Confession of a Stationery Addict.......dare I face the new year with, gulp, a 'simple' diary?

[midnightmoomoo]

Ok, I admit it. I. LOVE. stationery. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it.......does anyone remember the Foolscap sticker shops from the 80s??? sigh

Anyway......it's that time of year again when my mind wanders to the possibilities that having a new diary brings......well, since the most recent time of year (academic) when I've been through this already! I'm always on the search for the 'perfect' diary/organiser/system which will somehow transform my life into the perfect, never forget anything again hark back to the 50s household.

I was in Staples tonight (in my defence, I was only in there because I'd gone to Ikea for a Christmas tree and they'd sold out......) and I have bought a simple, purple (obviously) A6 diary. So, I'm thinking.....is it possible to FEEL never mind actually BE organised without the plethora of Filofaxes, Organised Mum life books/pocket life book, Mum's Office diary etc etc that I usually go through in my search for the perfect organisation system????? Can I just simplify and be happy with that??? Do I really need a household log, plus Filofax, plus budget planner plus, plus, plus........???!!!

My new diary has a page on two weeks with space for notes, a planner for 2014 at the front, one for 2015 at the back, plus a few pages for notes and important telephone numbers, and that's it. I will add a pen loop (I have one already) and can tuck my OM stickers (I know this is a bit of a marmite, love/hate thing on here but I like them!) in the back. And that's it.

I have a huge calendar on the kitchen with enough space to have everything written on, an OM shopping list and menu plan on the fridge door, and a whiteboard with everything each child needs for school hanging by the front door. Plus my new, simple diary.

That's it. A simple system. Is it possible? How does everyone else manage to be organised, and not spend hours and hours worrying about the 'right' way to be organised? I think I love the thought of it more than I should, I'm a woman obsessed.........hangs head in shame.......!

Ooh I could have written your post!!! My systems have to have red covers! I'm trying just with the iPad - it's hard at this time of year as I want to buy every new pad/system as it all offers up such promise of organisation! Yet, as my dear friend pointed out, the problem isn't with the diary it's with me! Good luck fellow addict

Passed the first test of my new system earlier....our Tesco Home has the Mum's Office diaries in.....I picked one up and stroked it longingly before putting it back and walking away quickly!!!!! Tempted, but resisted. Go me!

I like the sound of your large calender in the kitchen - can you link to it please? Finding my phone calender a PITA as it only buzzes once to remind me if I scroll down to set a reminder (old phone used to do this every 5 mins until I dismissed it, which was annoying but useful), so I am going back to my old tried and tested calender method. No way I can fit 4 things on each day in the tiny boxes though!

Hi Lion, the calendar is from www.organisedmum.co.uk and is the Home Planner Calendar, £10.99. It's big, but it means there's loads of room to write things in for each day, and also see the whole month at a time. It's hard to go back to a 'normal' calendar after one of these!!!

I'm going to have a lot of fun on that site! Thank you!

That site is like a crack den to me..... Must not go it, must not go on it, must not....