Are you struggling to keep your business organized? Today, I’m bringing you 4 practical strategies that are so simple you can implement them today. These tips were a hit during office hours with the ladies in my membership, Social Media For the Gal Over 40, and I’m excited to share them with you. I used to have notebooks everywhere. This is what I do now….
Why Staying Organized is Crucial for Women Over 40 in Business
Keeping track of all the information can be tricky, especially as your business grows and you create more content. You’ll have more conversations and your schedule will get even busier. Trust me, I understand. In my four years of owning a business, I’ve tried numerous apps, boards, and systems to stay organized. Many of them didn’t work for me, but I’ve found a few simple methods that do.
The Unique Challenges for Women Over 40
As women over 40, we often juggle multiple responsibilities, from raising kids to caring for aging parents, all while managing our businesses. These added responsibilities make staying organized even harder. Our lives are full, and our time is precious. The strategies below are designed to help you streamline your tasks and manage your busy life effectively.
4 Practical Strategies to Stay Organized
1. One Notebook
Instead of having multiple notebooks, I now have one notebook that goes everywhere with me. I take notes and organize them by date. This single notebook contains all my meeting and training notes since January. When it’s full, I date it on the outside and start a new one. This way, all my notes are in one place, and I never have to wonder which notebook they’re in.
Why it works: Simplifying to one notebook reduces clutter and makes it easier to find important information quickly, which is crucial when balancing business and personal life.
2. One Three-Ring Binder
I use one three-ring binder for printables and handouts, organized by months and topics. This binder stays home on my desk and contains my growth plan, posting schedule, lives, emails, and monthly growth reviews. It’s part of my Social Media for the Gal Over 40 membership, where we track activities and review them regularly.
Why it works for women over 40: Having a dedicated space for printables and handouts ensures you can quickly access important documents and track your business growth systematically.
3. One $10 Paper Calendar
Every year, I buy a $10 paper calendar from Walmart. It has plenty of room for my daily checklist and allows me to see the month at a glance. I write everything down, from doctor’s appointments to kids’ activities and work tasks. I take this calendar everywhere and also add the info to my phone calendar. But for me, most details go on paper first.
Why it works: A paper calendar provides a tangible way to keep track of various commitments, blending personal and professional schedules seamlessly. It’s especially helpful when managing appointments for kids and parents, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
4. My Camera Roll On My Iphone
I take pictures or screenshots of everything to serve as my memory. Whether it’s due to stress or menopause, I find it hard to recall details without a trigger. My iPhone photos are organized by date and are searchable, making it easy to find what I need. I also organize photos into albums, from the kids yearbook receipt to inspiration ideas and social proof (texts and Direct Messages from clients) it all goes into an album on my phone. This method is faster than searching through different apps.
Why it works for women over 40: Using your camera roll as a memory aid helps keep track of important details and inspiration, which is essential when managing a busy life and business. This can be a lifesaver when you need to quickly recall information amidst the chaos of daily responsibilities.
Applying These Strategies to Your Social Media Business
For those of us teaching social media or managing our online presence, staying organized is even more critical. These strategies can help streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus more on creating engaging content and connecting with your audience.
Tip: Use your binder to keep track of social media metrics and goals. Note the performance of your posts, engagement rates, and growth over time. This will help you adjust your strategies and see what’s working.
Final Thoughts
These strategies have helped me tremendously in staying organized. I hope they resonate with you too. If you have any tips to add, I’d love to hear them!
Remember, it has to be easy or I won’t do it. Can you tell?!
