Organizing Class #3

I wasn't able to go to the class last week, but my sweet neighbor took notes for me (and you). Here they are:


-Time management- slow down and save things till we're gray

-Those who know you the most will remember who you are and not what you do/did.

-Don't wait for it to be urgent. Use your launching/landing pads!

-Move your life to early.

-The most important person is you. Then spouse. Then family. Then the rest of the world. In that order.

-Get dressed so you're ready to kill. Prep for the day.

-Your man needs you there when he leaves and comes home. Hug, kiss, have lipstick on, stop everything when he comes through the door.

-Say no to something this season so you can say yes to others.

-You can never be late when you are 5 minutes early.

-Eat your elephant slowly. Did you know there are 4,000 muscles in the elephant's trunk?!? Eat your elephant sized problems one bite at a time. Use TRS system.

-TRS system= Tools (dividers, binders, folders, etc.), Systems (put things where they belong as soon as you're finished, once your husband is done with the Ensign then you read it and then it goes into recycler, etc.), and Routines (choose a specific time each week to take a bite out of your elephant).

-Think, create, and plan.

-Natural energy. Maybe the times when you are alone, you get twice as much done. When you have your energy, use it. When you are alone, use time well. Use your prime time to your advantage.

-You are the one who must decide when to say yes or no. Callings, always say yes. Other things, say, "That is a great idea. Let me think about it and I'll get back to you."

-Every time you are saying yes to something you are automatically saying no to something else. Which thing is more important? Maybe you can do only a part, or commit to do it at a later time.

-Say no so you can say yes more. Balance.

-Get a business card sheet protector for your Family Information Binder. Make spare keys for all the keys in your life. Store them here, sealed with tape.

-You're either doing an Activity or an Accomplishment. Move more of your Activities to the Accomplishment side.

-Laminate. If it's worth doing at all, it's worth doing forever.

-Make a one month menu so you never have to think about what to eat.

-Are you always buying the same thing every time you go to the grocery store? (milk, bread, cheese, produce...) Then make several copies of a Master Grocery List, and you'll save a lot of time by rewriting the same list week after week after week.

-Give yourself a 5 minute vacation every day to play. We need interests and energy.

-Stamina principle. Do something interesting, then something boring, then something interesting, then something boring... Something you like, something you dislike, something you like, something you dislike. Keep alternating.

-Make a list to keep inside your cupboard door of jobs that take only 3 minutes to do. Ex: secure buttons, clip frayed carpet, etc. This will fill in gaps of your time (like when you're waiting for something to boil, or you're talking on the phone, etc.)

-Family Councils. Families should be organized and communicate well. Step 1: 2 adults have a planning session to plan function. Unified, talk through activities. Stewardship (talk about how things are going). Step 2: Whole family. Schedule with kids. Returning and Reporting. Teaches them self-initiative and independence. Stop nagging and plan. Bring a problem with a solution. Step 3: Interview. Use a timer as you don't want to hog. What are your heavy burdens? This will bring blessings of unity.

-Plan each day out on paper. She has a cool paper for this. On the left hand side, she's got the hours of the day from 6am going down to 10pm. Then she has her lists in 3 columns next to that: Commitments, Chores/To Do, and Odds/Ends. Then at the bottom she has the 3 Meals of the day listed (or the meals for tomorrow- need to get meat out of freezer, etc.), and Phone Calls she needs to remember to make, and any other Thoughts (inspiration that comes into your head).

-Plan day to day like this for a month. She has these daily sheets, as well as weekly sheets, monthly sheets, yearly sheets, and 20-year-plan sheets.

-Heads are for solving problems. Paper is for remembering.


I love that last bit. So funny! Okay, here's to putting everything I want to remember on paper!!