I used to have a “control journal,” a la FlyLady.  I ended up dismantling it, though, as it really didn’t work for me.  However, I recently came across this post by Candy, along with links to several other ladies’ binders.  The overall structure of their binders is much more suited to my needs.  Besides, just seeing how so many different ladies compile their binders helped spark my more creative side.  So, I have decided to recompile my binder and try again.  I can’t actually put it all together at the moment because a) I need to buy a bigger binder and b) my printer is out of ink, but I have sketched out a “plan” that should be easy to assemble once I get the parts.  I am going to share my plan here, and will create another post with pictures once I actually have the binder together. 

The sections (may not be in order; I haven’t thought that far yet):

GENERAL:
daily routine/schedule
weekly plan

CLEANING:
zone rotation list
deep cleaning task lists

KITCHEN:
menus w/ their master shopping lists
master grocery list (for copying)
bulk foods list (maybe)
cookbook (more explanation later)

EXERCISE & HEALTH:
exercise log (& master for copying)
medicine log master (for copying)
vaccination exemption form and/or letter
basic records (Files will go in filing cabinet.)
the social services page everyone keeps talking about (maybe)

HOMESCHOOL & CHILD TRAINING:
This is the vaguest part of the plan for me right now, as I do not have any children old enough to be officially schooling yet, and I don’t really know how to PLAN child training.  Consider the list tentative.
list of verses I’d like Ariel to memorize (eventually)
“school” activities log
list of items (verses, etc.) to work on currently
basic weekly plan
Dewey Decimal chart (by 10’s)

PROJECTS:
master project list
notes for current projects

EMERGENCY:
list of emergency numbers
emergency info – location of fuse box, etc.
housesitter information sheet
petsitter information sheet
list of items for emergency evacuation backpacks
home inventory
list of locations of important documents
copy of will
list of credit card numbers, bank accounts, etc.

IDEAS/FUN:
list of movies to watch
list of movies to buy
list of fun family activity options?
reading log (may stay separate)
library lookup list
“ask ____ about ____” list

HOLIDAYS:
gift idea lists
notes of this year’s holiday dates
holiday book (more info later)
cookbook (more info later)
list of hopechest ideas
list of ideas for “special” birthdays

ARTICLES:
super-inspirational homemaking/femininity-related articles only (I have a large collection of articles in my filing cabinet.)

PRAYER JOURNAL:
This whole section is iffy – not because it’s not important, but because it’s currently separate.  I’m not sure if I want to add it to this or keep it separate.  It is set up as explained in my 3-ring binder article.

 

Other ideas:
Include a pen/pens, a dry erase marker, and/or post-it flags.

Keep the Scripture passage I’m currently working to memorize in the front of the book.

Use portions of Scripture verses for section headings, as inspiration.  For example, “She makes her arms strong,” for the exercise/health tab.

 

(By the way, forms for a lot of these things (like the housesitter information sheet) are available as part of Homemaker’s Helper, my CD-ROM of printable planner pages.) 

Filed under: Organization & Time Management, Personal and Blog News by Rachel
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