Mom's Tool Kit | Item #1

Every mom [whether you work or stay at home] has tools in her belt that help her keep the household running smoothly. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing some of my most precious & helpful tools. 

Tool #1 – My Outlook Calendar

If it needs to get done, it's schedule – no wonder I'm a Traffic Manager. You want to meet with me to talk about project initiatives, check my calendar & send me a meeting notice. You want to go on a date night with me, send me a meeting notice. Throwing your kid a birthday party and you have invited the Willard's, you are on my calendar. I need to get to the gym because I've eaten to many Peppermint Patties, it's on my calendar! It's the first thing I look at when I wake up on the weekdays since it integrates nicely with my iPhone.

Below is a screenshot of one of my weeks. I color code my work meetings and personal engagements. I put any over arching deadlines as "all day" event with the status of "free". For example, my renewal to LA Fitness was due this particular week. I marked the day on the renewal on my calendar and now I'm another year committed to the gym. My Outlook calendar keeps me on time, social and helps me juggle everything that needs to get done.

Shhhh. . . a little secret. . . I still use paper calendars too. They come home with kids from their teachers. They hang on the fridge. It's one on the only things I like hanging on the fridge. They have save the day when someone is the "special person" or someone needs to wear a particular color to school. Don't tell anyone!