Finding a good system to keep track of our busy schedules was a hard task! My family is always busy! So organizing our schedules is a must. My kids are in baseball, dance, gymnastics, basketball, swimming, football, clubs, church, ymca activities, and lots of school functions. If we didn’t have a good system, we would be lost! I found this Hang up Home Organizer which has multiple organizing aspects to it. There is room for all of our schedules, menus, markers, stickies, much more. I got it from Thirty One and I love it!
“Must have items” to organize your family schedule:
- Calendar – Mine is the school calender
- Pens/Markers/Highlighters – I highlight important reminders & add to the calendar as needed.
- Sticky notes – For jotting down quick notes or to remind a family member of an upcoming event.
- Schedules – All sports, clubs, church, school, etc… schedules. These go in each childs slot. Review these daily or add the schedule to the “main calendar”.
- School lunch calendar – You can review at the beginning of each month with your child and highlight the days they want to buy at school.
- Current sports/activities agendas & contact numbers – Keep these all in the childs slot. If you need to refer to them or make a call, there is no more searching.
- Clothes pins – If you are using a similar organizer like mine, you can quickly hang the schedule or papers and remove as needed.
- Tabs to “highlight” important events. I use Martha Stewart color coded sticker labels.
- White board – Use this for reminders.
All schedules go inside of my kids pockets. My oldest doesnt have a “pocket”. I write her agenda on the calendar as needed. She is old enough to keep track of her own schedule so I dont need to do much reminding.
Clothes pins are perfect for hanging up papers!
I keep washi tape handy for highlighting certain things on the calendar that last more than 1 day (vacations, spring break, etc…).
I clip papers that the kids need to see for the “current” week in front of the slots. This week was red ribbon week. The kids had to wear a different “fun” outfit each day. Today was crazy hair day.
I LOVE my flair pens. They are great for color coding family members on the calendar.
Our “family schedule center” is on the closet door in between the foyer and the kitchen… where everyone can see it easily.
Tips to get your family schedules organized:
- Review schedules daily, when you wake up and before you go to bed.
- Communicate with each family member about upcoming schedules.
- Add new appointments/commitments to the calendar as you get them. Don’t wait!
- Toss old schedules when no longer needed.
- Keep the “family schedule center” uncluttered. Keep things simple
- Use it daily.
I received my Thirty hanging home organizer from Jamie Raffinengo, a Thirty One consultant. If you are interested in this “hang up home organizer” or other Thirty One products, you are welcome to visit Jamie’s website here.
Tags: organize, organizer, schedules, thirty one
Blog, calendar, decluttering, Featured Posts, launch pad, Organize, Other Spaces, schedules Posted in
27 comments
27 comments on “Organizing your schedule…”
Toni,
You are developing my new love for colored pens and markers. I have a feeling I’ll be seeing an extra $5 on each grocery bill, because I’ve purchased some new writing utensils. This is a great family command center, and I like that it hangs discretely in a closet or pantry. This would work well in my house, but my 1.5 yo doesn’t have too hectic of a schedule…yet. I will use this in the future. Thanks!
Tara
While it is just my son and I, I have an organizer like that. One of the first things I bought from Thirty-One. I use it for both of us. I have a spot labled mail and one for meal coupons. It has given us a place to look for things. The write on wipe off spot is where the chore list goes, we have a calendar up there also. It is on the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Right where we pass everyday. I have found it helps keep things in one spot and that way we both know where things are and I am not searching for mail or other things.
I rep for Thirty-One and you can visit my site at http://www.mythirtyone.com/favfabbags if you are looking for the organizer she is using. Thirty-One is a great company full of multi-use products. I love them and the products. I also look forward to chatting with anyone who is interested.
You have such wonderful solutions that I refer back to often. I have two kids so sthis is perfect for us if I can find a spot to put it. Where do you get washi tape?
Heather, I purchased a set of about 10 colors in a pack at Target (kids arts n crafts section). They were only $10!
Hi Toni – so do you keep just your calendar in your personal calendar organizer or do you double up and keep kids stuff on both calendars/organizers?
Loving your blog!!
I double up. I keep everything on my own personal planner. This one is just for the whole family to be on the same page. 🙂
LOVE IT! I am a Thirty-One rep and I actually didn’t have one of these in my home until recently. Now I am wondering how I lived without it for so long. I still keep my own personal planner but the hang up organizer is amazing for EVERYONE in my home. I especially love how you use yours. I’m definitely going to have to pull out the clothes pins and highlighters. Thanks for the great ideas!
Great idea and I love the fabric you chose for the board. I’m considering changing my house binder and use a board instead but I have no kids and maybe it isn’t practical for just two people…I don’t know…Anyway, I’ve downloaded the pictures; they’ve inspired me a lot.
I just got a 31 organizer like this and was trying to figure out how to use all it’s features – thank you!
I have this organizer and love it. I never thought to use clothespins….BRILLIANT! Thanks for the tip!
I’ve had this organizer for about 6 months now, and I love it! However, I found it hard to use all of the features effectively. It never crossed my mind to use clothespins. I know what I’m doing this weekend!
Love the look and layout of your calendar, and that you have it in a great central location! Thanks for sharing!
I love this idea, however I am wondering how I could utilize it with four children, as far as the pockets go for the individual kids. I am currently using those plastic office paper holders that go on the wall (sorry can’t remember the actual names) and they are a pain to look at.
31 has two other organizer that are not quite as large with additional pocket space that go with this one. You should check them out.
Last week I placed an order on Jamie’s site for the organizer and now can’t get back in to check the status. It says they can’t find her as a consultant and the links are not working. Can you help me locate her information? I am hoping my organizer is still on the way!
Thank you!
Hi Emily, I emailed her. I will let you know what she says. Here is her website… https://www.mythirtyone.com/JaimeR/
I had the same problem! How long do they usually take to arrive – I am anxiously awaiting mine:)
Does this planner work for 4 children? Are there 4 pockets or two at the bottom? Thanks for the website, it’s given me some great ideas for some simple but very effective changes to all our lives 🙂
There are 4 pockets at the bottom. 😉
LOVE this!! I am a Thirty-One Consultant and Organizational NUT! I use one of these, and our 2 new smaller versions in my home office. I just ordered another set of the 3 to use just for my family! I have a hubby who works shift work as a Sheriff’s Deputy and 2 boys involved in everything!! Love the ideas! Now wish I had this in a brochure for my parties! LOL
You are an absolute inspiration for me! If there is one thing that my husband appreciates is coming home from work and living in CLEAN and organized house! you have encouraged me much =] I have an almost 2 year old boy and 5 1/2 month old girl and i find the best way i can keep his room clean is to just keep pretty much empty and only keep the toys that he is currently playing with at his reach. Is there anything you could share about how you managed time and organization while your kids were babies?
my boys are all grown now but when they were in school…we used a blotter size calendar
on the wall with a highlighter color for each of us and another color for an “all” event.
we had one of those metal file folder holder below it…and anything that needed to be dealt with signed etc went there and all events were added to calendar with times and contact number s and locations…..as they grew we learn to add things to help like a dollar sign next to event to remember that they needed money or ps for permission slips etc
even today with the boys in their 20’s and out on their own they still look at our blotter calendar on he wall to see what we areup too and what we have been doing since their last visit lol now a days the events are mostly dr appointments or volunteer work ….expect soon to be adding some g kids events to it
Your cat is gorgeous! I don’t remember seeing him (her?) in pictures before.
Have you tried the new scotch tapes? I have 6 colors, Pink, Green, Blue, Orange, Purple, and a blue pattern one. Each one is to a certain person, i.e. mine is orange. They are see through as well. I don’t have a picture but it’s really nice to have clean straight lines with them for those in your family who travel a lot. 🙂
So you have your kids schedules on this board…as well as in your planner AND homekeeping binder? How do you remember to write everything down in all three places? Isn’t that just a lot of repeating of information?