...and which tools do you use?

I use Windows calendar (standard Windows Vista program) to organize my everyday life. There, you can have different calendars for different aspects of my life (paying bills etc), I have one for general things, one for appointments, one for tv-programs I want to watch etc. The program also have a list where you can write down your tasks (to-do list).

I don't use a special program to organize my finances, I have a simple budget in an excel document.

I also organize my eating and exercise with Fitday (the PC version, not the online version, it has more functions, like graphs and overview tables), it tracks calories eaten I've eaten every day, exercise I've done etc). This is important to me, because I have a very complicated relationship with food, and I'm trying to lose weight.

I also have shopping lists in a word document.

What about you?

i have a cell phone that I carry and it vibrates reminders and I also have these file thingys that are a different color I put bills and junk mail etc. and I am sloppy and disorganized so I always keep my school assignments and everything I need to do for school at the front of my binder, I have OCD so the house stays clean.

i use my brain im always screwing dates up though and bad organization

Sometimes I can barely do the work it takes just to be organized. Setting up all those eltronic gizmos and making lists in word sounds like too much work and I could be doing other things. Isn't it enough to just write appointments on a calander and keep reminders on a note pad?

All these other devices just sound like ADD "bling" to me.

All these other devices just sound like ADD "bling" to me.

Me too ... most of the time !

Basically : computer tool ( excel ) to (try to ) organize family budget and to remenber annual dates ( birthdate, car revision ...)

phone calendar to remenber daily appointements.

2 Notebooks to write anything other : 1 notebook staying at home the other being in my pocket with my phone.

Adding anything will just distract me

I use my phone/PDA (smartphone). The phone (a palm Treo) is synchronized with Outlook on my computer, and the calendar function helps me remember appointments, due dates to pay bills and the like. In my case the data on the phone is synchronized through my office mail server, but home users can do it manually with the USB connection to the computer (that way you always have a backup for your data). Reminder alarms can be set at different intervals (such as 5 minutes before the due time, 1 day before, or whatever you choose), which can be useful if you are trying to remember someone’s birthday (for example, you need time to buy a present) or to call someone (you do not need preparation time). Before having the Palm phone I used to use a Palm Pilot (great thing about them is that there is a lot of free software for Palm).<o></o>
Once you have all this, do you ever wonder what you actually did all day? The “Journal” in Outlook will keep track of many things for you.<o></o>

My PDA (an older model Dell), cell phone (for alarms), paper adgenda/calendar (for jotting down appts when I'm in class and the PDA would be considered inappropriate), lists (not losing them is hard though), etc...

I really want to get a smartphone because carrying the PDA and phone is kind of a pain and those are my main organizational tools.

I have been using an organizer, I think before they even had them. A long time ago I bought notebooks and wrote the date at the top of each page. I also would write down my budget and to do lists. I quess this was my attempt to organise my mind. If they sold organizers then I never really noticed, 25 yrs ago???????? None of my friends had executive type positions so those people may have had them.

I'm constantly trying new things and buying more and more books (One Year to an Organized Life and others) and never sticking with anything! I try for two days then quit. FlyLady.com. Sidetracted Home Executives. Now I'm going to try a system I'm putting together. "Your Brain is a Kitchen" or something like that. (see my blog for details. Not totally organized yet. That was just my theory so far). How long will I stick with that one? Hopefully I'll gather a few things from each place I try and it'll all come together eventually!

"How do you organize your life?"

With a note pad and pen. Seriously. I have 'to-do lists' coming out of my ears. I make a list of everything that needs done and I mark it off as I go.

"How do you organize your life?"

With a note pad and pen. Seriously. I have 'to-do lists' coming out of my ears. I make a list of everything that needs done and I mark it off as I go.


Me too, Rose!

Glad you understand. It used to drive my guy crazy but it was the only way I could deal with everything, kids, school, shopping, housekeeping, everything. I don't do it so much as I used to but then my life is a lot simpler now and that helps a lot.

I am a sucker for anything that claims it will help me get organized, but I at 34 I have faced at fact...its not going to happen. I lose everything. My keys, my cell phone, you name it. I give myself credit for trying, but I just can't get it right. I'm just trying to do my best for my little girl so that she can do her best and do whats right for herself and suceed in her life. I'm just now trying to go back to school to get my college degree, finding out the I have ADD has helped me gain the focus to have the courage to actually finish. Thanks for listening.

I am a sucker for anything that claims it will help me get organized, but I at 34 I have faced at fact...its not going to happen. I lose everything. My keys, my cell phone, you name it. I give myself credit for trying, but I just can't get it right. I'm just trying to do my best for my little girl so that she can do her best and do whats right for herself and suceed in her life. I'm just now trying to go back to school to get my college degree, finding out the I have ADD has helped me gain the focus to have the courage to actually finish. Thanks for listening. 03-26-08 06:53 PM

Hi Momof1

After many years of losing keys (and it still happens from time to time) I have placed a nice decorative box on a shelf by the front door that my keys MUST go in when I get home. A friend has one of those key hangers on the wall that works for her. Then I have an outside pocket on my purse that my keys MUST go into when I am out and about. Still slip up from time to time, but this helps tremendously!

The cell phone has its little pocket in my purse, too.

The home phone has an intercom feature so we can find its location and my husband and I always joke that we need one for the t.v remotes!

Good luck with finishing up your degree and hang in there!

Jennifer (also mom of one daughter, Jordan age 7)

organise and life don't go in the same sentence for me : D

I use a PDA (Palm TX) to keep track of my lists, phone numbers, and appointments. I've set up the default alarm for one hour ahead of appointments. Some times I set the alarm for even further in advance. Like for birthdays and such. That way I have time to buy cards and stuff. My PDA sync's with MS Outlook, and Google calender. This way if my PDA dies I can still get at my info. When it comes to my paper work I'm hopeless. The best I can manage is to stuff it all into my briefcase. At least it's all in one place. It might take me 20 minuets to find something though. For my bills, I use Quicken's Bill Pay service. Most of my bills are set up for automatic payment, the bills that are not reoccurring tend to be a problem. I usually manage to get them paid by the third or fourth notice.:eek:

I don't.
....I leave a trail behind me like "pig pen" in the peanuts comix

I use my BlackBerry for everything. I store my events and notifications in there periodically. If I didn't have it, I'd be done. I don't know about you guys, but when I was in middle school I would write what I needed to do on my hands, haha.

My grandson does that. lol