Check your calendar at the start of each month!
Photo by Maddi Bazzocco on Unsplash
Each month I check my calendar on my wall, the joint one I have with my partner on my phone and my work calendar. This way I can see dates I am busy and those when I am free. It puts the month into perspective and helps me figure out what I need and want to get done. I always think it’s important to know your free days too so you can enjoy life with friends, family and your other other half etc. Plus if you fancy a weekend getaway maybe you can slot that in?
For me, calendars, planners and diaries are really important. Being a content creator as well as a mental health advocate and Foster carer means I’m often busy so organisation and being prepared is vital. There is nothing worse than not being prepared and it causes stress and anxiety!
Whether you are a busy bee or have a quiet life, calendars are still a fantastic way to organise your month day by day, week by week and even hour by hour. Also keeping in mind any parents or carers reading this, with school term times and holidays.
I call work such as checking my calendar, penciling in my diary and such ‘Life admin’. It’s much more cool to call it that right?
Buy cards for occasions and birthdays etc.
Being someone who loves doing nice things for others, I will always look to being organised and ready for birthdays, special occasions and events each month. When I pop out to the shops, I will always take a peak in my favourite card shops to see if I can pick up some deals just to keep stocked up on occasion cards. Have you ever been so busy and preoccupied that a birthday pops up all of a sudden and catches you by surprise leaving you with no card or gift? If so, think about visiting your local Card factory, paper chase or supermarket and choosing some nice cards to neatly pop in your drawer ready for those creeping birthdays! You’ll never miss a relatives special occasion again!
Clear your surroundings for a clearer mind
Now, by being a huge fan and enthusiast of the KonMari tidying method I really see how important it is to keep your space tidy and full of things that make you happy, but we don’t have to do an entire clearcut just now. It’s ok if a clear out means just sorting through old tea towels and keeping the ones you love and the ones in tact. If you like big clearing out jobs then be my guest but just remember it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Even if you just reorganise your clutter without throwing a single thing away, it will make all the difference. I find when you declutter your surroundings you are clearing your mind and allowing yourself to see and think clearly.
Clear out your bags and wallet
We all know how we can be so busy that we pile our things into a bag for work or going out and then just leave that bag sitting in the back room for a while. Each month I like to go through my bags, clear them out and get rid of old papers, chewing gum, sweets, bottles and random receipts. Whilst your clearing out your bags, open up your wallet or purse and sort through any change, old receipts and any points cards you never have and never will use. It may seem like a small victory having a clean purse but it’s totally worth it next time you go out and have to find those pennies within it!
Photo by Farah Samy on Unsplash
Make a list of all of the things you need. Groceries, hygiene products
Each month we will notice our cupboards and fridges slowly becoming more empty so I like to keep a note in my notebook of what we need each month and what we are running low on. You can write your list in categories such as Grocery, hygiene, beauty, clothing, craft, drink and other. Keeping a list of everything can help keep those overwhelming days under wraps as you will know what you need and when you need it. So pop to the shops and do a monthly shop of the things you need to keep your meals ready and topped up and keep your hygiene and play needs met.
Write lists of things you need to do and want to do that month
I don’t know about you but I bloody love making lists!
I have more notebooks than I will ever need and pens and pencils dotting around everywhere hehe. I love making shopping lists, goals lists, things to do lists and just all else! I find that making lists puts things into perspective for the month ahead as I can go back to the list each day and see what needs doing and when. Lists are great for being organised especially when you are super busy and often get overwhelmed and side tracked.
I love writing down my monthly goals and things I’d like to work on as my mind can become so full of ideas that It’s hard to keep track. I feel so much safer and on top knowing I can log everything down and come back to it at a later date.
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
Lay out books you want to read that month somewhere you can see them
One thing I have started doing recently is laying out things where I can see them. I do this with my favourite mugs each evening, with my favourite books and my work. I find that if I leave out my favourite mug of an evening I will see it when I’m ready and will be more motivated to get myself a nice warm and healthy green tea. There is something about seeing a favourite item that brings you joy that just draws you in and gives you that little kick.
The same goes for skincare, books and work. If I know I plan to pamper after a long day of work I will lay out my face mask and skin care ready for my little routine as I am more likely to pursue it if I see my cosy and lovely products laying around.
I have started leaving my notebook on my kitchen table with my little calendar and pencil case which motivates me to sit and focus on work.
When I go to my room to wind down for the day I automatically am drawn to the books I have selected to read for this month and it gives me that lovely warm glow inside and inspires me to pick up the book and read before bed.
This can go for anything in life. Having your facial wash and skincare products out so that each morning when you feel you can’t be bothered you are inspired that little bit to do it anyway. There is something wonderful about stimulating ourselves using sight.
Have a clear out of your phone storage
For many of us our phones are a huge part of our lives. Let’s see them as little versions of our houses or our minds, where we keep lovely photographs, memories, notes, contacts, work, games and all sorts. After a months worth of communication, work and playing games and such it can get cluttered, messy and slow, so what better than to have a good clear out?
Each month I will check my phone and delete any files accidentally downloaded, any images I have backed up elsewhere and any songs and apps I no longer listen to and use. I make certain folders to keep various things in and it makes my phone simpler to navigate and use.
To clear up space I will delete images, phone call logs and message threads I no longer need. It just makes your phone a little less cluttered and frees up some space for you. I will always review games and see which ones I’m not using at all and delete them. After all, you can always reinstall them if you miss them.
Research hashtags and trends that month (For content creators)
For my fellow content creators out there I will say one thing very necessary to do reach month to stay on top and organised it to research relevant hashtags and trending topics or events for the month ahead so you can be in the now, ready your content and engagement throughout to get the best from your content and platform engagement. I always look at my favourite blogging communities and keep updated with host changes, date changes for networking hours and comment threads etc. It just gives you a little heads up as to what you are going to expect from media that month and what to prepare for.
I have also got a habit of forgetting networking hours, so I now set alarms on my phone to remind me!
Thank you so much for reading. I hope this has helped you to feel inspired to get organised each month. I’d love to know if any of these little ways have helped you.
Stay wonderful!
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