Are You Planner Challenged?

 

Over the years, I have flip flopped from paper to digital.  I have bought LOTS of paper planners in search of the perfect one.  The one which allows me to put “everything” in one spot.  It has been a challenge.

I have tried Erin Condren. Nice but a little pricey for me

I have tried digital but I always manage to forget to look at the calendar except when I am adding thing to it.

I have tried the ARC system from Staples.  Liked it but it was really heavy when I was trying to carry a whole year of weekly & monthly sections.  Of course the load got lighter as the months passed and I took out pages.

I tried the “inexpensive” ones from Target or Walmart.  Just not enough space for everything.

Many years ago when I was in the non-profit world, DayTimer was my best friend.  I loved it.  It didn’t seem practical as I added my direct sales business to the mix of things.

I needed a monthly calendar to look at the big picture, I need space during the week to schedule appointments along with space to make notes for my to do list.

I saw the Passion Planner about two years ago, about $35 but they always run lots of specials.  It provided me with some structure to set goals (long and short term), review how the month went and space to dream.  It looks professional and comes in two sizes to make it easy to carry.

At Thirty One’s National Conference, they introduced a planner just for consultants.  I was a little skeptical since I really liked the Passion Planner.  We were given an opportunity to purchase it and try it.  So in mid-October it arrived.  I sat my Passion Planner on the desk as a back up.  I wasn’t ready to let go. But after two months of using my Thirty One planner, my Passion Planner is now sitting on the shelf.  I know, you are wondering why I bothered telling you right?

Well, during Customer Appreciation Month which started on Tuesday morning, Thirty One is offering a paper planner to our customers in two options in the Exclusive Celebrate You style! Each planner is made to order by an outside printer, therefore we cannot guarantee that this item is delivered by December 25th

What type of planner do you use?  What are your biggest challenges in finding a planner which works for you?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Plan for a Storm Emergency

I know, you think I am a little crazy, right?  Hurricane season is almost over here on the Jersey Shore and we are a long way from a blizzard (hopefully).  If you were a Girl Scout or a Boy Scout, you have always been told “be prepared” and we want to help you.

The truth is “Be Prepared” should be your motto.  I mean who wants to be in the midst of the “craziness” when a hurricane or blizzard warning is issued.  You know what I mean, the ones who run to the store for bread, eggs, milk and maybe some batteries.  I am grateful hubby is BIG on being prepared and we are well stocked.

No matter where you live, there is always the potential for an emergency situation to arise and it’s infinitely better to prepare ahead of time rather than having to scramble at the last minute. So here’s some steps process for preparing.

#1 Make a List

What kind of emergencies are you likely to face in your area? Maybe it is hurricanes, maybe it is tornadoes, or maybe it is blizzards.  Whatever it is, create a list of items you might need.  Yes, there is the basics like food and water, but how about those unusual things?  Maybe a pocket charger for our phones, LED head lamps (in the event of long-term power outage and the need to work in the dark to repair something, etc.), baby wipes and perhaps the most essential emergency supply: chocolate.

#2 Gather Items Into One Location

Maybe you have the emergency supplies on hand,so you figure you are all set. The next question is but can you find them quickly?  If not, they won’t be much help to you or your family. You can keep items in a closet like we are now, or in plastic totes in an accessible area of your garage.

Have kids?  What about a Go Bag, or  an emergency backpacks for each them. A variety of things they might need based on their age if you would need to leave you home in an emergency.

#3 Rotate Your Supplies

You are stocked, right?  You have everything you need, right?  Did you know that canned goods and bottled water don’t stay fresh forever?  They have expiration dates on them.  So be sure to check your supplies at least once a year to rotate out the about-to-expire goods and replace them with fresher items.

#4 Develop a Preparedness Mindset

This is a great time of year to check out the clearance and sale items to add to your emergency stash. Camping goods (portable stoves, lanterns, etc) are in the Fall.  Back packs at the end of the back-to-school season. Canned goods are often cheaper around the holidays and you can stock up on candles at Christmas. You can also find many emergency supplies at the dollar store.

So…………

Will you be ready when an emergency hits?

If the answer any of these questions are a resounding NO, then you need to get it together. It is never too late to start. Batteries should be a mainstay in your home. Candles, extra food, important papers & medications easy to grab if you needed to evacuate.  Do you have a list of all of the medications and supplements you take available?  I have one in my purse, one in my planner and one on my phone with the name of my doctors so if there was an emergency, I am ready.

What are your best tips for being prepared in an emergency?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

How to Organize Your House

Thank you JEN WALLACE for today’s organization tips..

Believe it or not, organizing your home isn’t rocket science. The basics of learning how to organizeyour space are actually pretty simple; the difficult parts are taking the first step and staying committed.

Living Room

• Form and Function Storage Options – Solutions like storage ottomans and coffee tables with hidden storage are ideal for the living room.
• Everything Has a Home – One of the key principles of organization is “everything has its place” and that’s never more true than in the living room–the one room that is the public face of your home.
• Have a Catchall Option – When company arrives unexpectedly it is handy to have a basket or a trunk that can be used for temporary storage of games, books, and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitchen

• Banish Junk Drawers – One of the most important ways to organize your kitchen is to banish the junk drawer.
• Label – Labeling everything from food storage jars to shelves is ideal in the kitchen. There’s little doubt about where things go when there is a label.
• Must Haves Only – Pare down those kitchen multitaskers and only keep what you truly need to get dinner on the table.
• Create Stations – From a coffee and tea station to a food prep station setting your kitchen up smartly is key.

 

Bedrooms

• Under the Bed Storage – Don’t forget about adding drawers, boxes or bins under the bed for added organization spaces.
• Organize Your Closet – While it may seem like a herculean task, make sure to tackle your closet. Make the room that when you add a new item, you need to get rid of one in its place.
• Jewelry and Accessory Storage Solutions – Spend time organizing your jewelry and other accessories to they are easier to find.

Entryway

• Shoe Storage is a Must – Some kind of shoe storage is a necessity to keep your entryway from being cluttered–and so you can find your other shoe.
• Pare Down the Coat Closet – Get rid of those old coats that don’t fit anymore and donate them to charity.
• Add Lockers, Cubbies to Avoid the “Drop Zone” – To keep the entrance to your home clutter-free, add cubbies, lockers, a coat rack, hook rail or some other solution for the coats and bags that always accumulate there.

Home Office

• Control Wires – Add wire storage to keep help your office feel neater.
• Schedule Filing Time – If your desk is always at risk of triggering a paper avalanche, schedule filing time every week to keep on top of things.
• Keep Your Workstation Clear – Store aware unnecessary office accessories
• Cut Down on Paper – One way to cut down on paper records is with recordkeeping apps like Shoeboxed and Evernote.

Bathroom

• Essentials Only – If you are wondering how to organize in the bathroom one way is to rid the bathroom of everything but only the essentials.
• Add Back of Door Storage – Adding hanging rods or some other hanging storage is a trick to add more storage space to the bathroom.
• Vertical Storage – Make the most of the bathroom space by adding vertical organizational space with shelves or a countertop vertical storage unit.

What is YOUR best tip for keeping your home organized?  Share it with us.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!