More often than not, moms are the CEOs of the household, managing the bulk of the duties related to shopping, cooking, planning, scheduling, cleaning, budgeting, and ever increasingly, teaching the kids.
Keeping track of such a wide variety of responsibilities can be challenging, especially if moms lack the benefit of the executive assistant a typical CEO has. One way to stay on top of things is to maintain a “mom binder.”
A mom binder is, you guessed it, a binder in which all of a mom’s important information, ideas, and reminders are centrally located. This low-tech solution catches and organizes the incoming and ongoing projects, obligations, and responsibilities they need to manage.
Vision and Goals
Let the first thing you see when you open your binder inspire you. Take a moment to write down the highest vision you have for your life and your family. Then break it down into five to 10 major goals that you’re aiming for. Being reminded of these big picture ideas regularly will keep your focus where you want it.Areas of Focus
You can likely break down the areas of your life into a handful of categories, such as spirituality, fitness, family, career, education, finances, home, and fun. Yours will be unique to you, of course. Having a list of the main areas of your life can help you remember specific responsibilities related to each of them and encourage staying on top of things.Calendar
Print out a blank calendar and keep track of your appointments, obligations, and other time-specific things you want to remember. Having a calendar in this central location will help to stay on track.Budget
Planning and tracking your spending and saving each month is crucial to achieving your financial goals and maintaining financial fitness. As you make money decisions, it’s helpful to have a budget to reference.Meal Plan
Rather than deciding what’s for dinner an hour before eating each night, plan out your family’s meals for a week or two at a time. This will allow you to shop for only the groceries you need and will make meal preparation much easier.Project List
At any given time, you’ve likely got a number of long-term projects underway. Perhaps you’re planning a birthday party or a vacation; maybe you’re renovating a room; or perhaps your child is getting ready to apply to colleges. Keeping a running list of projects to regularly review will ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.To-Do List
When you peruse your project list, you’ll likely recognize some next steps that can be taken more immediately. These and your everyday tasks should make their way into a to-do list.Reference
Finally, the back of your binder is a great place to store reference items like your online passwords, contact information, books you want to read, or ideas you want to remember.Keeping important information like this in one dedicated place will help the job of the family CEO run smoothly.
