It is the digital age. Computers are used in every aspect of our lives. One of the most basic and most common applications is a calendar program. Designed to make our lives more organized, these calendars are cropping up everywhere. Our cell phones have calendars and some of our computers have them built in. There is a wide variety of personal data assistants (PDA’s), smartphones, and “productivity” software such as Microsoft Office. There are even online versions like Google calendar that you can use from any computer connected to the internet. With all of these high tech choices it is easy to forget the old standby - pencil and paper.

Which one is better?

First, let me point out that I am a digital girl. I love using the computer to organize my life.

But technology has it’s limitations. I like being able to have my calendar on the go (easily solved with a PDA) and I like to look at the big picture - basically month views with all the appointments listed for each day (not so easily solved). I have also experienced difficulties with syncing from my computer to my handheld device, which translated to hours on the phone with customer service and more than a few late nights.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. In my post Digital Planner vs. Paper Planner I referred to an article by Julie Bonner at DeclutterIt called Choosing the Right Planner, which outlined some important factors to consider when choosing your planning system. In addition to these factors there are also some more practical aspects to consider.

1. Budget -
   How much do you want to spend on getting organized? A computer software/PDA combination can cost hundreds if not more. Several early iPhone adopters are receiving a shock when they open their first phone bills. A paper planner will generally cost much less.
2. Time -
   It takes time to set up a planning system. With anything technology, there will be glitches. Figuring these out will take time. However, if your schedule is packed, like mine, writing everything down can be tedious. You gotta love those recurring appointments. On the computer you just enter it once and set it up to occur on a regular basis. On a paper calender you will be writing in each swim lesson and ballet class separately.
3. Portability -
   Most people need their calendar on the go. It can be tedious to carry a big notebook around with you everywhere so a little handheld device is quite alluring. On the other hand most handheld devices are short on screen space. When you look at a monthly view all you usually see is a little colored blip that indicates you have an appointment sometime during the day. So if someone asks “what day next week works best for you?”, you will need to scroll through several days and never really be able to see them side by side.
4. Do you have a free hand? -
   What does that mean? Parents are unique in this aspect - they are always carrying someone or something. While I can use a pen with my free hand, it is harder for me to enter an appointment into a handheld device. This forced me to rely on my overcrowded memory. Needless to say, I missed quite a few appointments because of this when my children were little.
5. Do you have access to the computer? -
   Huh? If your calendar is on the only computer in the house and your kids are playing video games or your spouse is immersed in the latest instructional golf clips, you may be out of luck on getting to your data.

So, what type of planner do I use? I guess you could call it the hybrid method. I can’t live without the convenience of technology, so I keep my calendar on my computer using iCal. Generally, I am the only one that uses this computer. But, for the time being, I have given up on handheld devices. I print out monthly views of my calendar, fold these papers and put them in my handbag - voila! portability without bulk. I can see all my appointments for the month on one piece of paper and when a new appointment crops up, I write it on the printout with old fashioned pencil. At the end of the day or week, I input all my handwritten entries into my computer and make a new printout.

For now this method is working for me - I feel that I am more organized than I was previously and these results are what counts. (I do have high hopes for the newly announced iPod Touch though!)

life, organization, planners, calendars, productivity, parenting

Whether you are a WAHM or a SAHM - you are a working mom (or dad). We all know what it is like to be pulled in many different directions. And how frustrating is it to sit down at the end of an extremely busy day and feel that you have accomplished nothing.

It all boils down to organization and setting boundaries. If I have a to do list ready to go in the morning with a timeline for how my day will progress - things get done. If I am not organized enough to prepare this list, then chaos ensues.

And, usually, to fit everything into a jam packed day, the one thing that gets overlooked is yourself.

How does one balance work, family, and a little “me” time? I know the answers, but they are usually just beyond my grasp.

Luckily, Wendy (eMom), has put together a great list of 20 Work-Life Balance Tips for the Overworked Entrepreneur (or parent). I will hang these on the bulletin board over my computer to remind me to stay on track.

I spent the better part of yesterday scanning old photographs into my computer. My intention was noble - future generations will appreciate my efforts at documenting my family’s history. And my daughter looks just like grandma at that age.

But what good are photos that are trapped in a computer? Why not create some photo books and have them printed? That’s when I ran into trouble. You see, the resolution that I used for scanning the photos was not high enough.

I don’t really understand the whole resolution thing as I haven’t spent much time learning about it. I know that higher resolution makes for better print outs, uses more memory, and takes longer to scan.

So here I am back at the drawing board. But this time, I did a little rudimentary research and found a very helpful article at MacWorld called New Life for Old Photos. This article not only explains resolution but has some great tips on organizing and archiving scanned pictures. You will find useful information here, even if you don’t use a Mac.

Now, I wish I had more time!

June is the new December.

We all know how hectic life becomes around the holidays in December (even if your family doesn’t celebrate a particular holiday at that time.) There are endless class parties, gift exchanges, visiting, vacations, and the list goes on.

Well, if you have school age children, June is offering December some stiff competition. Life has become crazy busy. Every day there is a recital, class party, sporting event, celebration, field trip, - you name it. With four children to manage, this month has become a logistical nightmare. Until cloning becomes more common, I have not yet figured out a way for me and my children to be in two places at once.

It has long been known that the holidays cause as much stress as they do enjoyment. Now June has also become a very stressful month. So here is a list of 7 ways for moms to manage end of school year stress.

7 Ways for Moms to Manage End of School Year Stress

1. Just say No.
   If it is impossible for you to be there, bake it, volunteer for it, buy it, or make it - just say no with a clear conscience. Do what you can.
2. Eat out as much as your budget allows.
   Planning, cooking, and cleaning up after meals takes a lot of time. Not to mention the grocery shopping. At this time of year I pare down my grocery list and on the days that I am away more than I am at home, I don’t even attempt dinner. And, yes, we also do cereal nights.
3. Make lists.
   At this time of year I experience many “senior moments”. If it’s not written down, it just won’t happen. Each morning I look at my calendar and write notes for each and every item including the time in between. If one of my children has soccer practice I list things I need to take from gear that he needs to activities to keep my three year old occupied. If I am organized, things run more smoothly, and there is less stress.
4. Budget a little time for yourself each day.
   Even if it is just half an hour. Do something you enjoy - read a book, relax, work on a hobby, exercise. “Me” time is important.
5. Pick your “battles”.
   You are not the only one feeling stressed. Your children are just as busy and overtired as you are, and will probably be acting out. A little patience goes a long way.
6. End your day.
   This is hard for me. I keep working until I am exhausted. Then I fall into bed, wake up early and begin where I left off. Each day becomes a continuation of the previous one and life becomes monotonous. Set a time each evening to put it all away and enjoy some quiet time or time with your spouse.
7. Get enough sleep.
   Enough said.

How old are those leftovers sitting in the back of your refrigerator? How about that jar of pasta sauce? And all of those little containers of opened baby food?

Sometimes it is impossible to remember - and since my motto is “If in doubt throw it out” - I probably waste a lot of perfectly good food. Given the recent outbreaks of food borne illnesses it is easy to be paranoid.

So, when I was recently contacted about a product called DaysAgo - a gadget that keeps track of the number of days food is sitting in your refrigerator - I was intrigued.

The DaysAgo is a reusable digital counter that you stick right on your the top of your jar lid or on your food container. (It has a magnet or suction cup backing - depending on the style that you choose.) When you open your jar of sauce, you set the DaysAgo timer to zero, stick it on the jar lid, and put it in the fridge. Then you can forget about it. The next time you need sauce you will be able to see how many days and hours have passed since you last set the timer (read: opened that jar of sauce.)

This unique gadget has many other uses as well. You can use it to figure out how long it has been since you last watered a plant, changed a filter, opened a pair of contact lens’, and more.

DaysAgo was invented by two moms, Debbie Stephens Stauffer and Kathleen Whitehurst, who wanted to find a way to keep track of the freshness of baby food. They were featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show’s February 2, 2007 “Millionaire Moms” episode and are quite an inspiration to all creative moms with vision.

The DaysAgo sells for $10.00 for a pack of 2 units and can be purchased at their website of their company (double u products, inc.) - www.howmanydaysago.com
or at specialty stores for gourmet housewares and baby products.