Looking for "Calendar/to Do" Organization Tips

I am in love with Cozi.com. You can use it online and on your home computer... So you can get to it anywhere. It's completely free and you have a seperate "page" for each family member and one that includes everyone in the family. It's really been a life-saver for me! I am not sure if you can use it with a palm or blackberry but, I do know that you can send reminders to your email or phone (or anyone else in the family). I read about it in Parenting about a year ago and I know I couldn't live without it now... Plus, I love that I can view my calendar from anyone's computer. Check it out!

I tried a palm a few years back and it just didn't work for me. I am not sure why beacause I think they are great and my husband would definatly be lost w/o his. I use Go MOM! planner. It is a weekly/monthly spiral bound planner. Staples is the only one that currently carries it. I have a spare if you are interested in looking at it. I bought two at the Staples in Austin in Dec. Target used to carry it. Google them on line to take a look at it. They are roughly $10-$12. An inexpensive alternative! It keeps me pretty organized w/ three active children and a husband who travels.

H.

You should try a smartphone such as the Blackberry...If you don't want a phone that big then go with the Blackberry pearl. Or there are other options...(Not all touchscreen either if you don't want that feature). I would also recommend Verizon Wireless, they have the best coverage! I have all my appts and everything scheduled in my phone and it's great to be able to set a reminder that can alert you in advance or at the exact time you choose. There's a very helpful guy at the Verizon store in Coon Rapids, his name is SHAUN. Definitely go see him and you can decide which device would be best for you. Verizon has a time period (not sure what it is- 30 days or something) where you can try out your device to see if it works for you and if you're not satisfied go in and switch for a different one. Good luck!

I used to sell real estate, and to limit my devices to just one, I used a smart phone which combined my lockbox key, phone, calendar, database, etc. The idea is great, but here are the things tha bothered me:

1) It's hard to look at your calendar when you're on the phone (unless you have a handset device that you USE)
2) With the touch screen on the Pocket PC, my face would hit the buttons while I was talking on the phone, causing problems. If I locked the touch screen, I couldn't access my calendar when I needed to.

I had a Palm phone before the Pocket PC and had fewer frustrations until a dent showed up on the screen. That eliminated my ability to tap precisely where I wanted.

Separate devices are easier to use, unless you're trying to juggle everything at once while you're standing and don't have pockets. Of course, I also hated the challenge of making sure everything was updated between the fridge, wall, computer, pda, etc.

What you get depends on what you like, but I wanted to share my experiences.

I have 3 little ones; a 1st grader, a kindergartener, and a 22 mo old. Last year I bought a Centro phone (Sprint). It uses a program that is compatable with outlook so that when I enter in a new calendar event, it will transer to Outlook on the computer through a cable. (I have my phone and my computer connect about once a week and then print the weekly view for my husband and the refridgerator.) My favorite part of my Centro is that each person in my family has a color so that I can see at a glance who needs to be where and when. Also, the outlook program offers alarms set at whenever you decide, so that I never miss an appointment.

Bonus features include camera, video, games, alarm, calculator to name a few.

http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/centro/index....

Hi J.,

You are wise to get a "system" that works for you now.

I've always been a planner-person. I don't go anywhere without it. Back when "palms" became the thing, I tried that and was so frustrated. My husband loved his and we couldn't figure out what my problem was. Then I read an article that made me feel so much better. It said that there are those that thrive with an electronic organizer and other that do best with paper. Us paper-people didn't need to switch just because elec was available. Since then, I've been a happy paper planner lover.

If you choose to use a paper-planner, then my advice should be helpful:

I have a refillable planner that I bought a Walmart many years ago. It has one snap to hold it shut. I would not recommend a zipper closure. You need to be able to open/close it quickly and zippers would slow me down. Also, it is one with just 3 rings. I would stay away from the 7 ring binders because that limits you on your choices of refillable papers. Mine holds about 5 X 7 refillable paper. Smaller and all the entries wouldn't fit, bigger would be harder to bring with me.

In the front I have (from Walmart) "Tabbed 2008 Month-in-view Planning calendar". These are pre-dated calendars. Each month is a 2-page spread. Within each month calendar, each day is a lined square for writing. EVERYTHING goes on these pages. Appointments, school events, business meetings, birthdays, etc. For example, all the information from papers from school go on the calendar and then filed with other school papers for reference if needed. No need to post all the papers on the fridge and keep referring to them, its all in the planner. If something is scheduled early in the day, I write it toward the top of the day's square, evening things are written toward the bottom. To keep organized, I ALWAYS write in straight lines, never diagonal.

After the December calendar is the "2008 Week-in-view Planning Calendar". This 2-page spread has the 7 days of that week. For example, I am looking at the May 12 - 18 week right now. M-F each get 1/3 of the page, S-S share a third. Each day's third has a left side for scheduled things (appts, etc) and a right side for "to do" things. I check things off as completed so a quick glance will tell me what I still need to do. I only cross things off if an appt is cancelled, etc. When a week is finished, I paperclip it to the other finished weeks so when I want to turn to the current week's page, I grab the paperclip and flip it open.

Every Sunday night I transfer the week's info from the monthly calendar to the weekly calendar. The weekly calendar sits open on my desk at all times. My teenagers all know that Mom's calendar is always updated so that is where they look.

Ideally, my husband and I compare calendars once a week to keep each other updated.

What I didn't like about the elec calendars is that I couldn't see a full month view with all its activities listed. When I'm making a hair appt for example, I like to see which day is best at a glance rather than scrolling thru days. Also, I don't have to turn it on, click to see various things, I just flip open my planner and there it is.

What my husband likes about elec planners is that he can sync it with his computer. His calendar and contacts on his computer are always on his phone/planner. That is a very nice feature but not enough to tempt me.

The planner can continue to be expanded to fit your needs. Frequently called numbers, menu planning, shopping lists, etc.

Well, I better stop typing now since there are a few things on my to-do list that don't have check marks yet. :)

I just got the Palm Centro (with Sprint as our carrier) and I ABSOLUTELY love it. I have only had it about a week, but I have been able to learn how to use the basics well and I have started exploring some of the extras that it can do. In addition to using it as a phone, I use it mostly for text messaging, keeping a calendar with alarms and reminders, keeping a task list (that organizes your tasks based on categories)and I use the memos to keep notes organized by subject. So far, I have been thrilled with the organizing ability of something that is smaller than a deck of cards. Plus, I love that it has a touch screen (using either your finger or the stylus pen). One of my goals, in addition to becoming organized (we own two businesses, I work full-time for another organizion and I have 3 kids under the age of 4)is to get rid of all the extra paper/post-it notes/ect that I have floating around my desk. I don't have a long history with the Centro, but so far it gets 2 huge thumbs up from me!

I love my BLACKBERRY!!!
My husband works for a Cell company so he gives me the low down on all the phones. I like the BB cause it can sync with my google calender and outlook so I don't have to enter it twice. I can print a calender from Outlook, or Google and post it on the fridge. I can also share my calender to my hubbies BB and he knows all my stuff. It also sends reminders if I want. It is fairly easy to use if you are somewhat techno savvy. It takes a little while, but once you got it, you got it. I think the palm is a little less user friendly. Plus, the BB is really sleek and cool. I can download pics, movies and music. It comes in handy when I have a bored 4 year old in the back seat when I have to be running a million errands I can just hand her my BB with Shrek and she watches away. I also get all my E-mails to my BB. I can quickly and easily respond to e-mails instantly and am always contactable through e-mail which is nice when something important comes through and you are changing a diaper or in the Mall restroom. The e-mail and internet service is a little expensive, but worth it if you do a lot of emails.

Good Luck

E.