[BlessedBlue]

Originally Posted by Naxi

Actually, the two things that I find hard about my notebook are, firstly, having somewhere to leave it out. It seems so big in my tiny kitchen and DH goes crazy if he sees it "lying around".

I have problems with clutter attracting clutter. Add to that, children who think an open notebook is an invitation to scribble, rearrange, and who knows what! I have 1 tiny counter that is just big enough for a closed binder (counter not pictured). So, I designed my binder to work in that space. I took a plain white binder with a clear pocket on the front. Decorated it minimally with scrapbooking stickers. (I'm a minimalist, anyway. And I didn't want to waste my energy in decorating . I want it to be functional. There are some pretty notebooks in this thread , but my ADD would be too distracted by them. )



I don't use it every day. Or every week. I'd like to. I am learning how to use it more often. I do think it's great as a refocusing tool, though. So if I feel like I've lost my focus, I definitely pull the notebook out (from the pile of stuff ) and work on updating to-do lists. I put today's to-do list in the front. I have a dry-erase marker sticky-tacked right next to the list. My to-do list might have many things on it, or just a few. BUT I prioritize it. One thing I learned when I owned my own business is to make a list of my 6 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. Those go at the top of the list. There may be many important things, but those 6 are what are the most urgent, or what will help me feel like I've gotten something accomplished. I draw a horizontal line, and add the rest of the things I'd like to get to. Whatever doesn't get done today I will re-evaluate for tomorrow's list. Sometimes things get postponed until the same time next week.

I also give myself permission to not feel guilty if I'm not using it perfectly. It is a tool. It does help me focus/refocus. As I use it, I am finding that some things (menu planning, to-do lists, budget items, educational goals for the kids) really belong here because they are referenced often. Other things (monthly goals for 6 months from now, non-current-seasonal items, crafting, bills, etc) don't belong in here because I'm not referencing them much, or because it just becomes too crowded. I have a file cabinet for stuff like that. And things can be rotated between the 2.

One thing I still need to do is make a information sheet about each kid (medical info, allergy info, etc.) and a quick reference sheet for babysitters.