Calling all super-organized people...

[Anonymous]

Meal planning isn't really a need. I have never done that and I'm organized.

[Anonymous]

Do you work? Maybe you need a job to give you a routine? But, a job just add to the stress but I can say the office feels like a relief from home life sometimes.

How much time do you spend on your phone? I feel this takes up a lot of time, even though it's suppose to be relaxing by reading something.
I put appointments on my calendar and I add a reminder a few days before the appointment. This seem to work the best, everything else is being proactive about doing. The act of DOING. Just don't think about it, just do it. I have everything on my phone, even reminders to pay bills. Gas is due in 5 days, gas is due today! That kind of reminders. I can't do automatic deduction from my account there are many different due dates and because I don't know when there's enough in there to cover the expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adderall

yes. life changing

For anyone or only those diagnosed with ADHD?

[Anonymous]

You need to get more sleep. You can't be organized without a functioning brain. All the tips in the world won't help if you are absent minded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work tomorrow, my kid was in bed by 8 and I have just gotten in bed. My car keys are on the counter right next to my wallet and phone which I always charge in the same place. I have packed my kids lunch and mine and they are both in the fridge ready to grab in the morning. My work clothes are literally laid out so I can get dressed in the almost dark while DW sleeps. DDs clothes are also laid out, with her shoes next to them so DW doesn't have to hunt for them when she leaves the house. This makes our mornings smooth and stress free. Anything that needs to go in the car in the morning goes next to the car keys the night before.
I get paid every two weeks so that's when I pay my bills. So I'm only paying bills twice a month and not constantly trying to remember what's due. Do you have a calendar? If not you need one for appts etc. I even write down the days DD has show and tell so I don't forget. There's no shame in writing stuff down.

This is great. How long does prepping all of this take each night?

+1

NP here. The prepping take a lot less time when you are not in the morning fog. I do the same thing, and it takes about ten minutes each night. Dh is like OP - more like Pigpen - leaves a trail wherever he goes, and is oblivious to the mess he leaves behind. As far as he is concerned, everything gets put in place by magic (me). It is exhausting. I think part of it is personality, and part of it is how you grew up. MIL is kind of slob, so there's that.

The key is everything having a system and a place that is always the same. Efficiency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meal planning isn't really a need. I have never done that and I'm organized.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here and thank you thank you, seriously thank you. I'm going to focus on the first few baby steps for now:
1) sticking with a consistent bedtime routine, including prepping for a smooth morning
2) making lists (shopping, meal, to do, and a weekly schedule) in one spot where I can access both with my computer and phone. Reviewing nightly.
3) discarding, decluttering - this one is not really a baby step, but I can at least start somewhere...

I've bookmarked this thread so I can come back to it and try out a lot of the great suggestions that posters have given.

As for getting my spouse to help out, that is a lost cause. I am actually the one and only organizer of the family. He is like an 80 year old grandpa who is really set in his ways. He refuses to use a calendar, and is anti technology. Sometimes he doesn't even keep track of when he's scheduled to work or when he has time off. His one and only organizational strategy that he uses is to TOSS it. He doesn't even remember most of the thing he's tossed, because he does it reflexively - he's thrown out lots of stuff that were not supposed to be. He hardly ever writes anything down - he remembers what he deems important, and the rest of it, he discards out of his brain never to be found again. Luckily he has a much better memory than I do. So anyway, it's all on me.

And to the pp who asked about my parents - no, I was not lucky enough to have parents that taught me organizational or even cleaning skills. I've had to figure it out on my own. Both my parents worked long hours, so I never saw them until after 8pm, even on weekends. They didn't have the time or patience to teach that type of thing.

Wish me luck!! Thanks again...

You can do it, OP! I sympathize with you about the spouse not cooperating. My DH's idea of organization is dumping (perfectly organized) drawers out everywhere, as if to make a statement of some kind ("I'm an a-hole" probably). If I organize the garage, he undoes it. He can mess up anything, single handedly. It's awful. There must be a psych term for this - trying to pay homage to his dysfunctional (and very messy!) family. PP here.

[Anonymous]

Good thread. Bumping for additional ideas/suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Put a bin or basket near your entrance (mine is on a shelf in the closet) for stuff that belongs to other people. So when friends or kids friends forget something at your house it goes in there until you see them again. I put things I'm giving or passing on to someone else in there too.

I keep a calendar on my phone and I have a more time mom's family organizer calendar hanging in the kitchen. The kids check it daily and that helps keep us all on track.

I keep random papers and counter junk in a small bin and go through it when I have time. If possible deal with things asap, I. E. put it in your calendar and throw the letter away rather than setting it down for later. I also have magnet boards in my office and the kids rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work tomorrow, my kid was in bed by 8 and I have just gotten in bed. My car keys are on the counter right next to my wallet and phone which I always charge in the same place. I have packed my kids lunch and mine and they are both in the fridge ready to grab in the morning. My work clothes are literally laid out so I can get dressed in the almost dark while DW sleeps. DDs clothes are also laid out, with her shoes next to them so DW doesn't have to hunt for them when she leaves the house. This makes our mornings smooth and stress free. Anything that needs to go in the car in the morning goes next to the car keys the night before.
I get paid every two weeks so that's when I pay my bills. So I'm only paying bills twice a month and not constantly trying to remember what's due. Do you have a calendar? If not you need one for appts etc. I even write down the days DD has show and tell so I don't forget. There's no shame in writing stuff down.

This is great. How long does prepping all of this take each night?

. I do the same. Also when you pull into the parking garage slide the ticket in front of your credit card so you remember to validate it before you pay. Then put it there or in the outside pocket of your purse for easy access when you leave.