The key to keeping my busy life sane is planning, pre-planning, and list-making.  Spontaneity and procrastination are the chief enemies to keeping my life under control!

Generally, we all know what events, parties, meals etc. we will need to be ready for in the coming weeks.  The problem is that many of us are scrambling to deal with what is happening today to focus and plan for what is coming around the corner.

My main organizational weapon is my smart phone.   To keep organized, I keep track of all upcoming plans on my smart phone.

For example, I maintain a running shopping list on my smart phone.   I have headings for each store and enter in items as I think of them.  Because my list is broken up by store, I can tell at a glance if it’s worth it to make a Target or Costco run.  My ability to plan my shopping trips also helps me avoid last minute errands to pick up “just that one item.”  Especially when I’m shopping last-minute (oops – WE are snack family this week!), I find that this blows not just my schedule but my budget as well!

I also keep a running errand list on my Blackberry.  Each week, I scroll through my calendar and enter onto my errand list all appointments, meetings, programs, etc.  I am then able to plan in advance on which days I will run each necessary errand.  I also block off time to take care of necessary chores at home.  At first, it may seem silly to write down that you will get cash, gas and groceries on Wednesday.  However, this method ensures that you have set aside the time to do those necessary jobs.  I also find this pre-planning helpful in being efficient in using my errand-running time.  It’s best to plan out your errands based on geographic convenience and spend 2-3 hours running all the errands for the week.  When you add in travel time, spreading those errands throughout the week could add in considerable waste of travel time and gas.

My list-making also allows me to know ahead of time when a week is going to be just completely crazy.  The kind of week when the kids and I leave the house at 7:30 a.m. and don’t return until just before dinnertime.  The kind of week that used to cause me to call for a pizza delivery or take-out on my way home from our last appointment.  Now, I know ahead of time that I need to set aside 2-3 hours on a Sunday night and prepare meals for the week.  I’ve developed a number of healthy recipes that taste great when reheated in the microwave.  This pre-planning basically allows me to have my meals ready to go whenever we get home.  Saves time, money, stress and is much, much healthier for my family.

I was inspired to create this web page the many people who ask me, sincerely, “How do you do it?  What is your secret?”  What is it that I “do?”  I am raising four wonderful children, each of whom is involved in numerous extra-curricular and sporting activities, I cook most of my family’s (healthy) meals, and I do this with a husband who has an extremely demanding career and no help from extended family.   So, how do I do it?  A combination of extreme time management and pre-planning for everything!

In my prior, pre-mommy life, I worked in the financial services industry helping to manage large-scale Information Technology projects.  As our family grew and grew and grew and grew, I quickly realized that I needed to think of my new job of Chief Operating Officer of the Morris Household in the same manner I approached my corporate job.  Yes, this means that I maintain calendars, prioritized to-do lists, and excel spreadsheets to manage our family’s life.  My planning means that I am not scrambling the morning of a soccer game to put together a snack for the team and my kids aren’t hunting for their library books or having to walk out the door minus the item their teacher requested be sent in to school.

The bonus of all this “behind the scenes” work is that I can – usually – carve out play time for our family.  And, that is the relaxed, quality time that makes all my hard work worthwhile.