So here is my post on creating a "Home Planning Journal." There are a lots of ways to call it: a homemaking journal, home management journal, or home keeping journal, or scratch journal and call it planner, since it helps you plan your day and care for your household. Simply put it is one place (a binder) where to keep everything you might use on a regular (daily, weekly and monthly) basis. I first came across this before our children were here through reading "Sink Reflections" by the
Fly Lady. I was looking for a way to get more organized and less stressed when it came to keeping house as a new wife and home maker (laundry, dishes, you know...). The Fly Lady calls it a "Control Journal" and that's the name I used when I first made a simple one for our household of two.
Simplify 101 has a free e-book on how to make one for yourself that you can download and it's very helpful.
I admit that I rarely used it back then but once Jman came around I soon found myself in need of something to help me organized and stay organized as a SAHM (stay at home mom). I switched to the name "(Family Name)'s Home Blessing Journal," once again getting most of my inspiration from Fly Lady (who encourages us to see taking care of our families and house not as a duty or chore but as a way to bless our family.) The idea of home keeping as "blessing" doesn't make it easier to do, quite honestly, but it gives me the right perspective! I stopped using it as time went by, derailed mostly by changes in our circumstances or longer vacations. However a few things did stick with me: having a bedtime routine, where I clean off the table and the kitchen, so it's ready to be used in the morning. I also started making/preparing breakfast so I wouldn't have to rush for that in the morning as well. And for a while I also sticked to a morning routine, where I would wake up early to have some quiet time. This past summer I purchased
"Steady Mom" by Jamie Martin for I liked the idea of creating steady routines: predictable yet flexible daily and weekly schedule to not get loss in chaos or apathy and to be more intentional and meaningful in my time at home with the kids. When you have a whole day it is easy to get stuck in a rut, not plan fun things and especially waste time with t.v., computer and other non-important things. I know I still struggle with that. So that was this past summer and I am finally picking it back up and once again trying to implement more intentional activities at home/with the kids as well as my daily 'to do' lists. There is a lot more in this book about staying at home 'intentionally and professionally' and it's a very slim book if you are interested.
Here are some ideas for what type of information you may want to store in your home planner. You can get so many ideas by simply googling "home making planner" or some other type of word. Most will be ideas from other bloggers.
- Health Records (I keep mine in a file cabinet, but I might keep the kids '
alternative immunization' schedules and what shots they have had handy in the "Home Journal/Planner")
-Events coming up (invitations, flyers, etc. that you throw away once the event has passed).
-Play groups, Day Care, Babysitter Information
-Phone Numbers and Emergency Contacts
- List of fun things to do in your town
-Your daily, weekly and monthly activities
-Important Dates to Remember
-Menu Planning and Grocery/Shopping Lists (this is a must for me, possibly one of the most important 'planning' sections
-House Cleaning Routines
-Travel and Vacation Checklists
You can get even more detailed with recommended reading list, web sites, DVDs or videos to rent, etc. Basically it's your daily planner with an emphasis on home life. If you lack time but have money there are many 'printable' home planning journals to purchase online. In my quest to keep it simple and frugal I am making my own.( Though I must admit that I have spent too many hours online researching and saving links on this matter and nothing is done at home!).
Right now it's not completely organized, but I have my morning routines thanks to
Inspired to Action's
"Maximize Your Mornings" challenge, with a couple of lists of 'things I want to do soon/Thins I'd like to do sometime I downloaded from the free e-book (click on the previous link). I also have their prayer calendars for praying scripture for your children and spouse (check the 'resources' section at Inspired to Action). I have my bedtime routine from back when Jman was a wee babe. I am starting to fill in with some Gluten Free Foods lists and menu ideas, some favorite recipes, as well as other healthy eating information I'll most likely refer to. I have my grocery lists printables from
SimpleMom.net. I have some current information about doulas for our next birth, medical information for myself as well as babysitter phone numbers. It isn't labeled yet but they are in there and I have been using it!
One free printable I want to share is the one I found on
SimpleMom.net. I actually have used several of her free downloads but I have been grateful for the
Daily Docket which I have been using for the past few weeks. While eating breakfast I use the Daily Docket to plan my day. I hardly ever get all I have written down- mostly because they are not 'urgent'- but it's been very useful. I love putting a verse I read that morning in the "Inspiration" section at the top right, as well as checking off the "water droplets" to keep track of my water intake. I think I have felt so much better physically since I now have a way to keep track of how much water I've been drinking!
Having a planner is just one step for me. I know the hardest part is actually ACTING on it, and following your routines and schedules. Time to make lunch now!
