It’s hard to be an organized working mom. Work schedules, school schedules, family commitments, and everything else that comes your way.
I’ve partnered with Boise POLARIS Premium Papers to show you how I organize my life.
How do I organize everything and keep my sanity? One word: routines.
Routines are the processes we subconsciously follow each day. They are the things we do by habit without much thought. Making coffee. Brushing our teeth.
There are six main areas of my life I focus on:
- feeding my family
- cleaning my house
- working
- taking care of myself
- spending time with my family
- managing the money we earn
When each of these areas has been attended to, my life runs smoothly.
Do you wish you could get your life organized? Feeding your family. Cleaning your house. Work. Making time for yourself. Spending time with your family. Managing your money.
You need a plan to pull it all together.
I’ve learned that you CAN manage multiple schedules as a working mom. You just have to have the right tools.
Best Tools for the Organized Working Mom
I favor paper planners that allow me to organize work, home, travel schedules, hubby’s schedule, and kids’ activities, all on one page.
If you don’t have one, I offer a free monthly printable calendar for you!
BONUS TIP: I also put some appointments in my phone that sync with my Google account. I NEED the reminder features to keep me on track. Using electronic calendars that consolidate multiple schedules, such as Google Calendar, are ideal for sharing information between family members.
In order for your calendar to help you, you have to actually USE it. I print out my kids’ school calendars, note hair appointments, doctor’s appointments, birthdays, and more.
Also, consider what tasks will come with each appointment or commitment. For example, if you have a doctor’s appointment with a new doctor, you may need to arrive early to fill out paperwork. If you join the church choir, you’ll need to block off the practice times on your calendar each week.
If you don’t have one of these either, I offer a free blank printable to do list for you!
I love writing out to do lists and planning my time with a calendar. I rarely find a ready-made solution. So, I usually end up creating my own from a mishmash of products.
When I get my new calendar each year, I immediately write in all of the birthdays, appointments, and anniversaries. I also use it as a family calendar where I can note school holidays, early dismissals, doctor appointments, work schedules, and other events.
How Often to Plan to Stay Organized
I recommend weekly planning sessions. I would suggest that you set aside 1/2 hour to plan each week. Sundays would be an ideal day to get ahead for the week. This is part of my “prep the night before” routine.
What items do you need to plan for? Check your calendar, work out carpool details, decide what you’re cooking, assign weekly chores, and block off some quality time with your children.
Best Routines for Working Moms
Follow these steps to create a productive, efficient, and helpful daily routine to get you through the day.
- Create a Morning Routine that includes getting kids ready and out the door for school.
- Plan an Evening Routine to get ahead and avoid stressful mornings.
- Break your day into four distinct phases to complete a Daily Routine.
- Work together with your family to have systems that keep things running smoothly using a Weekly Routine.
- Print out a Monthly Calendar for birthdays, appointments, anniversaries, school holidays, early dismissals, doctor appointments, work schedules, and other events.
- Use a Weekly Meal Planning as your roadmap to getting your family fed during the week ahead. (Yes, you need one, even if you think you don’t!)
I love being able to pull up one of these printables and have it seconds later thanks to my home printer. My favorite brand is Boise POLARIS® Premium papers. Using quality papers at home provides so many benefits.
Selecting the right paper can help ensure:
• Colors pop off the page
• Black ink doesn’t bleed through the other side
• Paper doesn’t jam in the printer
• Work documents feel professional
• Printed pages look their best
• You get the most out of every paper sheet
About Boise POLARIS® Premium papers
Exceptionally bright and highly versatile, Boise POLARIS Premium paper is paper you can trust when printing important documents that need to shine at all times. Whether it’s a client proposal, an important presentation, or your children’s homework, Boise POLARIS Premium papers ensure excellent document imaging and consistent results every time.
Which Boise POLARIS® Premium paper should I use?
Boise POLARIS® Premium Multipurpose paper:
• Perfect for printing general documents
• Prints with radiant brightness for crisp images and text
• 99.99% Jam-free performance guarantee that is certified by a third party – the reputable Buyers Laboratory, Inc.
• Available in two different weights (20 lb. and 24 lb.) so that you can choose the heavier option when needed
• Features ColorLok TechnologyTM to make the color pop off the page
Boise POLARIS® Premium Laser paper
• Ideal for proposals and presentations with color charts and graphs
• This bright white paper is engineered specifically for premium performance in laser
copiers and printers
• Optimized for two-sided printing with clear definition and minimal show-through
• Great for external communications
• Features ColorLok TechnologyTM
• Best for documents with photos or flyers, certificates, and announcements
• Essential when the printing calls for more vivid colors and bolder blacks
• Dries faster with ColorLok TechnologyTM
My Favorite Boise POLARIS Premium Paper – Premium Laser Paper
• It has excellent opacity. Opacity refers to how sheer a paper is – with a higher opacity meaning the paper is less transparent. I printed out a quote in a thick font and none of it could be seen through on the back side.
If paper is too sheer, ink with show through when you print and then you will not be able to print double sided. A paper that is too sheer can also make a document feel less sophisticated or polished.
The brightness of this paper was also excellent. Paper that is more even in tone and less creamy in color will look whiter to the eye and will provide more contrast for printed images and text, making them stand out.
A bright paper makes colors and printed text pop off the page.
• Through March 31, 2017, all Boise POLARIS Premium papers that are offered at Office Depot and OfficeDepot.com are $6 per ream
• For comparison, Hammermill Premium Multipurpose paper is $12.99 per ream and HP Multipurpose Ultra White paper is $9.99
Boise Paper does more than print you documents smoothly and consistently – it is also Paper with Purpose®. All Boise POLARIS Premium Papers include Box Tops for Education – so you can earn money for your local school while also getting a great printed document.
You can learn more about Boise’s Paper with Purpose mission here. Boise POLARIS Premium papers are also made in America and is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certified – meaning it is made from wood fibers that came from a sustainably-managed forest.
Boise Paper is holding a contest through Friday, March 3. It’s the Boise Paper #ByeByeOfficeBoredom Paper Airplane Contest – you enter the contest by submitting a photo or video of your best paper airplane creation! The first place prize is $500 and reams of Boise paper.
The unique link to the contest is here: http://bit.ly/
Ready to try out this great paper for yourself? Thanks to this partnership with Boise, one lucky reader will win a $25 gift card to Office Depot!
How to Win an Office Depot $25 Gift Card
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This promotion is open until March 14, 2017, at 11:59 pm EST and is limited to US residents, 18 years or older. The winner will be chosen randomly. Winner must respond to email within 24 hours or prize may be forfeited. Promotional content and prize for this promotion is provided by and shipped by Boise Paper and/or its representatives. The prize may be sent via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes, please.
I would buy some paper and pens would the Office Depot $25 Gift Card.
I must have paper and ink from Office Depot.
If I won, I’d buy ink cartridges for our printer.
I must have printer paper, tape, ink cartridges and card stock.
I would buy dry erase pens. They always seem to disappear
I will buy printer ink.
I would use it toward some new ink cartridges.
I would use it for printer ink. Thank you!
My most important home office supplies are printer paper and ink.
If I won, I would buy my daughter glue sticks and markers.
I would use the GC to get printer paper.
My must-haves are paper, pens, post-t notes, staples and paper clips.
I would buy ink and printer paper
Office essentials are printer paper, ink cartridges, post it notes, and good pens
I would buy printer paper.
I need a good printer, paper and pens.
I would use it for printer ink and mailing supplies!
Printer, paper, pen are my must-have supplies.
I would get ink cartridges.
If I won I would buy paper and more paper.
My must-have supplies are paper and good pens.
I would stock up on school supplies for the kids.
I must have ink pens, writing paper, and envelopes.
I have a weird thing for pens so I’d buy pens. 🙂
But someone else commented about dry erase markers which I do need also so I’d throw a couple of those in as well.
thanks!
Must have supplies for home office are pens, dry erase board, file storage folders, and lots and lots of ink for my printer!
I’m starting back to school this fall, so probably school supplies!
must have supplies for my home office are GOOD pens, a planner and organizing tray
I would buy some printer paper or printer ink.
My must have supplies are good pens to write with, paper clips, notebooks and index cards.
I would buy packing tape if I won.
My must have items are post-its, pens and white out.
I need a new mouse for my desk-top computer
My must have supplies for my office are tape, stapler, pens, post its and tacks.
I would buy printing paper and a new computer mouse.
I would use it toward some new ink cartridges.
My must have supplies for my home office are pens, printer paper, notebooks and index cards.
I’d get some markers & pens plus some paper.
I would use it to by ink cartridges.
I would buy some new printer ink with the gift card.
I would put it towards a new printer. My current one was good for about 15 years but just quit on me/
My must have supplies are lots of pens, Post It notes and envelopes!
I would buy ink!
My must haves are pens and paper.
I would buy some paper and ink
I must have paper, ink, a nice pen, mailing supplies and a stapler
I would buy some paper and pens…..plus some plastic containers
must haves are: file folders, file cabinet and writing tools
I would buy new sharpie markers in fun colors.
Scissors and tape are my must haves. We use those items a lot.
I would get some ink for the printer
computer (laptop, preferably), printer, paper, agenda, calendar, pen/pencils, paperclips, notecards, great chair with lumbar support, sticky notes
I’d buy printer ink.
My must haves are ink, paper, pens, envelopes, staples, files, notebooks, etc.
need chair, buy pens
I would buy printer ink!
Paper and ink are my must haves!
I would buy printer ink.
I would buy binder supplies.
My must have supplies are binders, paper clips, notepads & pens.
I would buy paper
I would buy pens and envelopes.
I must have post-it notes…I love jotting stuff down on them and sticking them where I know I’ll see them.
I’d buy a usb stick
I need to have mechanical or sharpened pencils, ballpoint pens, post it notes, and tape
I would spend it on printing services to help get the word out about my business.
I would buy ink for my printer.
I must have a good pen, printer and computer.
I would buy printer ink.
My must haves are pens and organizational folders.
i would buy some ink for the printer
paper is our must have!
I would most likely buy printer ink with the gift card.
I would stock up on paper. We go through a lot.
My must-have supplies for our home office are pens, paper and ink. We have a small business and go through a lot especially on weekly payroll.
I would buy and my must have are paper, ink, and gel pens.
I would either buy printer paper or stickers for the printer.
I would buy printer ink.
My must haves are pens, pencils, erasers, printer, printer ink, stapler, and calendar.
I would use it to buy printer ink and paper. Two things I need & use the most.
My must haves for my home office are post it notes and fine tip pens.
I would get office supplies.
I would say paper and pens.
I would get new folders.
I think paper, pens, and files.
I would purchase some printing paper.
My must-have supplies for my home office are printing paper, pens, pencils, post it notes, and a stapler.
I need more paper and I always love office supplies – so maybe some colorful paperclips and a fun stapler!
Must-haves for my home office – laptop, printer, paper, highlighters, blue pens, envelopes, stamps, and wifi!
Oh I would love to go and pick up some of this paper if I won!
Some of my must haves for our home office is printer paper, printer ink, pens and paper to write on, envelopes and stamps for mailing, and staples for the stapler!
I might buy some pencils and a pencil sharpener… or I might save it and get school supplies for next year. Or something else! Depends on what I need first.
I always need pencils, paper, pens…
I teach Spanish once a week, and I now also need dry erase markers and notecards for that.
I would buy spiral note books and planners. This would help keep my schedule straight.
For my home office must haves. Printer Paper and Ink Cartridge’s. Plenty of pens.
I would buy photo paper for my printer. 🙂 Thank you for the great post!
I always make sure I have nice pens & post it notes. Those are my must have office supplies. 🙂
I would get my son a zippered binder from Office Depot if I won like the Case It® Zipper Binder, 3″ Rings, With Built-In 5-Tab File & Gusset Zipper.
Would buy ink for my printer.
I would buy some computer paper and ink!
A must have for me in my office is paper and pens.
I would buy copy paper and have flyers made for my business.
My must have supplies are copy paper and notebooks.
I would buy my son some school supplies.
I have to have pens, pencils, a stapler and staples, paper(both printer and notebook), post-it’s, and printer ink.
My must haves are paper pens and folders.
I would buy school supplies for my kit dos and paper for our printer.
I would stock up on printer paper and new gel pens.
My must have supplies are a good printer, stapler, and hole puncher .
I would buy ink for my printer
Printer paper & ink are a must have for me
I would put the gift cards towards a new printer
I must have good pens, highlighter, sticky notes and stapler
I would put the GC towards paper and printer ink, so that I can print off some of your calendar items. I really liked your “Dreams don’t work unless you do” saying.
My Must have supplies are, a non spill coffee cup, pens, pencils, paper, stapler and paper clips. 3 hole punch and extra binders.
I need lots of paper
I would purchase Scotch tape, Fragile labels, and packing peanuts.
I sell on ebay, so my home office needs tape, shipping boxes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, pens, and inkjet paper.
wall calendar or planner
sharpies – in all sizes thin to really thick and all colors! good binders and desk calendar.
I would use it on printer ink. I don’t know how I go through so much all the time!
My must haves are paper clips and staples for sure.
I would buy ink and printer paper.
Probably would get some printer ink. I scrapbook and love printing out pictures of my kids! but I run out of ink so fast.
I think my most must have would be some good pens! I’m forever writing stuff down, and having a cheap pen wont cut it.
I would probably buy ink or paper it seems i’m always running out of both
i’m always running out of paper for printer and ink for printer that is my main things I need for my office, and I would love to have a new chair too
lovee this giveaway!
I would buy a paper shredder.
My must-have items are gel pens, computer ink and paper, planners, and stationary.
Definitely sticky notes and good pens
I would buy school supplies for the girls classroom. Schools need help.
I need printer paper and ink toner. I go thru those the most.
I would buy printer ribbons.
My must have supplies are good pens.
I would love to use this to buy some supplies for my desk at home. Maybe even a pretty organizer to help me stay scheduled!
I’d get some extra school supply for kids
The paper is always MUST, also pens
I would use the gift card for printer ink or paper. I always need both of them
My must-have supplies are paper, ink, paper clips, folders, markers and envelopes.
I will buy printer ink
I would buy paper and pens and markers!
My must-have supplies for my home office are pens, stapler, tape, markers, paper, folders, envelopes, pencils, memory sticks, rulers, and ink cartridges for my pens.
I would buy ink for my printer or gel pens.
I would use the Office Depot $25 Gift Card on printer paper. We always need paper 🙂
My must-have supplies for my home office are highlighters, post-it notes, printer paper, pens and a calendar.
I need some paper, and the rest I’d put towards some ink cartridges!
I would give it to my husband so he could buy some stuff for his office.
I go through a lot of ‘sticky notes’, along with paper, ink, pens and paper clips & staples.
Our office supply must haves are pens, paper and printer ink.
I’ll get some printer paper.
Thanks for the contest.
I have to have printer paper, post it notes, and pens.
ink and paper for my printer is what I could use the gift card to purchase! Seems like I’m always running low or completely out and ink isn’t cheap!
Must Haves: Folders, Binders and ink
I would stock up on school supplies
I would buy a new calendar for my desk and some pens and staples that what I need right now for work.
My must haves are paper ,pens and files for filing all my work in.
I do a lot of printing for work so I would use this card towards a case of paper. I also have a daughter who uses a lot of my printing paper for arts and crafts.
My must have office supplies are my computer, printer, phone, pens, printer paper, ink, and dayrunner.
It would help me buy ink! So expensive!
My must haves are ink, paper, pens, stapler, and scissors.
I might get some paper for our printers
Must have supplies would envelopes, stamps, good quality pens etc
If I won, I would use it to buy ink cartridges for my printer.
My must have supplies are paper, gel pens, and envelopes.
I would purchase some new dry erase board markers. I may even get some more K-cups for the office Keurig.
Some must-have items for my office are good pens that write nice and smooth and also sticky notes. If I don’t write it an put it in plain site I will sure forget it!
I would buy a new 2017 weekly calendar – I spilled coffee all over mine!
My must have supplies is colored pens and composition notebooks.
I am a teacher, and mom of three, so some sort of school supplies!
I’d buy some printer ink and some paper!
must have supplies : pens, permanent markers, good sharp scissors, scotch tape, paper clips, envelopes, stamps, and a good quality printer+ paper
Must-haves for me are copy paper and pens, thanks!
I would buy some printer paper
I would buy a printer cartridge and pens!
I would buy much and always needed printer ink. I always like to have a backup ink cartridge on hand at all times.
I am now in need of a new printer for my computer. I trust Office Depot for my business needs.
If I am lucky enough to win the gift card, I would use the Office Depot gift card for myself.
My office must haves are shipping labels and file folders. I like to organize both work and personal papers. I also love having addressed shipping labels ready for printing.
I would love to get paper to print my coupons.
I would buy supplies for the homeschool. Thanks!
For my home office, I must have spiral notebooks, different colored ink pens and printer paper and ink. Thanks!
If I won I would buy printer ink. I print a lot of paper work off of my home printer since I work from home often.
In my office I must have plenty of printer paper, ink, pens and lots of post it notes. It seems like i’m always having to jot down a phone number or address.
The basics, paper, pens, folders, and a printer.
I will get printer paper and some pens.
I would buy a planner to keep track of appointments
I would put it towards a printer which I badly need
I need a printer so I would use it for that
scissors, tape, staples and stapler, paper, lots of pens, hilighters gem clips
I need a new stapler because mine recently was broken by my kid! Plus I realized we have no more 3 ring binders or notebooks…I didn’t do a great job trying to stock up in August this past year lol
I would buy some markers and spiral notebooks.
I must have a planner, markers, file folders and dry erase board.
We would use the Office Depot gift card towards a new printer for our daughter !
We always have extra paper & a spare toner cartridge on hand in our office !
I would use it towards flowers to plant this Spring!
I always have to write things down, so I always need lots of Post-it notes!
Wow this is very in-depth and looks like a fantastic way to stay organised! There are certainly parts of this that I am going to try to implement to hopefully get a bit more focused and get more done. Thanks for the great post.
I need a printable to do list.Whare i find it.
Here’s the link to the printable to do list:
https://outsidetheboxmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/To-Do-List.pdf