"Ever since giving birth to my first daughter, now more than 15 years ago, I have blurred the lines between work and home.
I have finally realized the key to 'making working work' is to become organized."
Sheila: Nurse and mother of two
"I got to the airport only to find out that I booked my trip to New York backwards.
I think that says it all."
"This year, I have really spent time thinking about ways to get organized and all of this legwork has paid off.
I now have more time for friends, date nights, adventures, and even relaxing."
Otherwise, there will be a day when you realize, all of a sudden, that in the next 30 minutes you need to be in two places at the same time."
Therese:Sales representative and mother of three: I once had a co-worker named Lisa who was also a working mother of two. Lisa was always a mess. Her clothes were splashed with coffee stains, and her office had two desks piled with papers, knick-knacks, and data from the multiple projects she was working on. From what I could tell, none of her files were ever organized. Lisa was a great friend, but our work styles and habits were certainly nothing alike.
One morning, I had to come in early to find a file I needed for a presentation I was working on with Lisa. I must have searched her desk for more than half an hour, without any success. When Lisa came into the office later that morning, I asked her for the file. She reached into the middle of one of her stacks, and without taking her eyes off me, smiled, and softly uttered, "Duh, it's right here."
We all have our own organization systems. If you find that system and it works--my best advice on this chapter of organization is to stick with it. For those of you that haven't found a system yet or may be looking for some tips and tricks, I can help.
One thing is certain: working mothers feel rushed. No matter how organized we think we are, there will always be days when we can't find our car keys, a child suddenly gets sick out of the blue, someone can't find his favorite Spiderman t-shirt (even though you know you laid it out), and the dog actually ate your report.
While I definitely do not claim to be an organizational expert, I do strongly believe that it plays an important role in my happiness as a mother and a professional. When the chaos level is down, the calm can begin.
Unfortunately, as we working mothers know, in addition to our mommy to-do lists, we also have a long work to-do list, which means that we must make an effort to manage our time wisely. Staying organized is a key step in mitigating our guilt, as much of it stems from feeling out of control or being pulled in too many directions. When Mom is in control, the family is too.
The below are my top suggestions for home and work that have greatly helped me maintain organization--and my cool.
Samantha Knowles is the author of Working Mom Reviews. Learn how to stay raise your profile through networking on Linkedin at Linkedin influence. Want to have a passionate, loving, and almost "obsessed" relationship with your partner? Visit Make Him Desire You
