I don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone when I say I'm an organised type.
I've been writing lists since I could operate a pencil, and I've always been an on-time, if-I-say-I'll-be-there-then-I-will kind of girl.
Until this year.
I've let things slip lately, missing catch-ups and appointments that I've scheduled.
This weekend is a perfect example of how my year has shaped up. I was meant to be at my sister's house today for a get together... but I'm also meant to be getting ready to go away for the weekend (and, you know, going). I had bought tickets to go to a netball game with my sister-in-law... but it's Melbourne Cup weekend and we always go away.
This is also the first year I've used electronic calendars and apps for my lists, instead of a diary.
Coincidence? I think not.
Despite knowing I'd put today's catch-up with my sister into the computer calendar, it isn't there. I can only assume it went missing when I did a recent update - I noticed lots of other things missing that I'd entered that day, and re-entered everything I could think of.
When someone like me starts to feel like a scrambled, disorganised person, it's time for some serious action. Computers do weird things sometimes, and when it comes to being organised I've decided I can't take that risk any longer.
This explains why, when the lovely people at Inner-B and Mum PR asked if I'd like a 2012 diary, I said yes rather enthusiastically. It arrived this week, and I spent the whole week looking forward to filling it in - I love being an organiser geek again!
Some habits never die - the first thing I've always done with a new diary is put my birthday in...
There are a number of organising products available at Inner-B, including family week planners, meal planners, notepads and pregnancy organisers. The one I have is the Mum Organiser - it includes some great features like monthly overviews, weekly pages, and handy checklists...
And being in a binder-style means that each subsequent year you can just buy refills. Oh, and an inspirational quote every now and then throughout the year never goes astray either...
Now I feel set for next year. This diary will go everywhere with me, and I vow to be back to my organised self for the year ahead!
Giveaway time! I have one Inner-B Mum Organiser to give away - all you have to do to enter is tell me: Are you into electronic organisation or are you old-school like me?
[Giveaway only open to Australian residents. Ends at 5pm AEDST Friday, November 4th 2011.]
46 comments:
I actually use a bit of both. I have an iphone so I use that a lot for organising myself but there are some things that I like to have up where everyone in the family can see and use them eg Calendar, chore charts.
Next year we are hoping to add to our family so I'll have to be even more organised. :)
I'm definitely an old school kind of gal. I love to write lists and physically see the date planned before my eyes, rather than looking at it on my phone. Next week I'm starting weekly menu plans in The Shoebox, as not only does my organisation suffer when I don't write it, so does cooking for the week if it's not already written on a plan! Fabulous giveaway, their products look fantastic, and I've heard great things before about them. x
Oh my goodness! I am in love with your organizer! (I'm from the US, so your lovely spelling of "organize" is awfully cute and foreign to me.) I am also an old-school organization geek, and fill notebooks upon notebooks of to-do lists, entertaining lists, grocery lists, lists-to-make lists and so forth. Every year I struggle to find a planner that isn't a) cheesy, b) too small (I need space to write!), c) too big (it needs to fit in my purse...) and/or d) just plan boring. It sounds like you've hit the Type-A List Maker's jackpot! Hope you enjoy. :)
always always always keep a pen and paper diary with me, fill it in carefully … then never look at it again. since i bought my smartypants phone this year i am giving that a go, but i miss that ritual of turning from page to page and feeling my life is somehow in order. not to mention a place to tuck all those tearouts from the catalogues and little love notes from my precious two … xt
Old school. Electronic stuff hates me. And as it is my birthday on the 3rd I definitely think you should send ther Mum organiser to me. Cause I'm nice. And old. And forgetful.
:-)
I am officially addicted to my iPhone and I just adore my new iPad which I was lucky enough to receive from my beautiful family for my birthday recently........BUT.......when it comes to my lists (which I love to make all day every day) and my calendar I'm very much old school. I've tried to do this electronically but for some reason it just doesn't work for me - which is weird as I'm so attached to my phone!!! I love being able to write thoughts down too - and it's just not the same doing that electronically.
this year i did the same thing - tried to use computuer/iphone etc to organise. epic fail! going back to paper next year. will eheck these out!
I'm old school. I occasionally put a reminder in my phone with an alarm but I prefer to see everything on a proper page complete with lovely paper. Plus I've never found an app that does absolutely everything I want. The past few years I haven't even found an organizer that does everything I want! So in the past I've actually printed and bound my own organizers/diary just so it was exactly how I want it! I would love not to have to do that again this year! ;)
Im totally old school, I dont remember it unless I write it down on paper.. Computers dont have the same feel to them that a kickass paper diary does! I would love to try these ones out!
I haven't figured out the perfect system yet... I've been searching for the perfect app for my iPhone and iPad and I like that my DH and I can sync our calendars that way, but it jut feels like something is missing. I like the permanence of paper - what's written down is there to stay and can't get overwritten or lost.
I actually use both. I generally use a pocket organiser/calender for my teaching work and electronic devices (phones) for other things. I must say that I am more comfortable and happy to be 'old school' and write into an organiser especially after my phone had an accident a couple of weeks ago and I lost every thing (contacts and my appointments). The Organiser that you have tested looks fantastic the 'Mum Organiser' would definately help stream line my chaotic life!
Old school for sure, love putting in all the birthdays in at the start of the year and marking them with a sticker. C
I love love love the idea of electronic organisation....and when I got my iphone this year was so excited to be keeping on top of things with the organisation apps.....however I am also a list person and am finding that Im not realising I have things on until the night before.....and next year Ive decided to go back to the old fashioned paper and pen way of doing things.....with 3 kids and hubby and my chaotic social life (NOT!!!!) more like the kids social lives....I need to be able to see clearly where we all should be and when.....so Im thinking if Im not lucky enough to win this gorgeous organiser then I will definately be buying myself one!!!
Im an old school like you.
I try electronic and failed big time, I quite often would not hear reminders or let phone go dead which would leave me unable to look at what I have.
Good old style means that it is there in black and white. Plus I love writing it all in for some reason!
I'm an organizer geek too.
How much fun is filling in a date book every year???!!!
My pet hate is having to cross out items when they get rescheduled though!!
Electronically, that would be less traumatic!
:-)
I'm old school but I set alarms on my mobile as reminders to get out of the house in time.
I too have slipped this year.
I'm a bit of both - I put most appointments in my phone, with alarms set so I definitely don't forget. But I also keep a diary in my handbag at all times, and that holds ALL appointments and events, and any paperwork that needs to go with them.
I feel so grownup. Except that if I win, I want the fuschia one, because pink just makes everything funner :)
Paper for me, but that isn't working! I need help, or really I need a wife to run this place!
I'm defin itely old school. I love making lists and writing things down. But I don't need a "mum" organiser, I'll have to slip over to InnerB and see what else they've got. Otherwise, it's back to Officeworks for a plain old Dayplanner refill.
I am so old school, I print off monthly calendar pages from my mac. I use a notebook then type up blog posts on the mac. So old school that my mum finds it funny.
Next year I'll be organised old school though because I am so needing this diary!
Old school all the way!! I l haven't even tried using an electronic/phone organiser, I just know it won't have the same feel as a paper-and-pen diary. I love the extra features of the Mum Organiser diary!! xo
I like to try and be old school but truth is my iPhone is great - I think doing both would make me super organised. I'm horrible at remembering what's on; but I'm old school when note taking and planning - it needs to be written down.
I've always been old school until this year. Now I do computer/iphone which works well for the most part, but I find I do need to complement the electronic calendar with paper to-dos and such.
Next year, I'm going to be studying again, so will be going back to paper organisation/highlighters/sticky tabs and using the electronic devices for back up only. Much easier to plan my days and children around due assignments that way, I think.
I'm definitely old school about my organization too! It has to be down on paper and I like having actual pages to flip through. BUT, I do utilize the calendar on my cell phone as well. I like having it in multiple places just in case I'm without my paper planner or without my cell phone :) Gotta think ahead!
I'm such an organizational freak. I'm definitely old school, I can never remember to put appointments and such in my phone. It just seems way faster and easier to whip out my calendar and write it in. I usually make spreadsheets to fill in and post them on the fridge to keep me organized but the down side is I never have the lists with me while I'm out and about! Definitely gotta make a change!
Oh Megan, I completely agree!! I too found things missing from my electronic organizer and have since switched back to old school. I know I'm in the USA, but still HAD to comment. :)
I haven't found an app that works on my iphone to keep more organised, so it's old-school for me!
I am totally old school. i don't have a smart phone, so I need an organizer that I can have with me at all times. I like being able to make appointments with the confidence that I amnot working or otherwise engaged. Hooray for pen and paper!
Old school for me Megan. When I worked it was electronic. I always had Microsoft Outlook open and could bring it home with me. I've tried using it at home but I just don't have the computer on all the time. I prefer something that hits me in the face every day like a calendar on the wall and noticeboards. One big diary would also be great!
old skol for me! although I have become quite reliant on text message appointment reminders for the kids dentist etc
I am definitely an old school organiser with a diary that I carry around for work and play. I have attempted to use the calendar applications this year on my iphone, however it was not a positive experience as I seemed to miss the notifications and subsequent meeting/appointment so I have resorted to writing my life details into my written diary for the remainder of the year. I am also an avid lover of stationary in general so old school diaries really take my fancy! Have a great day.
Im old school, tried electronic, but for some reason I just seem to ignore it. what's with that
I'm a bit of a mix - love a paper list for the day but still keep a Remember the Milk list going on my iPhone; have recently ditched the paper diary after getting used to using my phone calendar constantly. I almost wish the technology wasn't there - but because it is, I use it.
I've tried to use calender apps on my ipad and phone. I've tried to adapt to this whole electronic organiser thing. I really have. But...
I just can't do it. i need a pen and paper. I need to be able to easily flick through pages. I need to be able to scribble notes, write check lists. I need a diary that I can hold. Looks like I'm Old School too.
Old school all the way - probably because I don't own a smart phone or anything else electronic that is portable. I also have a bit of an obsession with all things stationary. Lists are great - and I love that this organiser has lists like the Kids Party Planner pre-set out. Great giveaway!
I need both! My diary manages my week overview, my iPhone reminds me what day it is and that I'm supposed to be somewhere
Too
Too bad I'm not from Australia. I'd like to have that organizer too. I've tried countless times to get into e-organizing but I simply can't. I need to be able to "cross-out" things in my lists to keep me going :)
I am a calendar girl. A massive old fashioned paper one that hangs on my kitchen wall with huge blocks so you can fill it with even the smallest things (like library books and take-a-plates). And if I don't write stuff on the calendar it just doesnt happen! Same with hubby... In saying that, it's too big for me to throw in my bag so I pop all my dates in my iphone while i am out and then I just have to remember to transfer to The Calendar, or else...
I'm a bit of a mix- electronic calendar and task list at work, paper diary for me personally. I also use my phone calendar to set reminders for things I remember to do when I'm out and about. But my paper diary is my favourite, I'm crazy for stationery! I was just thinking the other day that I should spoil myself with a fancy diary for 2012, this one would do nicely!
I've really tried to go electronic - and only just bought an iphone - but I can't quite get my head around the possibility of losing all the info in one go. I am a bit like you and bit not like you! I aspire to be very organised and in many things I am - but often life takes over and it all becomes a flurry of activities. The one thing I can not operate well without is a to do list or checklist and a family calendar - this diary looks really lovely, Stay organised for me - you can be one of my role models x
I am old school all the way. I love writing down appointments, memos, shopping lists and keep sakes in my diary because it is there for me to keep and to read back whenever i like. Electronic diaries lack personality I think, they don't reflect the owner, just the owners hectic schedule. Plus, writing things down helps me to remember them :)
Cheers.
Old school all the way! If it's not written down on actual paper then it didn't happen (or it won't happen - because I won't remember it!)
I'm absolutely unorganised; I'm all over the place. But if I do give organisation a go, I'll write it down.
Hi, I am a bit of both.. I used to be electronic until I had a child and my memory went out the window :L).. Post baby bliss I forgot to look at the electronic devices never mind use them. Now I need both!
OMG! Your year has been the same as mine...as in I tried going to electronic organising and then missed appointments or doubled up 'time brackets'.
I thought I would be so much better organised and it would be more streamlined using my mobile phone to organise life seeing as I went back to work P/T after 2yrs of SAHM.
Where do you scribble notes? Ideas? Where do you note that all important reminder that can be double or triple circled?
I have persevered through the year (though a calendar hangs near the kitchen that MUST have family appointments on it) but it's back to the personal diary/ organiser for me next year...especially with bub #2 due in January!
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