Organization for Dummies

I love calendars. I adore planners and organizers.

Truthfully, I really love the idea of them. I love what they offer as possibilities. I often wonder, who are these people who use calendars and show up to everything on time and prepared??

I want to be those people so badly.

So I buy all the things. I buy planners and tools from a hundred online stores and from my local Walmart. I’ve bought organizing systems that hang on my walls, on my fridge, and in my closet. If it’s new and available…chances are, I have tried it myself. And nothing has worked.

About seven years ago, I was having a great, productive day. My little girls were already in the bath and bedtime was quickly approaching. I was feeling good.

Annie looked up at me from the water and asked what time her program started?

Her first grade program! Despite her constant reminders every day after school that week, I completely forgot about it. It was 6:30, and the show began at 6. Unbelievably, we had missed it.

My eyes instantly filled with hot, shameful tears. I couldn’t contain my despair. I had screwed up—again.

What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I just be like those organized, calendar-filling, planner-using people?

I had no answer.

For the next several years, I just tried my best. I remembered many things, but not all of them. I adopted my forgetfulness and unorganized nature as a truth about me.

Last year, thankfully, my outlook changed. Through my training as a life coach I learned so much about time management and organization. Finally, things clicked for me. My weeks get planned and I don’t miss appointments and performances.

I’m still not those people…yet. Organizing does not come easily. But the system I use works.

Especially for dummies.

Like me.