For me, the start of my journey towards a more orderly household begins with setting up my household binder and bulletin board.
In setting up my binder, I am organizing as I go along by doing just one section at a time. This can be a great family activity so try to include as many family members in this activity as you can. Another benefit of doing so is that sometimes members are more willing to participate in helping keep the household running smoothly if they have some say.
In this section, you will find helps for setting up your binder and bulletin board. I have homemade forms, activity outlines, links to online articles and forms, etc.
I have tried to lay out the activity outlines as projects with extras (such as activities to do with the kids or Arabic vocabulary) to make them more interesting.
Where you start is up to you. We started with the meal planning, but there may be an area that is more of a priority for you to start with.
The purpose of the bulletin board is that although the binder is great, if you need to find something quickly, well the board is a little more handy.
Throughout this section, "Putting it Together," and the accompanying pages, I have given my tips and suggestions for organizing the household and setting up a household notebook. I am no expert, and as every family is different, some suggestions may not work for you or you may have to alter them for your family. And that's fine. My purpose is only to share what we have done in hopes that it will be of benefit to others.
Step 1: Seek help with Allah
As you begin your journey towards a more orderly household, seek Allah's aid and guidance. For we will only be successful by His Help.
Step 2: Gather supplies needed for putting together binder and bulletin board
Suggestions:
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3" Binder (or your choice of size) with clear plastic covers/spine that allow inserting items (paper) into
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Paper - Lined (for making quick handwritten lists
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Tabbed dividers
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Hole reinforcers for pages not in page protectors (but its recommended to put most pages, if not all, in the page protectors to well, protect the pages :)
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ABC dividers (if you will put an address book in here)
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January - December Dividers for seasonal/monthly reminders
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Plastic Page Protectors
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Zippered pouch with holes punched to insert in binder (for pencils, pens stamps, post it pads, paper clips and other small items)
For the bulletin board decide if you want to go with something like a cork board or like us, use a piece of poster board paper as the board. Decide what you will need (push pins, tape, border dividers, pens, markers, index cards, page protectors/plastic, etc).
Of course, you may not exactly know what you need until you are ready to put the whole thing together and the binder and bulletin board will probably change with time so you will be adding new things from time to time.
Step 3: Putting it Together
Taking one section at a time, begin putting together your notebook. Don't rush as you are organizing at the same time. I would suggest starting on one of the following:
Meal planning, routines, or
housekeeping schedules
As I write up what we've done and post them, the links will become active below.
I try to provide step by step instructions for building each section which will include helpful links and forms, either TJ made or free from the 'net.
Of course you can arrange the binder sections in any order that's fitting for you.
Binder Sections
Calendars (monthly, weekly, daily)
Daily To Do List (I keep this in the plastic back cover of my binder or on the wall/bulletin board). /you can also use a day planner.
Running To Do List - I keep this in the front pocket of my binder so I can add to it easily.
Meal Planning and Grocery Lists
Chores/Cleaning/Maintenance
Laundry
Routines (Morning, Afternoon, and Evening)
Hygiene
Family/Individual commitments
Errands/Shopping
Household Inventory
Diet/Exercise Journal
Financial (Bills, Budget)
Daily Quraan Reading/Journal
First Aid
Contact Numbers and Directory/Emergency Information
Current Projects
