NOTE: Today’s guest post is from Dee Selby, a professional organizer. She’s discuss how journaling declutters her life. Dee has helped me organize my office especially to maintain a more workable environment. Currently, she serves as my Virtual Assistant but is more like a marketing guru! She not only helps organize my business, but promotes it with her constant flow of marketing ideas and tips.
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My journal is quirky. I’ve tried journaling to record life events, a prayer/devotional journal, even a love journal my husband and I passed back and forth between us. But now, quirky is the word!
According to David Allen, author of Get Things Done, your brain works its creative and innovative best when you clear the clutter of remembering all the minutiae that fills everyday life.
As a professional organizer with a variety of clients and organizational services, it’s important to keep track of my client’s needs and the strategies to meet those needs. And as an entrepreneur, it’s important to network like crazy and meet many new (and fascinating) people every week. I’m also old enough to be in the “sandwich” generation, which means my life is filled with the happenings of adult children and an aging mother.
I need a journal that can keep ME organized with enough flexibility to encompass ALL of my activity – I call mine my “Brain Journal” with a nod to Allen’s quote, “Your brain makes a lousy office.”
I’m old school enough that I still take notes on paper (in my brain journal) when I talk with clients. I want to build relationships and really listen to their concerns and needs – and I can’t do that on my phone. My journal is a conglomerate of notes, ideas, contacts, passwords, events, and other miscellaneous info. I typically use a 5×7 inch spiral bound lined notebook. It fits in my purse and the pages tear out if I need to pass notes or share paper.
I date each new day, but only write on page fronts, leaving the left side for additional notes at the end of each day. During the daily review, I transfer information to my digital to-do list, calendar, and password manager. When a journal is full, I review all the pages one more time before I archive it in a file box with the others.
Since each 100-page notebook will serve for about 90 days, I like to list my 90-day goals up front. Each new journal starts with a date, quick reference information, and any actionable ideas that still need to be brainstormed or mind mapped. Instead of a divided notebook, I use the small, durable sticky notes to create tabs if I feel like I need to mark a section of the notebook for later. Otherwise, I start at the beginning and just add to it page-by-page.
My brain journal is a mess, but it works for me. I’m wrapping up a notebook this week, so here’s a list of the types of things I’ve posted in THIS journal:
- 90-Day Goals
- Notes from meetings
- Random things I remember when I’m supposed to be listening to a speaker
- Sticky name tags so I don’t wear them out of a meeting
- Grocery lists
- Gift ideas
- To-Do lists
- Errands in geographic order
- Brainstorming
- Mind Maps
- Sketches – usually frogs
- Doodles
- Penmanship Practice – a, b, c, d . . .
- Addresses, directions, and maps
- Assessment results (Strengths Finder)
- Contact information
- Names and pronunciation clues
- Organizations and what they do/need
- Shopping sites to check out
- Marketing ideas and reminders
- Math
- Things to look up – are sidewinders poisonous snakes?
- Upcoming events
- People to call
- Stuff to deliver
- Documents to forward
- Random thoughts
- Funny quotes and inspirational quotes
- Event planning details
- Agendas with timing for future meetings
- Web page ideas
- Video ideas
- Creative writing based on client’s pet antics
- Measurements for furniture
- Measurements for hanging pictures
- Questions for doctor visits
- Vision statements
- Ice breaker ideas
- Presentation notes and outlines
- Call notes with utility and service providers
- Prayers
- Needs that I can meet
- Recipes
- Health hacks
- Insights – Aha!
While this type of journal might not be for everyone, it works for ME. And that’s the most important thing about journals, organizing systems, to-do lists, etc. Don’t be afraid to custom fit your tools until they work for you!
By Dee Grogg Selby, Professional Organizer
About Dee . . .
Dee Selby is a professional organizer and productivity coach with experience in teaching, writing, editing, graphic design, marketing, and public relations. She started Dee’s Downsize and Declutter in June 2017 with a goal of helping people have a more peaceful and productive living and working environment.
She is ready to help individuals and small businesses with organization, time management and goal setting. Her clients can maximize existing space, repurpose rooms, handle clutter, get organized, and reach goals! Dee’s Downsize and Declutter helps you get past “overwhelmed!”
Organizing & Productivity
♦ Virtual Organization
♦ Whiteboard Coaching
♦ Time Management
♦ Organization Systems
♦ Downsizing / Upsizing
♦ Repurposing Space
♦ Decluttering
♦ Inventory
Dee has a degree in Journalism/News Communication and training in Life Coaching and Lay Counseling.
Contact info:
Dee’s Downsize & Declutter
918-752-7649
