Now Christmas is behind us and the holidays are over, it’s back to making packed lunches, busy day jobs and the school run. If you feel frazzled just thinking about it, resolve to make this year different. With a little bit of forward planning and a little creativity, you can get organized, reduce stress, and have some free time for yourself.
Weekly Planning
Weekly planning sessions are invaluable. Spend half an hour or so at the weekend planning the week ahead. According to business coach and renowned speaker, Brian Tracy, every minute you spend planning, can save as much as ten minutes in execution.
Calendar And Diary
Many moms have a toolkit that they use on a daily basis. This usually includes a diary and calendar. Make sure that there is sufficient space on your calendar to be able to add stickers and notes.
At the beginning of the year go through your diary and copy across any important dates such as birthdays, holidays, etc. Look for the best diary with a weekly view to provide an overview of the week ahead. Space for writing lists is also useful. As well as writing down birthdays, add a heads up a week or two in advance to give you time to prepare.
Your calendar will contain all the daily minutiae, such as sports days, clubs, after school activities, etc. Color-coordinated stickers are useful to help you see at a glance what’s coming up. Don’t plan too far ahead with your calendar as things tend to change.
Keep your diary with you when you leave the house. This can also double as a running to-do list. When something pops up that you need to remember, jot it down. This gets it out of you head so you can forget about it. Get into the habit of scanning your diary at the beginning of each day to see what’s coming up. Tick off items once they have been completed.
Keep Track Of Birthdays And Important Events
As well as adding birthdays and celebrations to your diary, invest in an expanding file with monthly dividers. This will help you become super organized. Birthday and other celebratory cards can be purchased in advance, written and placed in pockets. No more dashing out at the last minute to buy cards and stamps.
It’s also useful to keep an eye on sites such as Plus Voucher Code. When shopping for gifts or everyday items, check to see whether there is a discount available. There are lots of savings available to make your money go further.
Grocery Shopping
Grocery shopping can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large family. Save yourself some time by planning by meal. Wherever possible, buy store cupboard ingredients in bulk to save you money as well as time. Many items can also be frozen, including fresh ingredients such as milk and bread.
Before you shop, plan out the meals for the next one or two weeks. This includes breakfasts, packed lunches, snacks, etc. Then build your list based on what you actually need. Take advantage of home deliveries or click and collect wherever possible.
Life can be busy. However, with a little planning and the right tools, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Start your year on a different note and enjoy a calmer 2017.
