Getting Real With Kathy Winn

I recently had an enormous panic attack related to scheduling and missed deadlines. Not the deadlines associated with (daytime) full-time job. No. This had more to do with my full-time evening, weekend and every other minute job. I had forgotten to make arrangements at one childcare location. I didn’t know soda cans were supposed to be taken (and due) for the Halloween art project. I was three emails behind from the elementary school teacher. And I knew there was a bill I was forgetting to pay. It was a stressful hour and half as I ran through the house checking lists, drawers and emails to get back on track.

So what did I do? I did the same thing I do at work – I scheduled it all. I sat down and made a calendar for each of the next three months. I sorted through emails (yes, ALL the emails) in my personal inbox and made a list for all supplies, dates, and upcoming events related to children’s activities. I figured out which bill I had missed (along with some help from an email from the principal telling me my son was “overdrawn” in his lunch account) and wrote out the checks or paid them online.

I’m not sure how long this new found home organization will last, but it’s a goal to make it through the rest of this year without missing another art project or school activity. M.C. Escher said “We adore chaos because we love to produce order.” I’m not sure I adore the chaos part, but I certainly love to cross the “to-do’s” off my list.

Get Real With Us…

How do you stay organized once the school year is in full swing and the calendar starts getting overloaded?