I’m pretty sure if I went to see a financial expert, he or she would tell me that part of my money problems are due to the lack of an effective organizational system.
And I don’t need an expert to tell me that.
I know it’s true.
Since Mother’s Day, I’ve been really concentrating on trying to get my shit together.
Part of my problem (just as with the weight loss a couple years ago and most other areas of my life) is that I have a lot of work to do, and I’m not so good in the patience department.
I want to fix everything all at once. Immediately.
And that’s not realistic.
Because I have so many things going on at once, so many plates spinning simultaneously, I need to have a plan.
So far, I’ve been good.
The first part of my plan was to start going to bed earlier and then getting up earlier.
I’ve done this for three consecutive days.
Next item on the list: Get my shit organized.
I have not been good with this. Until very recently.
I wish I was one of those people who could use their phone to keep track of everything.
But I’m just not. And I never will be.
I need to write stuff down. And I need one central location for all my thoughts/ideas/tasks/schedules that is also adaptable to my needs.
Luckily, I learned about keeping a bullet journal from the awesome woman who designed my website.
She mentioned it in a program she offers called the Subtraction Project.
I was intrigued by the term bullet journal, so I checked it out.
You might want to check it out, too.
I love it, and it works for me.
(No, I am not being paid or compensated in any way to write about this. I just think it’s really awesome, and I wanted to share.)
For the first time, I have a system that can help me keep track of all the plates I’ve got spinning. Because it’s flexible and adaptable.
So here’s what I did today…
The guy who came up with the bullet journal recommends using a particular journal which you can get on Amazon for about $20.
That’s a lot of money for a journal.
For me it is, anyway.
Instead, I got a composition book for $1.00.
But even after I had had the journal for about two weeks, I hadn’t opened it or written a thing in it.
As silly as it seems, I wasn’t using it because it wasn’t pretty enough. If I was going to commit to this thing and be using it day in and day out, I needed it to be pretty.
But nothing I found was functional and pretty and affordable.
So I took a piece of scrapbook paper I had and some mod podge.
And I turned my journal into this!
How cute is that? For only a buck!
Now I’m ready!
I’m getting up early and now I have a pretty place to get all my shit organized.
I’m positive it’s going to help me in many other ways, too.
If organization is an issue for you, check out the bullet journal.
It may help you come up with a plan, and stay more focused, just like it’s helping me.
Because now that I have a plan, well, I feel a whole lot more in control of my life.
And that definitely doesn’t suck.
Libby says
Susie,
This system seems too complicated for my add brain. But I’m glad it works for you. I use the “notes” feature on my iPhone to make a simple to do list. Then, I keep another notes page with more specifics lists for projects. For example, I have a list item that says -pack for camping, then a whole notes page with my camping packing list and a list of what to buy.
I keep all of my calendar items in my iPhone calendar and invite my husband to anything he needs to attend so it shows up on his calendar too.
I find this useful because I don’t lose my phone like I would a journal.
Anyways I’m glad your feeling good about getting organized!