Let's Give a Warm Welcome to our Guest Blogger: Rachel Strisik

Capital City Mamas Guest Blog

Keeping Your Schedule Organized

Now that the school year is off to a busy start, it’s easy to lose track of your family’s schedule while you’re juggling extracurricular activities, preparing for the holiday season and just dealing with the daily stresses of life. The key to keeping up with a hectic schedule is a family calendar. The more organized you make your calendar, the more organized your daily life will be. Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Figure out your method. Not every time organization technique works for every family - customize it so that it fits your lifestyle. If you’re always on-the-go, a planner is probably your best option. If your family centers around your kitchen, a large wall calendar would be a great option. For the more tech-saavy families, a scheduling app for your smartphones or tablets is the way to go. One of the best calendar apps I have found is Cozi, available for Apple and Android devices. It’s a great tool for digitally managing schedules and is also accessible via web so you can take your schedule anywhere you go.

2. Keep it visual. Whichever option you choose, the more visually appealing it is, the more you’ll look at it. Use pencil to write in appointments that are likely to change so things stay neat. And most importantly, color code! Choose a different color pen or marker for each type of activity or each member of the family. I love the Pottery Barn Daily System Calendar because you can customize it to your decor, whether you’d like a more rustic feel with a chalkboard, or a clean and modern look with a whiteboard.

3. Be consistent. The only way these methods will work is if you keep them consistent. Don’t just write down some of your commitments - write them all down, from important doctor appointments all the way down to daily errands. Not only will it help you remember what you need to get done, but seeing it laid out will keep you from feeling overwhelmed. The Cavallini Daily Planner from Paper Source lays out each day hour-by-hour, so you can organize your day down to the minute.

We know you’re all busy moms with overflowing agendas - getting yourself in a calendar routine will help you to keep things in perspective while keeping your sanity.

Rachel Strisik is an organizing extraordinaire - Rachel uses creativity, style and a little elbow grease to help clients get their homes, schedules and lives in order. A professional organizer and member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, Rachel empowers her clients to lived more organized, productive lives. Rachel works with her clients to customize organization plans to accommodate many different lifestyles - from bachelor pads to large families, and everything in between. Rachel's keen eye for order, along with her creative style, allows her to create beautiful and peaceful spaces for her clients around the country.

Over the course of her career, she has worked on Capitol Hill, as well as with start-ups. Most recently, she served as Director of Operations for a national personal styling company, Style for Hire, co-founded by celebrity stylist Stacy London from TLC's What Not to Wear.

Rachel lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband and four year-old twin daughters.