Organized chaos! How to get yourself back on schedule

Is there really a method to the madness?

Apple calendars, Gmail calendars, Outlook calendars, planners, wall calendars, magnet calendars, Alexa, Siri, and I’m sure many other ways to help us all stay organized and on time. It’s madness people! Complete and utter madness! So, what is the method to the madness? Pick what works for you, remember less is sometimes more, and just because its old school doesn’t mean it’s not effective.

I’m going to share a few things that work for me and that I’ve shared with friends and some groups I’ve work with over the years.

Get your apps under control babes

Let me ask you a question, how many apps do you have on your phone right now? Don’t look or count them, just take a guess. Next question, do you have your apps organized or do you have 20 pages of individual apps in no particular order, just floating around on the face of your phone? If you’re anything like my girlfriends (you know who you are) or most other people I’ve worked with I’m willing to guess you have all your bank, calendar, bills, health, gym, social media and only the cloud knows what else on your phone and tablet in no order.

Let’s fix that ok. Start creating some tiles by dragging an app that goes with another similar app to create the tile, once the tile is created you will see a place for a title at the top. For example, having the tools you use daily in one tile like your calendar, contacts, calculator, and reminders. Then name it “daily tools” or “I am organized”. Repeat this process with your banking or investment apps and title it “finances” or “banking”, next try organizing other similar apps like your maps, compass, hotel, and airline apps. By doing this you will be able to easily find the app or tool you need quicker and get down to a couple screens on your phone depending on how many apps you have. This is also a good opportunity to delete the ones you don’t need or don’t use.

One last tip, I can’t claim this one, I read it or heard it somewhere years ago and liked it so much I started doing it. If you like daily affirmations, title your tiles with ones that fit that apps in there. Here are some examples:

• Daily tools = “I am organized”
• Banking or investment = “I am wealthy”
• Social apps = “I am connected”
• Gym, health, and exercise = “I am healthy”

Calendars, digital or old school?

Yay calendars! Seriously, I love them- I have a hot pink purse size planner and budgeting book as well as my digital calendars that sync with my watch, phone, Mac, and Alexa (I know, I have issues). There is no right or wrong way, just the way that works for you, but if it’s madness and you have post it notes everywhere or random digital reminders where you’re stuck going, “oh shit”, then here are some tips that might help.

Color code your appointments. Make sure to title them correctly (trust me), add the location, set the travel time setting (so you get an alert before you need to leave), add any notes, and invite anyone if applicable. I know it sounds like common sense but between a work calendar, personal calendar, unexpected plans, and appointments, things can spiral out of control if you don’t have a system. For example, Mom’s are crazy good organizers, my Mom friends are scheduling geniuses .

Old school

You may be thinking, “she’s not organized, she’s got a hard copy planner”, ahh, but I don’t have my appointments in that one. That one does have calendars in it and notes BUT that is more for budgeting, spending, and event planning. For example, last month I had travel, a baby shower, dog boarding, and no less than 5 birthdays. That means reservations, dinners, and presents and for me when it comes to budgeting and events I do better with a hard copy rather than an app. So, you see, organized chaos my friends.

Chaos organized

The last tip is “Forecast Fridays”, that I got from a friend (Susan Combs). I block off an hour every Friday to check my schedule for the following week and then schedule my workouts while I’m in there.

Like I said and I’ll say it again, there is not right way or wrong way just the way that works for you. Have fun and get creative with your tile names. I know I did.