Have you ever felt like things were moving too fast? Like things weren’t getting your full attention? Like you were overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start?
Three “strategies” I’ve employed this year to help me “manage” the workload have made a difference in keeping up with my whirlwind of a world.
The first mental saver has been placed email efficacy. My email in box is my todo list. If I have 30 emails in there, that means there are 30 items that require some kind of action, which will stress me out completely. I’ve doubled the amount of folders I have, because I am now sorting them into clearly named folders, as soon as I read them. It makes it so much easier for me to find things if I’ve filed them appropriately. I’ve added sub folders to help! As an example, within my 4th grade folder, I’ve got a field trip folder & a parent contact folder. No more “missing” or “where I’d put that” searching! I’ve also started making items that require a follow up within my inbox. Things I may have sent out but need to make sure we’re taken care of, I change to a different color using the “categories” feature within our email system. At a glance, my inbox is kept current and color coded so I can immediately evaluate what needs to be done.
The second mental saver was the adding an Erin Condren planner to my plate. Rather than try to articulate the greatness that is this planner, just watch this.
While it may seem contradictory to “add” something to help me simplify, this planner has made a huge difference. Our campus calendar can get so crammed, sometimes with activities that don’t involve me, so I needed a place where my responsibilities were clear & detailed. Even the items that did require effort on my part on the campus calendar didn’t have “all” the details I needed. This planner solved that problem.
Last but not least, prioritize a to-do list. I keep a stack of the longer lined post it pads on my desk at all times. As I’m asked to do something or have a project in place, I add it to a list I have going. Task completed? Cross it off. Decide there are multiple steps/tasks to a project? Create a new page. One of my mental stressors is that nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I have something that needs to be completed. Writing it down, identifying what needs to be done to get it completed, and keeping track of my progress takes the stress level way down. When my list gets ragged, I transfer it over to a fresh new page and seriously, it takes away my feelings of things being unmanageable.
Education is hard enough these days. Not letting our organization get out of control is an easy way to regroup, refocus, and recommit.
Here’s your chance to win a $50 Erin Condren gift card to get YOU on the path to be fabulously organized!
Keep calm & organize on,
Amber
Getting organized using digital and paper methods! Love! Takes a blend of both to keep me on track. I think my biggest organization/scheduling tool is having my digital calendar sync across devices. No matter what I grab, it is there for me.
I love to keep everything in folders with labels!
I especially loved the video demo of the fabulous planner. I’ve used the calendar on my phone to organize, but think going back to paper could improve my organization and peace of mind.
Awesome ideas! I already use about a jillion email folders, but I love the sticky note and organizer idea. Thanks!
I love this!! I haven’t had time to record how I use mine yet. I am still not as organized with it as i would like to be but it is way better than before:)
Keeping my email inbox organized has been a priority for me this year. I’ve found that setting rules for incoming emails has helped me get emails in to folders more quickly too. I know exactly where to look for emails when I need to reference them.
I need to better organize my folders in my email account, but I’m so afraid that if I stick something in a folder, I’ll forget about it. On the same note, if I have to scroll multiple times to see what is in my inbox, I start to hyperventilate. Okay, not really, but it stresses me out.
I keep a paper cally, too. Although, I have always used a monthly one. I have quickly found that the info I need to notate cannot fit into that little square.
I wite everything down
It’s comforting to know that it’s not just me who stresses & struggles with the chaos of paper & electronic to-dos. As a campus leader, basketball coach, STUCO sponsor, grad student & mom of 2 under the age of 4, the Erin Planner might just be the ticket for me. I’ve recently started using the online site/app Trello to serve as a cloud-based visual to-do manager.
I think I will try out your folder and sub folder idea. I’ve been very bad about filing things I’ll need to find later. Our email system even allows tagging and I don’t take the extra 4 seconds to do that. I keep my running to-do list on my phone with Wunderlist. It will sync to my devices. I can check off items as I complete them and share lists with people I collaborate with on projects.
I am in my third year as an administrator and while I was able to find just the right way to organize myself as a teacher, I have struggled to find just the right way to get organized as an AP. I have tried file folders, Google calendar, a binder, notes on my iPhone, but nothing has provided the right fit for me. Just last week, I saw our reading specialist using a particular planner and she suggested that I try one like hers. Then, I read this article on Connected Principals AND FOUND what I believe is an answer to my dilemma! I am hoping for this BIG WIN!!! 🙂
I have gone so digital.. but lordy I wonder if I should go back to this type of planning. I feel like I am dropping balls more than ever, with two kids in schools, roaming from one school to another… all the things I volunteer for. Great post… we digital peeps need paper too I suppose!
I love the small post it notes. I use them to “tab” what are my HIGH priority things…. and then throw them away when I accomplish things. I also love that they come in multiple colors. I keep one color for each task (5th grade = green, 6th grade = pink, personal = yellow)
I LOVE the long post-its! But, I’m a post-it addict! I almost bought one of these planners earlier this year, but I just couldn’t justify the price off recommendations. Glad to see a giveaway! Love to try it!
have found that the older I get the more I have NO choice but to write EVERyTHING down! I have been using a color-coded system to help me with the organization of my planner!
I use Top Priorities for my to do list & break those down thru out the week.
My best strategy is to keep everything in one place (I’m only using ONE planner for all aspects of my life), and to write everything down. Everything! Every Todo, to-buy, to-check, idea, gift plans etc etc. In my brain, anything that didn’t get written down, simply doesn’t exist!
Thanks for the giveaway, by the way! 😉
So I’ve heard a lot about these planners but have never seen one.
I love the gadget you used to elicit participation in the contest and engage with your social media spaces!
One way I stay organized is to use the app Clear. I love it. I keep different lists on my phone.
Another way is that my husband and I share a Calendar and can access from all of our devices. Really helpful, too, to share with our son’s caregivers!
I love the long, lined post it notes and using them for lists.
I love to be organized. I can’t survive in constant chaos.
I really need one of these planners. My goal this year is to be more organized so that I don’t feel like my head is spinning.
I am a HUGE list maker and end up carrying around all of these random pieces of paper with my lists on them!
I also sort my e-mail into folders and usually keep an electronic calendar but I think paper keeps it constantly in front and value long post-its.
I write down everything! Lots of lists!
Handwritten lists are the best organizer for me!
I have always wanted a planner like yours! I need the paper trail to keep me focused.