Do you use an organizer?

**Judi Dial** · 10-31-2009, 01:30 AM

If so, what kind? Do you use one for your professional life? Do you have a second for your home life? One organizer? A PDA? A family calendar?

Or, more simply put...how do you organize your time, appointments, commitments, etc.?

TIA --

Judi

**mauimagic** · 10-31-2009, 01:41 AM

I have a PDA but haven't used it for a while. I do use the planner that we get from our school to keep my life organized - works well for my needs.

**Rebookie** · 10-31-2009, 01:41 AM

I have a day planner I use once a week, maybe. =D

**shoiji** · 10-31-2009, 11:38 AM

I have a daily planner that I use. I buy a new one each year at Family Dollar. The first one I bought came with a calculator. The one at Family Dollar usually runs at $5. Pretty cheap to keep my life organized for a year.

**IntlMom** · 10-31-2009, 11:52 AM

don;t do it my way. little scraps of paper, an email here, maybe something making it onto the calendar, having to call to find out when an upcoming appt is.........

**madhen** · 10-31-2009, 12:12 PM

I used a day planner for almost a decade, saving each year's calendar, and it was very useful to me. I have gone back to previous year's calendars to find dates more than once.

About two years ago, however, I got an iPhone, and now I have to admit that I'm completely addicted to using it, instead of my planner. I even have a shopping list app on it, so I keep track of items I need right on my phone, and never have to worry about forgetting my list again!

**MaryCarney** · 10-31-2009, 12:50 PM

I have a large, desk blotter kind of calendar that my keyboard sits on. Big enough to write everything on and I slide flyers and stuff under the December page if I'll need them later.

Every week, I transfer stuff onto our menu planning form which I've customized with columns for activities and chores, and put it on the fridge. I made a cute background for it with scrapbook paper and stickers, so it goes with the decor in the kitchen.

I find that having everything, including meals, on one page helps keep me on track.

**Libby** · 10-31-2009, 01:52 PM

I use a small purse sized planner - a week at a glance type deal. I use it to write down any appointments and dates to remember. Doctor's, birthdays, dinners, lunches, momentous occasions, milestones, swimming/gym plus activities I did - all not in great detail but it comes in handy when I need to flip back a week or two to see what I had done then.

Something pretty much like this:
http://www.grandandtoy.com/sites/cor...0900/50917.jpg

I do also carry a mini spiral bound notepad in my purse which has a running list of whatever I spent money on, things I need to buy and chores I need to do plus you just never know when you need a pen and paper right? (I use mini sticky notes as tabbed dividers per each section) The notebook has a lil flap in the front to hold misc papers which is a bonus for coupons sometimes!

**Trishagirl** · 10-31-2009, 02:57 PM

We use a family calendar where we write down all appts etc.

**tervsforme** · 10-31-2009, 07:54 PM

I tried using a PDA, but I like using my Franklin Planner better. I think the writing down of stuff helps me remember and I can see the whole big picture instead of just the little icons on the PDA.

**foxxyroxie** · 11-01-2009, 01:47 AM

About a month ago I made the decision to go back to using a Day Planner. I got my old one out of storage, dusted it off and planned on buying new calendar and address book inserts for it (which would run about $20). Since then I found my usual monthly calendar/planner at Dollar Tree and I bought one for 2010. They even had cool colors... lime green and purple (of course I bought the purple), and realized that the day planner takes up way way too much room in my already too full purse. Who knows, if I find a real good bargain on a new Day Planner (a lot cheaper than what it would cost for the refills), I might change my mind and end up with the Day Planner idea. But for now, I'm going back to my old ways... the purse size calendar/planner... it works for what I need and it doesn't over crowd my purse.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 11-01-2009, 05:06 AM

I use a student organizer...I have to to keep up with homework, tests, etc...as well as misc appointments, car work, and life in general!

We also have a calendar on the wall for general appointments (non school related). Keeps us on task!

**NikoSan999** · 11-01-2009, 09:31 AM

I use the computer calendar. Put everything on it and have it set up for pop up reminders. You can set it for a reminder for however much in advance you need and can change the reminders also as it comes closer. You can see it for a day, a week or a month.
Only thing bad with this is if you aren't on the computer every day which I am so no issue.
I'm also big on notes/lists to myself for short term stuff. A sticky on the coffee pot the night before for example.

**monkeywrangler71** · 11-01-2009, 10:22 AM

I've tried paper planners but never stick with them. I like to think on paper, but not organize on paper.
I had an old palm pilot for years, then inherited a palm treo when my dh switched to a blackberry. When my Treo broke I tried to use my old one again, but I just couldn't go back.

I have an iPod touch now which I absolutely adore. I have an organizing app called pocket informant, which syncs my calendar with google calendar and my todo list with toodledo.

**nuisance26** · 11-01-2009, 10:35 AM

~We use a monthly calender, a weekly wall calender and I make lists, lots of lists.
On Sunday's we transfer the week's appointments to our weekly dry erase calender and then add any additional activities, shopping trips, visits on available days.
It helps to have a basic schedule that's just about set in stone. Ours is homeschooling every weekday from 8am-12pm. Field trips are Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Shopping is nearly always on the first Sunday of the month. Baking day is Sunday, laundry days are usually Monday and Thursday, cleaning day is Tuesday of Friday depending on how messy the house looks. Etc. Once a habit is formed I no longer need to schedule it, it's just automatic.
It works well enough for me.

~