Do you ever feel like your brain has about fifty tabs open all at once?
Between remembering what to cook for dinner, running out of milk, keeping track of household jobs, and trying to remember if you actually replied to that text message about school, the "mental load" of general life can get exhausting.
I’ll let you into a little secret, a clinical, boring spreadsheet has never inspired me to get organised (to be honest I don’t even know how to use them properly). But getting all those messy thoughts out of my head and onto beautiful, bright, colourful paper? Absolute magic!!!
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the week ahead, here is my simple 3-step routine to reset your mind, organise your life and bring a little pop of joy back to your daily schedule.
Step 1: Conquer the Kitchen (Meal Planning & Shopping Lists)
There is nothing worse than hitting 6 PM on a Tuesday, looking in the fridge, and hearing the dreaded question: "What's for dinner?" Not only does it cause daily stress but it usually leads to a last-minute supermarket trip where you buy things you don't need.
My Friday morning ritual always starts with mapping out the meals for the week ahead. I don't mean a strict, boring diet plan, just a general guide so I don't have to think about it when I'm tired after a long day.
How I do it: I keep my Weekly Meal Planner Notepad on the table and work out what I need while I am eating my breakfast. It’s perfect because it splits the week into days on one side and has a dedicated space for a running shopping list on the other. As soon as a meal is planned, the ingredients go straight onto the list, ready to go in my phone or taken to the shops. The paper then gets put on the fridge for the week.
Step 2: Write a Master "Life Admin" List
Life is full of random little chores that clutter up our minds. Fixing that squeaky cupboard door, calling the dentist, ordering a birthday card, or finally sorting out that pile of washing. If you leave them floating around in your head, they feel ten times bigger than they actually are.
Instead of letting them stress you out, do a weekly "brain dump." Write them all down in one place.
How I do it: For my big, master list of life admin and chores, I use my trusty Slim To Do Notepad. There is something incredibly satisfying about ticking a boring task off a page this bright and colourful. It turns mundane chores into a little win!
Step 3: Keep a Separate Pad for Daily Reminders
Have you ever written a beautiful, neat to-do list, only to immediately scribble all over it with a sudden phone message, a quick reminder, or a random thought? It instantly makes your beautifully planned week look chaotic!
The trick is to have a secondary, smaller notepad nearby specifically for temporary, messy notes, daily scribbles, or quick ideas that pop into your head out of nowhere.
How I do it: I keep a smaller pad, like my A6 Pocket Notepad right next to my Slim To Do Notepad. It’s my "in-the-moment" pad for quick reminders, random inspiration or afternoon doodles. It keeps my main weekly layout looking clean and clear.
Hope this helps you feel a little more organised, while being a bit Clairabow with a pop of colour and fun.
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