to ask how you become organised and together? Seriously how??

[inatrance]

This is a question for any of you who used to be disorganised/flaky and are now organised and sorted. I have been like this for so long and I drive myself and everyone around me crackers. I'm unbelievably forgetful, I am late a lot and I'm rubbish with finances. I'm so fed up of cringing because I'm so bloody rubbish and make stupid mistakes all the time!

I've got an 8mth DS and a 10yo DD and while I've always had disorganised tendencies, since I had DS, it's gone from bad to ridiculous and I feel like I am constantly trying to catch up with myself.

I'm self employed (which is for the best as even I'd have sacked me by now) and have somehow managed to run my businesses haphazardly over the last ten years without fucking up too massively. Well, not often anyway...

Well, no more, I've had enough. I am using the New Year to kick me up the arse and I need your help.

If you used to be crap and are now brilliant and incredibly organised, please, please tell me how you did it. What changed in your mind and where the hell did you start?

To the people who suggest task lists for DC - what kind of things do you put on there? My DD is 5 now and could definitely be doing more around the house...
I'm guessing that there are preprinted lists somewhere online...

mobeena is this any good? My eldest is only just 3, so I'm not sure what you can expect a 5yo to do.

She likes sweeping (badly), helps me wash the cupboard fronts in the kitchen, "cleans" the windows, helps put her toys away (sometimes) and if she makes a mess I always ask her to help me tidy it up. Although getting her to help just makes things take twice as long, I figure it's good to get her used to the idea of putting things away so that when she is a bit older she really will be able to help!

I would love the master list too. Thanks!

I have just thrown my entire odd sock mountain into the recycling. I don't know wtf I was keeping it for. I have odd baby socks and no baby, odd holy socks (with holes in, not priests socks or anything) socks belonging to my niece who lives abroad and I haven't seen for 4 years who will in all likelihood have outgrown them. There are several distinctive mystery sock which don't belong to anyone .

My DCs made their own lists, things they want to help with. When DD was 5 she could dust, sweep floors, put away washing, and shred documents (from a pre-sorted pile)
They're more likely to do things they find interesting.

Mobeena my children's lists have things like homework, spellings, reading, musical instrument practice, put shoes and coat on the pegs by the front door, pack school bag, get any kits like dance or swimming ready and get uniform out including hair clips and bobbles.

When they were little the checklist had pictures instead of words.

Mine have morning checklists too - get dressed and ready by 7.15, make bed, open curtains and turn light off.

Mine are laminated sheets on the fridge.

Babysitters love them as they know what the children need to do.

DH1 used to derail all attempts to get out of the house on time for school until we went down the laminated checklist route - he loved it and we loved not having to plead/cajole/threaten/(weep openly) every morning to get him out the door. He's now an old, sophisticated P4 and doesn't need it but I wholeheartedly agree with Helena that these are a good way to go.

That reminds me, DD1(3) likes playing snap with socks. Unfortunately, she likes to play against me atm, but I'm hoping she'll enjoy beating playing against DD2(9m) soon!

Sock snap - I love it!

DH and I had our first "weekly summit" last night. Thanks HelenGrace for this - we have now sorted nursery pickup/dropoffs and which days my parents will be having DD for a month. Month's activities arranged and the week my DH has court duty is on the calendar (that he had conveniently fogotten to tell me about - which cancels 3 rest days I was counting into the childcare). I think DH was a bit shocked !

I have thrown loads of stuff out and feel a lot more in control of our stuff. Also downloaded pocket informant on my blackberry.

And the packed lunches, nursery bag and clothes are all ready for tomorrow morning already !

Sorry to everyone that is waiting on the word document - we were at centerparcs this week and the document is saved on my work computer, you will get it tomorrow

May I have a copy too, please, OhdearNigel? I keep dipping in and out of this thread and it has so many good ideas on it, but I never have time to read the whole thread. Thank you!

OhdearNigel if you could send me a copy that would be great, thanks x

ohdearnigel a master list would be fantastic. helengrace always look forward to reading your posts. I've also been on the flying thread and its really helped me get on top of my house. I've got a menu plan for next week for the first time ever, and I've just added the MOT, car tax, and insurance renewals to my calendar - I somehow manage to be surprised by these every year, despite them falling on the same day...

ohdearnigel please
se may I have a copy of the list too? I.Some ways I am the most organiseerson ever but since DS ate all my brad perells came along I'm terribly disorganised forgetting birthdays and getting in a right tizwas. Meal planning is awesome. I thoroughly recommend the meal planner app for Android www.boggie.dk

Geez sorry about all the errors there (i meant brain cells not brad perells whatever they are. Stupid phone :)

Im coming out of lurking to ask for rhe master list too please!
So so many great ideas here, thankyou.

I get so excited when i see somebody else has posted on this thread. I have not posted on here but have started to implement some of the tips. If you don't mind Nigel, I would love a copy of the master list please.

Oh thank you OhdearNigel :o

Me too Dingaling, so excited! :o

Thread lurker here could I get a copy of the list?

I've been lurking too as I'm stressfully disorganised and looking for tips. Thank you for all your great ideas. Please can I have the list?

What little I am able to contribute is this:

1. I set a 15 minute timer if I don't like the task or know I'm likely to get distracted (which covers most sorting/filing/organising in my case). I find it actually helps me concentrate better, and brings me back on task if I wander.
2. Meal planning/batch cooking has reduced my post-work stress hugely, meaning I can actually play with my 20 month old DS, rather than constantly stopping him "help" with chopping veg.
3. I am a big fan of tailored dresses for work as they limit the "what stuff is clean and goes together" issue I found I had with separates. I think it maybe takes me back to summer dresses at junior school, which I loved as they were just so easy and quick when getting ready in a hurry (my parents were a bit scatty too...)

Hello!

So, I've color coded the children and bought flexi-tubs for their shoes, book bags etc...

Have gone through the thread and made a note of all the ideas that might work in my house

Started making morning/evening lists for myself and the children.

Going to start Home Routines app tomorrow and am very, very tempted by Collins diary...

Here's to us and the indefatigable human spirit!

Yes, I am very, very tired

Mxx

ohdearnigel please could i have a copy of the master list too? x

Thought of another one.

I have a big shopping basket (which is also very pretty) where all library books are kept.
Its by my desk so all have easy access,and I have no searching for library books when they're due (always write due date on calendar)