Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Thursday 13: Lists



I am a list maker, always have been....most likely always will. All of my lists are in my handy dandy control journal. It is broken up into different sections of things I need to make my little world function. I pretty much do the same thing every day, so it really made since to me. I was born organized. My home is not always completely picked up....I have two preschoolers! But it is never more than 15 minutes from clean. The kids are learning simple routines and that things have a home. A babysitter can ask them where the dinosaurs go, and both could show you where they go.



Here are the thirteen sections in my control journal that is nothing more than a glorified Trapper Keeper! Doesn't that make you think of junior high?



Daily Routines: these are the things I do every day



1. The morning routine helps get us out the door by 8AM.

2. The afternoon routine is actually pretty much tying up loose ends of things I started in the morning.


3. The before bed routine is the most important one of all to me! I do as much I can after the kids are in bed so that I can push that snooze button if I really want to!! Finally, I do a daily




4. To Do list of the things that aren't on my routines. Today's to do list consists mainly of stuff I need to do to get ready for the weekend.

5.Weekly routines: I do certain things on certain days. The kids go to preschool Monday through Thursday. So I do certain things "kid-free"


6. Zones: The house is divided into five zones. If I get done with the normal every day stuff, I have a great list of "spring cleaning" type things


7. Grocery list: I keep an ongoing list of things in our pantry. Kind of like a perpetual pantry


8. Emergency section: filled with insurance stuff


9. Emergency numbers: sheriff, fire, ambulance, poison control


10. Address book section: This includes a list of Christmas cards sent in previous years.


11. Babysitter info:


12. Vacation packing lists


13. Moving information


"Happiness is not something ready-made, it comes from your own actions." ~His Holiness, the Dalai Lama


This quote sums up the very reason that I do these things. When my world is upside down and chaotic, I am not happy. I need my lists to help things go smoothly. Since I do the very same things all the time, there is no sense wasting time rewriting the very same lists.

Happy Thursday, y'all! Want to play: the new thursday-13

20 comments:

Lori said...

Wow...I need one of those! Happy TT:) Thanks for the idea.

Anonymous said...

I always meant to be so organized, but some how it never works out.

Unknown said...

YOU're very organized. I make grocery lists and I forget to take them with me lol Happy T13!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

Is this one from fly lady?

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...

I love the FlyLady! I use my control journal all the time too--although its not nearly as updated as it should be to be really useful.

whiterabbit said...

You are my hero! I try so hard to be organized and I am a list maker also but it just doesn't seem to work out very well.

anthonynorth said...

Routines certainly help to make life easier.

My T-13

Hootin Anni said...

I used to be that way...the same as you, up until I retired. Now, it's just doing things on a whim.

My thirteen is posted. Come visit and view some of my favorite personal photos I took of them....Clydesdales that is. Happy Thursday.

Mia Celeste said...

Cool. I think lists are good things. Happy TT!

Anonymous said...

Wow! That's way more organized than I ever thought of being! Happy TT - I'm up at both Coffee Break and Everyday Tarot. Come visit!

tavolini said...

Man, if I had one iota of your organizational skills...actually, I would probably procrastinate and it would all fall apart in a week :)

I am amazed--and I loved my trapper keeper!

Journeywoman said...

I wish I could be that organized.

Happy TT.

amariaf2000 said...

Trapper Keeper -- it's been a long time since I've heard that (or seen one)! That is so great that you have everything in one spot! I think you could totally market this and make BIG bucks!
~angela

Pop Art Diva Enterprises said...

I guess I'm a list maker too - it's the first thing to do for anyone who wants to be organized! I have lists for my lists, lol. But they do keep you on track and focused. I'm able to do this with pretty good effect because I don't have pre-schoolers!

Instead of my usual retro theme I went topical this week - my TT this week is:

Thirteen Ways to get your money back from those bailed out bank burglars!

Happy TT!

Monogram Queen said...

I am list maker when it counts but never will be even 1/8 as organized as you!

Anonymous said...

YIPPEEE!! You know I'm all over this. Being geeks, I set up a household account at todoist.com But this!? Sheer brilliance.

I'm telling you - it's only a matter of time before it's $500/hr Tommie!

Anonymous said...

I made a new years resolution to be more organized and it's March and I'm still trying to figure out a game plan. Gah. I like your list. Maybe I should give it a try.

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

I have mini-lists on my master lists, so I totally get this! :)

Anonymous said...

Wow! I get tired just reading your schedule! Happy TT!
My TTs (each different) are up at both The Eclectic Witch TT and Thorne's World TT Search terms

Janet said...

I love your organizational skills!