I created a Home control binder using dividers with pockets. The first section is emergency phone numbers (work numbers, grandparents etc if parents were unavailable) and other important numbers (insurance, health care numbers, SINs etc often needed for permission slips and forms) The kids could use these fairly early on to complete forms that I then checked and signed, teaching them the important skill of completing paper work. I also have sections for each child, as well as my husband, myself and my mother in law who we care for. These handle every thing from school forms to blood work requisitions. Other sections were for calender/schedules and phone lists. Over the years, it has saved a lot of steps, and my young adult daughters have adapted the system for them selves as they have moved out on their own.
My room used to be a mess, after college with my first job. Too many college clothes, instaed of work clothes, and making dinner myself instead of cafeteria was crazy. But eventually i managed to survive, and now my schedule rules. :) I come from work, stressed out, and have a 'de-stress' time. Get to my room, and put upbeat music, and start making my bead, putting shoes away, wiping everything in my room again, and by the third song everything is so clean, i'm relaxed and ready to enjoy my second job: which is enjoy my afternoon. Sometimes take a shower then, if it was really stressed out, put on comfy and freshly clean clothes, which I now have organized as well, and set to have dinner, read, dream or learn a new language. I love my new schedule. it is giving me more pleasure on the everyday and i get to work inspired. :)
