It's in the Book
Staying organized is easier than ever.
I will never forget that spring morning in 2004 when I awoke from a deep sleep, suddenly thinking about wedding planners. I pondered: Why are there hundreds if not thousands of wedding organizers on the market to help a prospective bride plan one day in her life and seemingly not one organizer for a busy mom, who generally needs help planning every day of her life?
As a young mother of four children under the age of 7, this was a relevant question. I was overwhelmed with responsibilities, activities and commitments, and frustrated by the lack of planner offerings at the local stationery store. Like many other mothers, I need one place to organize my own appointments and events, as well as those of my husband and children.
When I realized nothing existed to help me plan my family’s life, momAgenda was born. Throughout the evolution of this business, I have learned about building a successful product and company, along with useful strategies that help moms get organized.
I designed the original momAgenda day planner with two goals in mind. I wanted a planner that could help a mom manage multiple schedules all in one place. In addition, the planner had to be cute and stylish— something a hip mom would be proud to carry.
I think our products are especially useful during the busy and stressful back-to-school season. There are many commitments involved in the beginning of the school year, from PTA luncheons to class trips, plus the kids are typically beginning a new slew of afterschool activities.
One of the most important things you can do before the school year officially commences is to fill in the entire momAgenda in advance. I block out a quiet hour in my schedule one day and sit down with the kids’ school calendars and the calendars for all of the various afterschool activities, such as sports, music lessons and dance. I write in every single commitment for the entire year for everyone in my family. Once that is done, I have a master family calendar that becomes like our Bible. All my kids reference the momAgenda on a daily basis to see what is going on that day.
One important tip that I have given many moms is to make time for yourself. Many of us are so busy focusing on our kids, especially during the back-to-school shuffle, that we forget to refill our own tanks. I think it is critically important to take at least 30 minutes each day to do something that soothes you. You would be surprised how much you can do in a short amount of time that comforts you and recharges your mom battery. Here are a few examples of things that you might want to do during your 30 minutes of personal time: Take a bath, go for a run, get a manicure, grab coffee with a friend, do some reading, practice yoga or go to the library. What matters most is that you do something only for you and not for someone else. If you practice this tip regularly, you will have more energy for your husband and children because you are nurturing yourself.
With all its joys, parenting young children can be busy and stressful. Likewise, getting organized is crucial for gaining control over your hectic schedule. Fortunately, new tools like the momAgenda allow moms and dads to organize family fare with great ease.
Nina Restieri is the president of momAgenda and the mother of four children, ages 6, 9, 11 and 13. She lives and works in Connecticut. For more information and tips on getting organized, visit www.momagenda.com.