This is part 2 of our posts on organization.  Check out part one here --> First: Tangibles

Organization.  It's the buzz word of the month of January. 

How do we stay organized? How do we even start? 

We start with a command center. 

A brain for our household and family.  A place that houses all of our tasks, papers, mail, and events. Saving our brain from overload is a good thing!

Second: Intangibles

The intangible items in our life seem like they don't take up space and are thus easier to keep organized, but that simply isn't true.  Every email, event, and project takes up space in your brain.  Valuable space.  Space you can't afford to give up.  How do you keep the important intangible items in your brain, while eliminating those insignificant little details? 

• Emails: they are everywhere.  How do you keep them organized?  Treat your emails much like you do your mail.  Delete every message that is junk or irrelevant to your life at the moment.  For example, I receive multiple emails from multiple stores each day.  But I'm not shopping each day.  As those come in, I delete them.  My mailbox is setup to permanently delete them after a month.  If I delete one today and then decide that I need to see the specials at that store tomorrow, I can just find it with an easy search. 

Another way to sort these is to have your email program do it for you.  Simply create a rule that every email from certain senders is put into a folder, the shopping folder maybe.  You can have all of your education emails including Scio Academy's go to an education folder that you read through when you have time.  

These simple rules will help keep your inbox clear and ready for the important and urgent emails that are not to be missed.  

• Events: How do we keep track of events.  Most people used to keep calendars on their fridge for events.  My grandmother used to even track the weather on hers.  While keeping a calendar on the fridge can be fun and nostalgic, it is hard to create changes and share events with others from the fridge.  That is where the shared calendar with google or apple comes in handy.  You can even color code events for each person in the house, and only share certain categories.  My husband shares my household calendar, but not the homeschool one.  He doesn't need to fill his mind with our music lesson schedule.  Each time a new event is planned or you setup an appointment, put it in the calendar right away.  I get such a kick out of adding the next dentist appointment to the calendar while waiting for the lady to fill out our reminder card.  I know, I'm weird. 

• Ideas, Projects, Thoughts:  What do you do with all of those great ideas that float through your mind while you're vacuuming? I used to jot them on index cards and then I'd have a stack to go through when I needed inspiration for a project.  Talk about crazy.  Have you ever seen a woman frantically searching for a notecard?  Now, I bullet journal.  When I have an idea, I put it in the journal.  My bullet journal has been the answer to most of my organizational needs in the past two years.  The idea of an index to sort and organize has released my brain from unnecessary attention to formatting.  I'd rather be spending time figuring out how to help my son learn stop motion videos than wondering where I put that course description.  A bullet journal is a great tool for adults and students, and can be a hardback journal or even a 3 ring binder.  For students needing to add material to their journal like printouts - our student roadmap perhaps? A three ring binder is perfect.  You can even sort things by category.  I keep a bullet journal for me, and a three ring binder for all things education.  In my binder I keep course descriptions, student roadmaps, attendance records, syllabi, etc.  It's all in one place. Super simple.  

When it comes to organizing life, simple is the key.  If you make your organization complex, then you won't want to stick with it. 

Join us for our monthly educator session as we explore this topic of organization further!

When?      January 28th @ 5pm est

How?    Register for the webinar below. You will receive an email with instructions on how to join the webinar.

How Much?     It's Free! A recording will be available to Scio Academy members only.

• Space is limited, so register now!