A system that works

I love paper.  I love index cards. I love all things office supply.  Office Max practically makes me giddy!  I remember as a kid in grade school wanting to be the one chosen by the teacher to go to the paper room for her.  It smelled so good in there and all that fresh clean paper! I know, weird kid, huh?

I am a hands on, actual pen and paper person when it comes to lists and calendars.  It’s nice to have on my phone or computer but I really need to have it physically written as well.  For years I have had my housework organized on index cards.   It has worked well for me and still does.  I still have the chores on index cards that I made for my kids when they were young.  They have memories of those cards, I want to say fond memories but I can’t be sure of that!  Although they have said I can’t get rid of them.

I keep my box of index cards on my kitchen counter.  I have a cat.  Actually I have two cats, but one is quite mischievous.   I woke the other morning to find my entire box of  index cards scattered on the kitchen floor.  I was extremely irritated but took a deep breath and decided to use this as an opportunity to be re inspired and  reorganized.

My husband bought me new index cards, not just plain old white ones but colored ones!  He said he thought I might enjoy color coding them.   I think he knows me pretty well!  I have been sorting and writing new cards and trying to come up with a new system all morning between loads of laundry and changing diapers and I think I have come up with a pretty good plan!

* Daily Chores                                                                                                                                         * Chores that are done on specific days of the week                                                                       * Chores that only need to be done once or twice a year, broken down by rooms

It’s not perfect, it doesn’t look perfect, but it works for me.  Whatever you do, should work for you.  Whether it is just a sticky note on your mirror reminding you to make your bed or a full spreadsheet with every possible household duty listed, make sure it is working for you.  We are all different.  If it is overwhelming you, it’s not working.  Simplify.  If lists are your jam then get some fun note paper for that.   If you are weird like me, try color-coded index cards.  Don’t get bogged down with the details.  Just have a system that works so you can spend less time playing “catch up” on housework and more time just playing!

Now…… which one of these terrors is to blame?