I predicted this semester would be the craziest yet, and here I am, less than four weeks in, already feeling the pressure. Over Christmas break, I sat down for the better part of a day and created a master schedule + two meal plans (one for breakfast + lunch for me, one for dinner for both of us). I also ordered a planner and bought a project organizer notebook. These things have been lifesavers to me as I juggle twenty hours/week as a graduate assistant, three classes, freelance work, exercise, cooking/household stuff, and personal time. It’s a lot, but being organized helps. Last semester, I didn’t plan quite as well, and it showed. I’m hoping with all this planning, I can prevent myself from unraveling around midterms.
I feel like I write a post like this every semester I am in grad school (because I do).
I’ll be posting the two meal plans soon. I sent them to my sister and was met with the response “Daaang lady!” Hopefully all the OCD I poured into them will be of help to someone else. Those of us who run ourselves ragged have to stick together.
Here’s a screen shot of my master schedule spreadsheet:
If you want a copy of this in .xls format to customize for yourself, I would love to email it to you. Leave a comment (or contact me here) and I will send it over!
To begin, I made a list of all the balls I wanted to keep rolling in the midst of the semester: exercise (run + yoga), freelance work, cooking dinner, and blogging. (That may not seem like much, but when your days are full of class, homework, and a graduate assistantship, it’s very easy to let everything else fall to the wayside.) Then I created a spreadsheet and played around with everything until it all fit — much like putting together a puzzle. The blank spaces are time for homework, household stuff, freelance, and personal time (seeing friends, spending time with Michael, blogging, mindless TV…you get the idea). One of my New Year Resolutions was to drink more water, so I threw that on there too.
This is my “master plan” — it’s pretty set in stone each week. Of course, the blogging is just a goal, and I don’t go to yoga 4x/week — that’s there to remind me to make it a couple of times per week if possible. I also move meals around depending on what I have to do that week, but it’s good to have a starting point.
Okay, now the fun part. I bought a new planner (this one, but I found it here on sale + free shipping!), a pack of InkJoy pens, and a $3 project organizer from Wal-Mart. (And some other stuff, because SCHOOL SUPPLIES, but let’s try to focus.)
The project organizer is a glorified notebook, but it’s the perfect size and the lines are numbered. Great for making daily to-do lists. The planner is amazing. I need to have monthly + weekly views, and this planner overachieves that by providing TWO monthly views + weekly views. Seriously, there is so much love in my heart for this planner.
Blurred because STALKERS. But stalkers can probably read blurry handwriting.
First, I went through the planner and wrote all the important dates in the monthly view(s): birthdays, semester start and end dates, deadlines, university holidays, etc. Now, once per weekend (usually on Sunday afternoon), I write in everything I need to do that week using my master planner as a guide and then filling in the gaps with whatever else I need to do (homework, freelance deadlines, appointments, etc). I use a different color for each compartment of my life: school, work, personal, household, etc. Makes it super easy to figure things out at a glance. Every night, I make myself a to-do list for the next day in my project organizer. I try to keep it to fewer than ten items; any more than that, and I get overwhelmed and know everything won’t get done, which is frustrating. Ten or fewer and I actually have a shot at crossing everything off the list. And let me tell you, NOTHING feels better than that.
Another lifesaver, other than the meal plans (which I will post soon), has been staying on top of chores + laundry. I force myself to pick up around the house before bed EVERY NIGHT (no matter how tired I am), put things away as soon as I’m done, and do laundry every couple of days instead of…never mind, I’m not ready to be that honest on the Internet. This way, even if the house isn’t spotless, everything is at least picked up and put away and there is clean laundry. Which makes home a peaceful place to be at the end of a long day.
How do YOU stay organized and motivated despite a crazy schedule? I’m always looking for new tips and tricks. If you see room for improvement, please let me know!
Kara says:
I miss going to school purely for the sake of buying new school supplies and making pretty .xls schedules for myself/my family to follow.
I try to stay motivated by writing everything I need to do down, especially the stuff that I always leave until the last minute, like planning meals.
Lauren from Texas says:
Wait…we have to stop doing that after school?!? NEVER!!!
I am a firm believer in writing everything down as well. Sometimes in two different places, just in case!
Jill says:
You said “blank spaces are for…”
UMMM I don’t see any blank spaces except weekends!!! :P Honestly, super organized. Good for you. Also, I love those project organizer books. Who cares if it’s glorified…something about it just LOOKS more organized and together which encourages me to be, also.
Lauren from Texas says:
Well, I also have some time in the morning and evening. But yes, my schedule is jam-packed. I’m so glad you’re on board with me and my project organizer. <3
April says:
Busy busy! I don’t know what I do when I’m busy, but somehow I get it done. Last night I got home from work at 6:50, cooked dinner, threw kids in bath, ate, cleaned up, watched HIMYM and was asleep by 9:15p.
Lauren from Texas says:
Wow, that is impressive! Are you sure you’re not hiding a superhero cape around your house somewhere…and is April your real name? ;)
April says:
Well, that’s certainly not EVERY day, I’ll tell you that. :) My husband picks up a lot of the slack when I’m too busy, and I really don’t like having a lot of excess time – I get bored just hanging around.
Lauren from Texas says:
Good for him! I’m lucky to have a guy like that too. And I always say that the more I have going on, the more productive I am. Busy gals unite! ;)
Sonal says:
Currently I’m working 40 hours, going to school in the evenings twice a week, and planning/trying to get in shape for my wedding. I rely on my paper planner a lot (which I made from a Moleskine notebook a la KylaRoma.com). Other than that I’ve found a few apps that help fill in the gaps. I use a shared Evernote account with my fiance for all things wedding & honeymoon related so everything is in one place. You can clip websites and forward emails to your Evernote–its super handy! We also have a shared grocery list on AnyList and a shared calendar on our iPhones. I’m looking forward to your meal planning post… that is definitely where we struggle the most!
Lauren from Texas says:
You have a lot on your plate, too! Love your suggestions. I’ll try to get my meal plan up ASAP. It’s not fancy, but it works like a charm. Thanks for the comment!
Lindsay says:
Man..I feel like I’m overwhelmed and swamped. I got nothin on you.
Lauren from Texas says:
I feel like life only gets crazier the older you get! Of course, I have added a new level of crazy by choosing to go back to school. I’m a glutton for punishment.
Andrea says:
Being organized is just everything. I’m currently struggling to get my life better organized while working crazy times. I’m doing meal planning, but on a weekly basis and I’m also sticking to the need to do some cleaning-up, laundry, etc. every single day…
Lauren from Texas says:
That’s the key, I think — organization + planning. Sounds like you’re figuring it out too!
Meg O. says:
Gosh, you’re way more organized than me!! I use google calendar and that’s about it. lol
Lauren from Texas says:
I’d seriously forget my head if it wasn’t attached…this helps keep me in check and get everything done. Not everyone needs this level of crazy…ahem, organization. ;-) If Google calendar is what works for you, go with it!
Summer says:
I think I’ve got my schedule pretty well organized but you’ve inspired me to look at it again – just for the love organizing! I’m using an Erin Condren Life Planner right now and also a shared Google calendar with my husband.
ps – total school supply junkie here too!
Lauren from Texas says:
That’s awesome, Summer! I thought about an EC planner but I’m not ready to spend that much…maybe someday. They sure are pretty though. Hooray for a shared love of school supplies! :)
Michelle says:
This makes me want to go buy a planner right now!
Also, I LOVE the caption on the blurry photo. I’ve thought the exact same thing when I posted a blurred picture ;-)
Lauren from Texas says:
I will take full responsibility for making you want to buy a planner — they are the best! ;-)
Michelle says:
My floor at work actually has a huge office supplies room (definitely a huge perk due to my obsession with school supplies). I definitely went in there and raided it for some new supplies after reading this post. Including a 2013 planner. No Lily Pulitzer but it will do ;-)
Lauren from Texas says:
OMG…I would be like a kid in a candy store in that room! Have fun planning and organizing!
Abigail says:
I am just… in awe of this. Seriously, I have dreams about being this organized but that is all they are, dreams. So impressed.
Lauren from Texas says:
Aw, thanks Abigail. It’s taken me awhile to get to this point. I believe in you! ;)