Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards to Organize Your Life

Are you still looking for the perfect organizing tool? Is your Filofax too bulky and heavy to fit in your purse and carry with you? Tried a Palm or other Handheld and found it awkward to use when you're on the run?

Ta Da!! - Try simple 3x5 index cards, you know the litle ones you use for kitchen recipes.

Why? They are affordable, easy to find and they fit in your pocket or purse. They come in pretty colors so you can code your projects by color. e.g. one for Family, Work, Personal Goals, Home Projects, Hobbies/Crafts etc. Note: If you can't find coloured ones, use a coloured marker to outline around the outer edge of the card . This is enough to help you quickly sort them into groups if you need to.

Here are some examples of how you can use them. (I use one for each project but you can combine as many as you want onto one card)

Daily To Do List

Grocery Lists
Personal Goals - one for weekly, daily, monthly yearly, life goals Your Life Mission Statement

Favourite Prayers
List of Books on your Wish List to buy (or those that you want to read/look for at the library etc.)

To jot down your Hot Ideas when you are on the run.
Record notes from books and meetings.
Phone Calls - work, business, personal etc - jot the phone number down too so you don't need to look it up before you call.

Keep some blank ones in your pocket, purse, car, by your bed to record dreams, ideas that wake you up in the night. Keep a stack by the computer to keep track of your passwords, favourite sites and keyboard shortcuts.

Examples:

I have one with my Credit Card Balance and I record any new purchases on it as I make them so I can check off the transaction when my monthly bill arrives at month end.

Right now I am in the process of setting up a new Bank Account and I have made a list of all the utility bills that we pay by automatic payment from the old account and which I now need to notify of our new account data. I have this all on one card and can check off each one as I complete it. With a separate card for this project, I feel organized and can see immediately, how far along I am in this process. When I complete the project, out goes the card.

Oh, and by the way, don't forget to use them to record your favourite cooking recipes

I have a little plastic folding cover for my cards with two flaps inside that hold them from falling out. I picked it up at my stationary store and it protects my cards from getting bent and out of order in my purse. This isn't necessary as you can just pop them in any bag but it is handy for me. My daily To Do List is always on the top so I can just flip the cover open and see my list.

I would love to hear from those of you who already use index cards to stay organized. If you try them for the first time after reading this article,I would love to hear how they work for you.

Lorraine Peltier is a business owner, wife, mother, and owner of two black cats. She runs a successful home-based business. One of her goals is to help others succeed in living their dreams. She can be reached through her website at http://www.gourmetcandlebiz.com or via email: wahm@homebizrecipes.com