How can I be better organised with paperwork/to do lists?

[cheeseisthebest]

I'm quite tidy, meal plan each week, do online food shop, etc but I constantly have scraps of paper with notes/to do lists.
Some are things that never get done, some are urgent, some are work related, some things I need to buy.
I work full time from home, 2 kids at different schools, have a puppy. Life can get overwhelming and I really need a decent system to help me be less chaotic!
TIA

Have separate lists for the separate areas.
Frequently do a new list and put the things you’ve not done at the top.
If you’re not realistically going to do something, don’t put it on the list.

All in the same pad?
I have a meal ideas pad, a work pad. I think working at home can really blur the boundaries as well.

You can get project books with dividers in , I have a4 ones for work projects and an a6 one for bag for general lists.

Paperwork folders

I found that having a single note pad to write all reminders in really helped, esp as it meant no longer having scrappy bits of paper everywhere.

Cross out a task once it's done. I'll sometimes start a new page to plan my week by carrying across the tasks I haven't done and 'grouping' them - ie if I'm going into town then I'll look through my to-do list and write all the tasks that need to be done in town (visit bank, shoe repairs, buy wrapping paper/birthday card etc). Similarly with phone calls - I'll group those together.

Finally, every so often I'll go back through the pages of my notebook and start a new list by carrying over all tasks that I haven't done. If I carry over the same uncompleted task 3 or 4 times them I'll either prioritise it (if it's important) or just accept that it isn't going to get done.

I use the Toodledo app on my phone, useful for reminders and making to do lists

Look into bullet journalling to help you define your own system.

I like having 2 notebooks. I use one for meal planning and one for everything else, but you could use one for daily planning and another for longer term stuff like

I've recently had DS2 and post-Christmas my head felt completely full of hundreds of things to remember. The following helped me.

First off I'd do a brain dump onto one big sheet. You don't have to categorise. They might be time-specific tasks, long term tasks or stuff to remember.

I then categorised into actual achievable tasks, then stuff I could do that week. The other stuff went on a separate list so it wasn't forgotten. Each week I refer back to this.

I then got one notebook and borrowing a bullet journal idea, left a few pages at the beginning for contents and use that instead of scraps. I then write what it is in contents. E.g 2022 term dates page 4 or measurement of bedroom for new carpet page 6. Everything's then 'to hand'. I feel like I store less in my brain.

I use a calendar on my phone for all appointments, school hols, annual leave and so does DH. We have a calendar in kitchen I put my own stuff on too and family/friend birthdays so I can remember to send card or phone/message on the day.

We also have a Google Home Hub (like Alexa) we can talk to and give instructions. E.g. 'add kitchen roll to supermarket list'. This list is then on my phone and I refer to when doing shopping list. So very helpful. No more writing a few items down on a post it and then losing it before I write the main list.

Until recently I also used diaries or calendars with a column for everyone but personally that didn't ever work. It may for you if your kids are older but mine are baby and 3 so don't have loads going on!

Oops, need to add. For stuff to buy, if its a shop I don't go to regularly e.g. Ikea I have a list of its own in the notebook 'To buy from Ikea'. If it's for example coffee or loo roll then I just put on supermarket list.

@FrancesFlute no those calendars have never worked for me either. I'm trialling AM, PM, evening columns this year but I think I prefer just a big square.

[quote FreeFrenchHens]@FrancesFlute no those calendars have never worked for me either. I'm trialling AM, PM, evening columns this year but I think I prefer just a big square.[/quote]
Yes, great! I've got month to view and big squares on mine this year and much prefer it so far!

If you're working from home, I would write your work related tasks on 'virtual' post it notes on your computer screen and then you don't have lots of different pieces of paper laying around for work tasks. The programme is called 'sticky notes' on my laptop. They remain stuck to your home page until you delete them

I have a kind of bullet journal. It's an A5 binder with dividers, so I use it for to-do lists, budgeting, life plans, etc.

In the kitchen, I have a whiteboard where with magnets, so I write to-do lists and meal plans, things I remember. Stick on bills, etc.

I have a separate notebook for work.

I also have running shopping lists for places like IKEA and Costco.

I think you have to try a few systems and find one that works best for you.

I keep everything on my phone, so completely paperless. I also diarise everything and look ahead so I know what needs doing in advance.

Thank you that's all really helpful.
Im trying to find a5 divider notepads to buy but all the ones I've seen are really pricey!

www.wilko.com/en-uk/wilko-project-book-navy-a5/p/0507493

Can you keep lists on your phone instead? Less messy & less chance of losing them.

I’d agree with bullet journaling. I’ve found it really helpful

You can do similar to the sectioned notepads with a normal notepad and some sticky tabs like these <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=<a class="break-all" href="https://www.[[//amazon.co.uk/Sticky-Notes-Markers-School-Revision/dp/B00BDS7EGQ&ved=2ahUKEwiL4P-V8bb1AhVJe8AKHY1AB5EQqa4BegQIKhAA&usg=AOvVaw0WauqFwk8shHf1quXgaquv?tag=mumsnetforu03-21"" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.[[//amazon.co.uk/Sticky-Notes-Markers-School-Revision/dp/B00BDS7EGQ&ved=2ahUKEwiL4P-V8bb1AhVJe8AKHY1AB5EQqa4BegQIKhAA&usg=AOvVaw0WauqFwk8shHf1quXgaquv?tag=mumsnetforu03-21" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.co.uk/Sticky-Notes-Markers-School-Revision/dp/B00BDS7EGQ&ved=2ahUKEwiL4P-V8bb1AhVJe8AKHY1AB5EQqa4BegQIKhAA&usg=AOvVaw0WauqFwk8shHf1quXgaquv]] .

Not quite as pretty of course but there's something to be said for just getting cracking and playing with it until you've figured out exactly what you need.

I use the Colournote app on my phone. Different colours for different things eg financial, work, leisure activities etc.

I came on to say just buy a notebook that fits in your bag and write everything in there. You can get ones with a little pouch at the back for bits of paper like receipts. Tk maxx are always good for these. I sometimes stick a bit of coloured tape on the edge of the page if I refer to it often, or you buy the wee tabs someone else suggested.

You could go a step further and write a contents page too.

It's quite nice to look back at it and see the different things youve planned, like meals for a party and the like. I quite like having a packing list in mine and then I just add on what I need for that particular trip.

I use the AnyList app on my phone, I have different lists for different things.
You can also connect it to Alexa. So as I think of things that need adding I can tell her "Alexa, add Xxxx to my shopping list". Really helps when I'm in the middle of doing something else.

I whats app myself my lists. Then if I add to it I’ve started deleting the previous list.

I've tried every system under the sun, but the following now works for me (3 kids, dog, run my own digital business from home).
A5 notepad (don't bother with divider one). Each evening a write my to do lists for next day. Split page in half with a ruler and pen (one side home&kids and one side work) then go through my Google calendar so I know what appointments/events/school stuff I've got to do, along with after school clubs and work appointments, work tasks etc. I then open Trello (great app that I use on my laptop to keep track of work to do / goals etc.) .. And then formulate some sort of plan.
Wholeheartedly recommend using Google calendar for Everything (I colour code work/kids/exercise classes etc). Trello great for longer term work goals, visions, ideas for work. But you could also use it for home projects... So for example we are redoing our bathroom atm so I have a board in Trello called 'New Bathroom' with links to paint colour, link to new sink etc with costs.