Tips for Using a Planner to Organize Your Family (and Lose the Sticky Notes and Scrap Paper)

♦Do away with multiple sticky notes and little pieces of scrap paper. Get one "black book". It can be a project planner, steno book or any other type of pad sold that's spiral bound (but don't plan to rip out the pages--just to turn them). A planner with a calendar and lots of extra note writing space is ideal.

♦Your whole family should share this one planner. This is the Family Planner. Everyone can use separate colored pencils, with erasers, if you prefer. When someone has an appointment, a phone number, a grocery list item or just something that needs to be remembered on a certain day, they should put it directly into the family planner. This includes daily phone messages.

♦Find day planners, calendars, binders and more here:

♦Family members can temporarily jot onto sticky notes (e.g. while on the phone, in the car) but then transfer the note to the planner (and trash the sticky notes and scrap paper).

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Why a Family Planner Beats Sticky Notes Every Time