We’re back with our Organization Tips for Mom Series.
There are never enough hours in the day, right? As a homeschooling mom, disorganization and chaos seem to follow you around.
You’d love a better routine but are unsure where to start.
Well, I’m here to tell you, it’s actually easier than you think if you have the right tools. You can achieve an organized and efficient workflow to reclaim your time and make your days smoother.
Alright! Let’s dive into one of my favorite mom organization tips: brain-dumping your lists and then organizing and creating a Master To-Do List.
From Chaos to Calm: Using a Master To-Do List
One of the best ways to reclaim your time is by creating a master to-do list. I keep mine in a binder, and it has literally. Changed. My. Life!
Basically, it’s the idea that you need a central location to see your tasks, calendar, to-do’s, etc.
You might call it your mom-life command center. I call it my Binder of Hope!
Consider the Benefits of a Master To-Do List
When you’re keeping track of your tasks all in one place, you’re less likely to forget appointments, double-schedule yourself, or lose essential notes.
Instead of digging around for sticky notes, napkins, and the back of the vet bill, you have your information at your fingertips.
Picture this: you wake up, coffee in hand, ready to tackle your day as a rockstar homeschool mom.
You look through your agenda and see that you need to log in to your library system and reserve books for next week’s unit study.
You’re almost out of creamer, so you flip to the grocery list and add that.
Before you do anything else, look through your cleaning list and see that you have scheduled yourself for one load of laundry and cleaning bathroom vanities during the morning break.
You also need to put the chicken for dinner in the marinade no later than noon.
Walking out of the kitchen, you’re organized and ready to start your day. Those mom organization tips are paying off. (wink wink)
This isn’t a fantasy. This is a possible reality!
Seeing your entire agenda in one glance will dramatically reduce overwhelm and allow you to plan your time confidently.
After a few weeks of following this system, you will be amazed at how much more simple and less stressful your day has become!
Let’s Get Organized! What Goes on Your Master To-Do List?
Realistically, your master to-do list is your home management binder. It’s yours to build in the most helpful way, and you can add absolutely anything you want.
Typically, you’ll make a home for the notes and lists you routinely make to start.
Split it up into multiple categories or dividers that make the most sense.
Consider categories such as:
- Weekly Chores
- Homeschool Supplies
- Coop or Field Trip Plans
- Budget and Financial Management
- Grocery Lists and Meal Planning
- Errands you need to run
- Gift-buying lists for birthdays and holidays
- Books you want to read
- Unit Studies that sound interesting
- Activities you want to do
The list goes on, depending on what you want to do in your life.
So, are you ready to rock your to-do list?
Get Started with Your Master To-Do List!
It can seem a little intimidating to start a master to-do list, but there are a few strategies for simplifying the process:
Brain Dump Your Lists
First things first—it’s time to track down all those to-do lists scattered throughout your life. Check your notebooks, journals, post-it notes, and any digital devices you use.
You might be surprised how many lists you’ve been keeping!
Once you’ve found them all, it’s time to start consolidating. Don’t worry about duplicates or trying to keep everything in order just yet.
Instead, grab a pen and paper and jot down everything on your lists.
Next, set a timer to brain dump and clear your mind of all of its cluttered thoughts.
Get those ideas onto paper.
By getting everything out of your head and onto a master to-do list, you’ll feel a sense of relief and control over your day.
So take a deep breath, grab your favorite pen, and let’s get started!
Get Organized: Categorize Each Area of Your Life
Finally, it’s time to start organizing your master to-do list into categories that reflect your other priorities and goals. Think about the different areas of your life that require attention.
Start with groceries and meal planning, move on to saving up for that dream vacation, tackle some home renovation projects, and keep up with daily chores and errands.
Whatever it is, make sure to jot it down!
But don’t stop there—your to-do list can also be a space for all the fun and exciting things you want to do with your family, like planning a backyard movie night, hiking on a nearby trail, or trying out a new restaurant in town.
And don’t forget to include some self-care tasks, like getting more steps in, or daily yoga.
With so much to think about, it might feel overwhelming at first.
But remember, your goal here is just to brain-dump everything, not get it organized.
Take your time, get creative with your categories, and have fun!
Create a Binder With Your Master To-Do List
Now that you have everything, it’s time to combine it.
There’s no one right way to assemble your master to-do list.
If you’re dealing with a growing list and multiple categories, a binder is a fantastic way to keep everything organized and in one place.
To create your own master to-do list binder, all you need are a few simple supplies:
- A binder
- A 3-hole punch
- Some Dividers
And if you’re feeling fancy, you’ll also need a printer for some stickers to add.
Want to know the best part of using a binder for your master to-do list? You can easily add, remove, and rearrange pages as your priorities shift and evolve.
Plus, having everything in one spot is a great feeling—no more searching through endless scraps of paper, three different planners, and some post-it notes!
So grab your favorite binder and some colorful dividers, and begin creating your master to-do list binder. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!
The Master To-Do List: A Game-Changing Tool for Busy Homeschool Moms
Reclaiming your time by creating an organized system doesn’t have to be hard work! Setting up your master to-do list can provide massive stress relief.
A well-put-together master list makes managing daily life substantially more manageable. So take control of your time today by creating your personalized master list!
Looking for more of our Reclaiming Motherhood Series?
You can also find more tips on our Mom Organization Tips Pinterest Board.
