People ask me all the time how I do it. I can honestly say I don’t know. There are days I wonder how I keep it all together. Staying organized while working a full time job and soap business can be tricky. I don’t claim to have all the answers. What I can show you are some tools I use to keep myself organized.
Google calendar (or any on-line calendar) isn’t for me, I need a paper calendar I can keep in my pocketbook. (I still can’t figure out how I can answer my cell phone and make an appointment at the same time). I like low-tech. I can flip between months and see what’s going on easily. There is also a small notebook in my pocketbook so I can write down ideas that pop into my head. I know I can use my phone to record the idea, but remember, I like low-tech.
I made my own yearly planner. I’ve tried the Passion Planner, some Etsy planners and the plain kind you get in Staples, but none of them have exactly what I want in the order I want it in. So I make my own. I have a section for monthly goals, a monthly calendar section, a weekly section and a few pages in the back for notes.
Every day I make up a daily To-Do list from my calendar and planner. (Yes, a handwritten list on a piece of scrap paper. Low-tech, remember?) It’s divided into 2 sections, what I need to do and what I’d like to be able to do. Some days I can get everything on the list done, while other days are another story.
My kitchen timer is another tool I find useful. If I have 10 minutes to kill before leaving for work, I set the timer and see how much cleaning I can get done in my soap studio. Or I’ll empty and organize the junk drawer in the kitchen. Learning to use small amounts of time has been a game changer for me.
Do you have any tips for me? I’d be grateful if you’d share them in the comments below. I’m always looking for ways to keep myself organized and on task.
Yours in Gratitude,
Angela