight and hubby will be washing up afterwards and vice-a-versa.
We also split all the household jobs, so we’re each responsible for certain tasks. Sometimes we need to *ahem* remind each other 😉 and we might need to change the tasks over, so that hubby’s not always hoovering and I’m not always cleaning the bathroom but it seems to work.
One other thing we schedule in is date night! Every Thursday we go sans internet, phone etc and spend quality time with each other. It’s very important to put time aside for you and your other half…that and scheduling in down-time. I think it gives you more energy to put in to the days/nights when you’re running your biz and blog.
It’s good to hear what you do lovely and thanks for those links to some great organising apps!
Jo 🙂 x
Joanna Yeoman recently posted…Custom wedding cufflinks
I love these ideas! I currently just use some ‘to do list’ inserts for my Filofax but I will need to step it up when I move out of the family home next month and I have bills to sort out and a house to clean!
Hannah Ackroyd recently posted…An Update
Where did you get that meal planning blackboard from? I need it in my life! xx
Hi Erin, it is blackboard wallpaper which came from Amazon!
I’ve just updated the post with a link for you!
I love how organised you are! i have total envy. My kids kind of put a spanner into anything classed as “organised/Planned” haha So most of the time i kind of have to go with the flow hmmmpppfff
Leanne @suggys.co.uk/Leanne recently posted…Bank Holiday Monday and a Trip to HighForce Waterfall
I think I might be a bit of a control freak ha! I imagine adding kids to the mix makes it much harder. Bravo to you!
Hi Claire, hope you’re well. I loved this post when I first read it, and am just re-visiting it as I need some inspiration for getting more organised.
You mentioned above that you read a book on personal finance a few years ago. Would you recommend it? And if so, would you mind sharing the name/author etc?
Thanks very much, and loving the blog as ever.
K x
Spelt my own name wrong! Sorry x
Kelly recently posted…Latest…