This is actually my second time reading Amy Lynn Andrew’s eBook Telling Your Time. I even purchase the newest version of her book which I’m happy I did! Ready to learn more about her book. Read my quick and easy review:

5 things I learned

Equating time to weight loss – minutes scheduled needs to be less than minutes in a day. Budget your time just as you budget your calories.

To not schedule every minute or live by the clock. I needed permission to not do everything, to let me know I was being to strict with myself.

Many times we make external changes, but it never works out because we really need to make internal changes. Here is another great analogy that is just like the weight loss mentality, we buy the workout clothes, the gym membership, the perfect app, but we don’t work on the issues that got us overweight and we are surprised when we fail.

Two of the most important roles you can add to your list of roles are self and dreamer. You are not adding self to make you center but because you are aware that none of your other roles can be accomplished without taking care of yourself. You need to add dreamer because if you don’t add your dreams to your schedule none of your dreams will really come about.

Writing everything you want and need to do may make you realize you may be trying to do too much.

6 amazing quotes

“Effective time management is not the key to a completed to do list, it’s the key to an accomplished life”

“Take control. Tell time how to work for you. Don’t be subject to it.”

“… your most important roles have to do with relationships. At the end of your life, relationships will be what really mattered and everything else … will pale in comparison.”

“Do not underestimate the importance of sleep. Because it’s so vital to your overall health and well-being, guard it fiercely!”

“Be realistic … If you are not realistic and try to squeeze in too much into your schedule, you’re only setting yourself up for failure.”

“… you should spend less time doing what you have to do and more time doing what you were made to do.”

5 reasons I recommend the book

Too many things on your schedule? Learn how to prioritize what you really want to do and learn to cut out the unnecessary.

Learn to not focus on specific goals but what your roles in life are. Prioritize these roles and find your true goals.

Don’t just use this book to make a daily life schedule. Use it to break down your business and blogging goals. Create a work schedule that will guide you to those specific goals.

Don’t get overwhelmed with knowing where to start. Learn to create your schedule simply step by step.

Even if you are not ready to jump into a full schedule learn how to prioritize your time. Use this system to create a loose  schedule.

Ready to Buy?

Or Get it on Amazon Kindle:

Do you have a daily schedule? A weekly schedule? What is your best tip for sticking to it?

I’m in a constant battle with organization. The harder I try the more disorganized I become. Or at least that’s the way I feel. I’m sure that at times you feel the same way. I will be sharing some of my favorite organizational apps that have helped me on my Android Iconia Tablet and my Android phone.

Action Method

Action Method is a project management tool I found to use for my business, but I’ve also quickly found I love using it for my other to do lists. I think I like it because you can view your tasks in so many different ways. You can view your tasks by project, by when they are due, or by color.

I think I also enjoy Action Method because it is very visually appealing and to me that helps with the overwhelmed factor I get as I stare at my to do lists as they grow. The app also auto syncs to your phone, your desktop application, the online version and your tablet with no worries.

I’ve used Remember the Milk in the past and enjoyed it, but I just didn’t really feel like it was worth the yearly fee to use it on my phone. With Remember the Milk I would still run into the issue of feeling overwhelmed with how much there was to do. Plus you can’t really try out the app without paying the fee as far as I’m aware.

After using the free version of Action Method for my business on my phone, tab and computer I chose to buy the yearly subscription. I had used it for 3-6 months before buying it and I was a heavy user since it was used for my business projects. I think a casual user may not even have to buy the subscription.

Another feature that I haven’t used is task sharing. You can easily share tasks with people and keep on top of what they are working on and what you need from them.

ColorNote

ColorNote has been one of my all time favorite apps. I use it for organizing everything in my life. I can do anything from make quick to do lists to keep track of prayer requests. I use it for blogging a lot, but I will be talking more about that in my blogging app post.

When you make a ColorNote you can choose to either make a text note or a checklist. You can then write your note and choose a color for it. I have been known to color code my notes for different things like blogging = blue, family= orange, church = purple, urgent = red, and so on. You have 8 colors to choose from. The best part is you can stick your notes on your home screen as an instant reminder or for instant access!

I also just found out they have a calendar feature that they just added which I’m so excited to try out!!

Evernote or Springpad

I was using Evernote, but I have found that with how disorganized I am this is only feeding the Disorganization Monster. I never got really good at using their notebook/tag setup so everything is just jumbled into one notebook. Most don’t have tags because it is hard to add those on the android app. They do have a great search on the web so that is what I mainly use.

It also drives me crazy that I have to login ever week on their website, log me in and keep me logged in!

Today I decided to try SpringPad. But because I haven’t had a real chance to use it (Zane just stole my tab), I wanted to mention both of these apps to you. I saw the video SpringPad has posted at the market and it looks like you can change the notebook and tags easily from the screen you are adding the note. Evernote you have to jump from the notes screen to a separate screen to add tags.

The thing that really sold me for SpringPad is it looks like it is incredibly easy to go from saving a link or note to sharing it on twitter or facebook (maybe G+ if I’m lucky). Right now with Evernote I’m saving it to Evernote then have to go into the online site, copy the link and then share it on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest. There may be an easier way to do this from the Evernote app, but I haven’t had the time to figure it out.

Pomodroido

This is not my favorite app, but it is the best Pomodoro Technique app that I’ve found that works on a tablet. I find the color scheme annoying as others have mentioned in reviews and it doesn’t fit perfectly on my tab screen, but it works.

If you haven’t tried Pomodoro Technique I highly recommend it. I have just started it, I’m not an expert, I haven’t even read the huge manual I found on it, but just jumping in and doing it so far has helped with my “to do list anxiety”.

The basic idea is that you take your to do list and you work on one activity for 25 minutes then take a break and repeat until you have your to do list handled.

I tend to try and multitask but usually find myself overwhelmed and feel like I haven’t gotten anything done. With Pomodoro I get more done, I feel more focused and seeing the tasks crossed off my list keeps me motivated.

Right now I’m using an awesome application on my computer called Pomodairo. I also love that this particular program lets me make a short to do list. I have been putting my Most Important Tasks here so that I know I at least get 3 of the basic tasks for the day done.

Jorte

I don’t use this app any longer on my tab or phone. But with my experience I know that some of the basic calendars on Android devices can be hard to use or just ugly. If you are looking for a good replacement of the calendar that came on your phone or tablet I would recommend Jorte. This app does take a little setup but it has lots of options and you can make it work with you and your style.

Any Suggestions?

I’m always looking for new and better ways to get organized do you have any app suggestions?

This week we made a big purchase at Ikea: New Wardrobes. One for me and one for the hubby.

Look at that shoe storage, I’ve never had shoe storage before!

Eek! I’m so excited!

Click the pic for the full view:

Some days I feel like the world is falling in on me as I try and deal with the disorganization that lives in my house. I’m not a supermom or a superwife or a super-housekeeper. But I try. And so far we have all survived.

I’ve been trying really hard to get more organized. I realized that the disorganization that lives in my house is making me go crazy. If I feel overwhelmed with the way the house is I just don’t feel like doing anything. Which becomes a never ending cycle that makes it really hard to not be depressed and unproductive.

I’m a list and schedule kinda person, but sometimes I get off course. Okay more than sometimes, a lot. I want to find a system that will work for me and my family. Maybe you do to and maybe you will join me in my quest.

I’ve decided to do this small series on organization because it seems some of my readers were interested in my post about my Google Calendar. And also because that is one main goals I’m trying to get accomplished before we get swept up into the holiday season. So I hope you will enjoy these posts and participate with me.

One thing that has really helped me feel more motivated is doing a list of 3 MIT (Most Important Tasks) for the day. I find that once I get even one of these items off my to do list I feel more motivated. Sometimes I get even more than the three items done. But if I only get the three things done for the day I don’t feel guilty or discouraged at the end of the day I feel accomplished.

Later this week I will write more about my MIT and how I do my to do lists and the tools I use to do this.

I learned about MIT from simplemom this is a great blog if you haven’t read it before.

Diaper Bag List

Diapers – I usually try to 3-6 in the bag, but no less than 3.

Changing Pad

Wipes

Diaper Rash Cream – I keep one tube in each changing area in my house and one just for the bag.

Plastic Bags – Nothing is worse than a stinky diaper and no bag or garbage to rid yourself of it. Plus when I am at someone’s home I try not to stink up their garbage and take them home.

Disinfecting hand gel – Don’t be afraid to have others use it and you may want it after you change a diaper.

Bottle – Sometimes I pre-measure the water into the bottle, sometimes you won’t have access to water and need a bottled in a hurry.

Formula – I have a little dispenser that is nice to have. It has a couple bottles worth of formula pre-measured out. And I can have one scoop or two in the different compartments.

Bottled Water – I’m not one to buy Nursery Water, but I don’t like using the faucets in a public bathroom for a bottle though.

Burp Cloth

Bib – You will want this especially for special events when you have an extra nice outfit on.

Hat – In case it starts getting cold.

Extra outfit – You may need two if you have a baby that has blowouts, spits up a lot, or is a messy eater.

Extra socks – Those things walk off all the time!

Extra Binky – I forgot this when I went to a consignment sale and we were in line for two hours and I had dropped our binky somewhere. That was not fun.

Small Toy – Even when they are young it’s nice to have something that may distract your baby when they are getting fussy.

Light/Medium Weight Blanket – To keep the rain off, keep the sun out of their eyes or to use for nursing. (Light for summer or medium for winter)

Medium/Heavy Blanket – To keep your baby warm if the weather changes or it starts becoming late. (Medium for summer or heavy for winter)

Snack – It’s good to keep a snack for you in the bag also.

Easy print version of this list

Toddler Bag

We use a small child’s back pack to take Zanes supplies when we are out. Zane loves carrying it. I like having his toys when we go to the doctors office. I don’t like to touch the toys too much at the doctor’s office because of gerrms. I like to have his toys for those places that may not have toys either, it helps keep him quietly entertained.

Diaper – I ussually only need one in case he has dirty pants while out.

Wipes – I use a small travel case to hold them.

1-2 Board Books – Zane loves books and can keep him entertained for a long while.

2-3 Toys – One of our favorites is his magna doodle. He loves to draw and we don’t have to worry about him ruining anything with crayons or anything.

Juice box or Sippy Cup

So now I am off to clean out and reorganize my baby bag. Maybe you will want to do it with me. I will be adding my wallet, my computer or at least a space for it , a note pad and a pen just for me.

What do you keep in your diaper bag? I would love to hear other’s suggestions on what they keep in their diaper bags also.

On the top five of my lists of things to do once I start getting funding going on my design site is to buy a laptop. But until then I’m going to have to do some of my work away from the computer. I have found some tools that really help me and I would like to share those with you.

While I am hanging out with Zane and watching him play I have three items at hand: a small notebook, a nice pen clipped to it, and a magazine.

I use one side of the notebook to try and jot down at least a page worth of blog ideas. I brainstorm blog titles, subjects, and themes. If I come up with a great idea I will jot a few notes next to it. If I feel really inspired I will find a blank page and start writing. Making a rough draft of thoughts and maybe of the entry.

I use the back side of the notebook to sketch out my ideas. I sketch web design layouts and scrapbook layouts. I put ideas down that I have for titles, web side tables, journaling blocks for scrapbook pages, and so much more. You don’t have to be a good drawer to do this either you are just jotting down basic shapes and ideas. I also right notes on the side pointing to certain items to explain what they are. And if I’m working on a design for a client I can just doodle out my ideas on my downtime.

I use the magazine for inspiration. It can be any kind of magazine. I browse the layouts of the ads, the typography, the articles, and the sidebars.  I look for design elements that I can use for blogging or scrapping. Just the other day jotted down 2 pages of side table layouts I could try and create for layouts from the inspiration of one small health magazine. Some of those I could use a journaling blocks also.

I try and keep my notebook in my purse so if I have some downtime then I can jot ideas. While I’m at a doctors appointment or at my MIL house waiting for dinner to be finished I can pull out the notebook and start writing and sketching. I can also write my to do lists in the notebook so I have it right with me.

What you need first is three colors of hangers. Which is not hard I found mine at target. Originally I dreamed about cute green or blue hangers for my little boy, but then in desperation and in my frugalness (if that isn’t a word it should be) I bought the hangers at Target and they only had the three color packs. And this turned out to be a good thing.

I looked at my boxes of hand me downs (another sign of my frugalness) I had generously recieved for my first son. I started hanging all the cute little itty bitty newborn items on the nice pretty white hangers. I stared at the huge box of clothes with clothes from 3-6 months to 2T in there neat little piles.

Then it hit me. I could use each color of hangers to mark the change in sizes inside the closet. That way when Zane out grew the most recent size I could box them up for the next baby in our lives (ours or a friends). This was great when he was in between sizes, too. I could slowly integrate the next size up or if I was low on an item, like pants, I could snag one from the next size up. This also helped my husband grab the right size. And it helped me be able to see that I needed more shirts or pants for when he was going to fit into the 9-12M sizes, so if I saw something at Goodwill or on sale I could snag it (or mention it to some friends or family who liked to buy clothes).

Here is how it Works for Me. I use the white hangers for the most current clothes that fit. The white ones always stay in this spot mainly because I have more of them. I rotate the blue and red hangers as I change sizes. Anything bigger than what was hanging was placed in a bin at the bottom of the closet. I also kept a box at the bottom of the closet so that when one item in the group didn’t fit or was out of season I could pack it away. I would just spend a few minutes rotating clothes when he was finished with a size.

An example would be when Zane grew out of his newborn sizes. I packed away his newborn clothes. I pulled the 3-6M sized clothes off the blue hangers and placed them on white hangers. I then pushed the 6-9M sizes (on the red hangers) next to the 3-6M clothes and hung the 9-12M clothes on the empty blue hangers putting them at the end of the closet.

Another big tip is to hang clothes as outfits. Match up shirts and pants as you are hanging them up, put a sweatshirt or coat with it if it’s a cold season. My husband has trouble matching things and he really liked it when he could just grab an outfit preassembled. I liked this for when I was in a hurry. If it was a “nice outfit” or one I didn’t want to get dirty at daycare I hung it backwards so it was hard to unhook. Now that we wear PJs I fold/roll up the pants and shirt together, so I don’t have to find a match and it is easy to grab.

I am going to be holding a contest this week for a free layout created by me. You can see my work at Uniquehorn Designs. Please come back for more info. And if you are really interested make a comment to this post and I will let you know when the details are up.