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

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: http://www.gourmetcandlebiz.com

Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..
In The News:

Inversion Space unveils Arc, a reusable reentry vehicle that can deliver up to 500 pounds of cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour.
Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.
Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.
Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.
Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.
Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.
Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.
The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.
Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.
As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.
A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.
Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.
iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.
Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.
From her Arizona living room, Christina Chapman ran a covert hub that helped North Korean operatives infiltrate U.S. firms, netting $17 million in stolen salaries.
UC Santa Barbara researchers developed a soft robotic intubation system that achieved 100% success rates for experts and 96% for paramedics with minimal training.
Scammers exploit probate filings to target grieving families with fake fees and debts, Kurt "Cyberguy" Knutsson reports.
Automotive giant Stellantis becomes latest victim of widespread Salesforce breaches affecting companies like Google, Cisco and Adidas this year.
A woman from Washington reunited with her missing Maine Coon cat Louie after 11 days using Love Lost, a free AI-powered pet recovery platform.
Expert cybersecurity tips help Mac owners remove malware infections and strengthen defenses with antivirus software, password managers and system updates.
Meta's AI chatbot training rules bans sexual roleplay with minors and block access to child abuse material as regulators scrutinize its safety measures.
Online banking users face a new threat: web injection scams that overlay fake pop-ups to steal logins. Here’s how to spot them and protect your accounts.
Meta introduced Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger while launching a School Partnership Program for U.S. educators to report bullying within 48 hours.
Executive order signed by President Donald Trump tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA Commission with using AI to find new cures for childhood cancers.
New FileFix attack tricks Facebook and Instagram users into running malicious PowerShell commands disguised as Meta account maintenance to deploy StealC infostealer.

Basic Organizing Principles

So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More

8 Signs Your Home is Out of Control -- and What to Do About It

It happens without warning. One day you notice your home... Read More

Files vs Piles

I recently read an article that had some interesting but... Read More

Organizing Your Day

One of the hardest things for most individuals working from... Read More

Finish in Style - Organizing Works!

One of my mother-in-law's many oft-quoted and wise declarations was... Read More

3 Simple Filing Guidelines

One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More

It?s Spring Cleaning Time? Let?s Make Room For Abundance!

I gathered some things you can do this spring while... Read More

Thinking Outside the Box

Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More

Balance- What Does It Really Mean?

Balance- what a popular topic these days! Finding a work-life... Read More

Saving Memories Without Losing Your Mind

The summer is flying by for Cindy and her family.... Read More

Organized Living in a Disorganized World

We are bombarded with so many factors that perpetuate disorganization.... Read More

Creating The Perfect Closet

Your closet is often the first thing you see in... Read More

Get Rid Of The Clutter

You really can have a successful business and a great... Read More

After the Clutter: 5 Steps to a New Daily Routine

I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More

The Problem With To-Do Lists

Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying... Read More

Organization and the Opposite Sex

In many of the companies I have worked in, there... Read More

Can Someone Step Into Your Job Or Role And Function Effectively?

Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux)... Read More

Clutter Clearing Tips that Work

Coping with clutter is rarely easy. There's more involved than... Read More

Organizing Solutions for the Disorganized Entrepreneur

After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More

Tossing and Turning

"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More

Control Your Childrens Clutter!!

Ever feel overwhelmed by all the papers, notices, artwork, and... Read More

Feng Shui Guidlines for Storage Spaces

Professional organizers and helpful-hint sources often recommend storage solutions such... Read More

Clear Your Clutter and Free Your Life

Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More

Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 2

We previously noted that papers must be sorted before they... Read More

Balance - And Other Things

The Mexican VillagerThe American investment banker was at the pier... Read More

reliable maid service Winnetka ..