Organization

Morning Routine, Condensed

April 11, 2018 by Rachel

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{The wordy version: My Morning Routine}

In the event you are curious, and because this is great accountability for me, here is what I do most mornings these days (though the actual times will vary somewhat depending on the day):

“Think Cheerful Morning Thoughts,” is my motto

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My Morning Routine {Version 03.18}

March 20, 2018 by Rachel

Anyone who knows me well knows I’m not and never have been an early morning person. {And to my brothers-in-law who came knocking on our trailer door before 9am those first few years I was a young bride and mother, no I have not forgiven you.}

I’ve always regularly needed at least 8 hours of sleep, and when my babies were little I needed at least 10! I used to wonder if I was missing out on some sort of holiness game-up, in which rising before dawn would not only improve my productivity but more importantly, my spirituality. Like, didn’t the Proverbs 31 woman get up while it was still dark? I always thought that if I had servant girls, they’d be making ME breakfast, not the other way around.

What I really want to wake up to every morning.

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5 Things I’ve Been Working on in January

January 22, 2018 by Rachel

January is generally a time for looking back and looking forward, reassessing what works and what doesn’t, and taking the opportunity at the start of a new year to have purpose and make plans. {I feel very Adult saying as much, but truthfully I’ve loved this sort of thing since I was a teen.} Here are some things I’ve been working on this month:

∇ Reading consistently, both for my own personal enjoyment + education and aloud to the children.

∇ Our weekly morning routine: we got oh so lazy over the holidays and it was delightful.

∇ De-cluttering & organizing around the house. {Currently a mess but they say it gets better.}

∇ Eating mindfully. I haven’t had any fries this month, which is cause for equal rejoicing and mourning.

∇ Thinking about the year ahead and working on setting and implementing seasonal intentions for myself, for Tom and I, for each of the children, and as a family unit. That is A LOT for my brain to undertake, by the way. I need a whole month for it.

What about you? I’m curious to hear, please share!

Photo by Yousef Espanioly on Unsplash

Planner Love

January 3, 2017 by Rachel

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In my attempts to be an Organized Person, I find putting pen to paper suits me best. There are some apps I use and appreciate, but the consistency, ordinariness and even texture of paper both opens a world of possibilities for me and kindly latches the door to my mental chaos, giving my brain a break.

My brain needs lots of breaks.

Paper reminds me of books, reading, adventure. Letters to friends, grandparents, missionaries on the other side of the world. There is discovery on paper. I don’t feel the same way about entering notes on my phone as I do jotting down reminders in my planner or memories in my journal. I prefer the tangible, instinctive connection with paper.

In recent years I have indulged in some lovely paper planners that make even writing down “scrub the toilet” sorts of lists more satisfying. Nowadays, what I look for in a planner is more than just list-keeping ability; it’s space to record life events, goals, inspiration, and a big-picture of the months behind and before me. I’m a visual person, so having all of this contained in book form is a delight and help to me on many levels.

My preference is a 12 months/52 weeks calendar planner starting in January. None of this 17 month nonsense beginning in August or whenever the school year starts. That’s too many months in one book for me, and I like the tidiness of a beginning and end every January and December.

You don’t have to be a prolific writer to benefit from the science-y connection of brain to pen. If you’ve not written much more than a grocery list on paper, begin there and add to it! At the end of the day, do a brain dump and write down a few things that are tugging at the corners of your mind. Your brain will thank you, and you might end up charmed by the whole process. Writing in moleskin notebooks isn’t just for hipsters, you know! Use whatever you like, experiment to find your own style.

You can spend under $2 for a plain notebook (which is what I did for years when I had a planner budget of $0), print free online planner pages for the cost of printer paper and ink (Pinterest is your friend for finding those as well as free Day Designer printables), or spend $50 or more on an assistant that will obligingly lay out nearly everything for you except your morning beverage.

Every year I get very excitable when it comes time to pick out my new paper companion. I usually overthink it. (And then text a sister HELP I’M HAVING A PLANNER CRISIS.) Sometimes I go another round with my current favorite. I’m not certain I’ve found The One, so I’m always curious about the next planner around the corner and ready to try something new. I’ll share what I’ve used, what is on my list to try, and my pick for 2017:

NOTEBOOKS & PLANNERS I’VE USED

Good ol’ Mead notebooks from Walmart

Plain lined journal from Barnes & Noble

Little pocket planners like this one

Faith-focused, these GraceWorks planner and journal pages were all the rage in my ’90’s circle of homeschool friends!

Emily Ley’s Simplified Planner-beautiful and minimalist, definitely a favorite. I spent many hours with it at my patio table.

Whitney English’s Day Designer was gifted to me at an event and I fell in love! In addition to monthly spreads, it provides generous space for each day that includes list-making, creating a timed schedule, even spots for dinner planning and gratitude notes.

ON MY LIST TO TRY

I’ve had my eye on Ruth Soukup’s Living Well planner-it’s so bright and colorful and makes me want to do stuff!

I admire the project-planning features and extra lined pages in the Brilliant Life planner by Beth Anne

This Passion Planner has a lot of heart behind it and a clever, compact layout

Then, of course, there is everything Rifle Paper Co. because it’s just all. so. pretty.

MY PLANNER CHOICE FOR 2017

I heard about the Nomatic notebook and planner from a beloved podcast, and after carrying around large spiral-bound planners in recent years, decided to try something more travel-friendly. (You can also find the Nomatic planner on Amazon.)

There is no secret planner society that mandates you have to begin in January. Begin whenever you like! Before I became a consistent planner user, I started and stopped randomly. Now is as good a day to start as any other. Start somewhere, with something, and tweak it to be a helpful guide, not a burden, in your life. Happy planning!

Did you notice that many of the planners I listed are designed by women? I love supporting female entrepreneurs! Buying a planner from them is a great way to support a small business.

Do you use a paper planner? Which organization tools, if any, do you prefer? I’d love to know!