This guest post, written by Sarah over at RaisingRoyalty.ca, discusses how to get organized using planning tools.

Moms are busy people.  It’s undeniable that a CEO, business owner, teacher, doctor, or lawyer can all be very busy people, but moms are also VERY busy people. We are always looking to know how to get organized because motherhood just adds a different level of busyness to life.

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Moms need to know how to plan. We need the tools, tips, tricks, and techniques of planning, and we need to know where to start!

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How to get organized starts with having the right tools.  With the right tools, you can get your family to their goals, and yours.

What are the tools of planning?

First, you need a calendar.

Whether this is a paper or a digital calendar doesn’t matter. Use whatever version works for you. Paper calendars have the benefits of being visual to the whole family, easily, and updated by anyone who can write. Digital calendars have the benefits of being super portable, and you can set alarms and reminders for yourself. What matters is that the calendar is accessible and updatable.

Actually, you’ll probably need more than one calendar.

I use a year-at-a-glance calendar, to plan our vacations, our doctors’ and dentist’s appointments, trips to Grandma and to the beach, and all those other “big” events.

Then I use a monthly calendar to map out our weekly activities, our shopping and errands, and my menu.

Seeing a month at a glance is enough time to make sure that I don’t over-schedule but not so much time that I get confused or overwhelmed.

Then I use a weekly calendar to keep track of the details, from work assignments and projects to cleaning lists and bath nights.

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Second, you need a planner or agenda.

You may have one or more of your calendars inside your planner or agenda, but this tool contains more than just your calendars.  This keeps track of your daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals.

I have my cleaning checklists, my meal plans, and my work to-dos in here. I also have all the contact info for everything inside my planner – doctors, the car garage, the schools, the kids’ activities and lessons, my family and friends, and any other contact info I may want to remember.

My planner is my external brain.

I have a lot of other things to do and I don’t need to clutter up my brain with this reference info. Having it all in one place helps me stay organized and on track.

For portability reasons, I like one that fits in my purse.

This beautiful mid-year start Agenda boosts productivity for moms!  You can also put your pen in its own holder so you’ll always have it available.

I bought a shell at a thrift store and then ordered loose-leaf forms online to fit. But you can get just a binder and either print your own or get forms in-store or online. This doesn’t have to be fancy.

Third, you need a small notebook or notepad.

This is a new tool for me, and I find it has helped immensely.

When I have a small notebook on hand at all times, I can write things down as they come to me. From blog post ideas to chores I need to finish (because I got interrupted by a child’s crisis?), having that paper and pen is life-saving.

I can write down reminders to myself. Or jot down that child’s mom’s name at the baseball game that my daughter asked for playdates with. I can make a quick grocery list, brain dump all the to-dos in my brain, and take notes while I’m listening to a podcast. It’s so handy to have!

It also provides a handy distraction for my kids when we need to wait somewhere unexpectedly.  You’ll feel so confident and organized.

Recently, I took my car in for an oil change. I was thinking we’d be in and out, so I had my 5- and 6-year-old along. However, there was a line up at the garage, so we ended up waiting for more than 20 minutes.

I pulled out my notebook, ripped out a couple of sheets, and grabbed some pens from the waiting room desk.

The kids happily drew while we waited, with no fuss!

Fourth, I recommend having a journal of some kind.

You know how during the day your kid says the funniest or cutest thing ever? Or they did something for the “first” time? And you think “I’ll never forget this”? You’ll forget about it. And you know you will.

Having a journal allows you to keep a record of all those moments. At the end of the day, write down what you did, anything that stands out to you, the funny or adorable things your kids said, and the milestones they achieved.

Not only will this help you to remember them, but they’ll provide an amazing historical record for your children and your grandchildren. And re-reading your journal will help put things in perspective for you when you’re stressed or anxious.

You’ll see just how much you have to be grateful for.

You now know how to get organized!

The right tools make planning easy!

Busy moms need a plan. Plans make the day go smoother and help keep mom (and everyone else!) on track. But planning doesn’t have to be a chore. When you have the right tools, planning is a breeze.

Sarah Wall is a single work-at-home mom. She homeschools her six girls in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. And she runs XeraSupport, a virtual business support agency.

She blogs about single parenting, large family management and homeschooling at RaisingRoyalty.ca