Conquering lateness + an awesome giveaway
[This is a sponsored post from BlogHer through Citi, which includes an incredible giveaway opportunity. As always, all opinions are my own]
I’d always been one of those “late for everything” kind of people. I know it’s rude, it’s embarrassing, but unless it was a job interview, you could pretty much guarantee that I’d show up at least 15 minutes after the event time. It’s in my blood. I thought that having a baby would make this exponentially worse, but on the contrary, I’m usually on time now.
Why? It’s forced me to become more organized. There’s no time for last-minute fashion crises or failing to map out our event location. With everything I need to pack and take with us, it can be more difficult to do it with an active toddler at my side. Instead, I prep ahead and do as much as I can in advance.
Here are some of the things I’ve found to help:
-Make snacks and drinks the night before. I’ll pack up snacks for both of us -mama gets hungry too!- and drinks in the fridge so that I can grab them in the morning and go.
-Pack the “hit and run” bag. I used to carry a giant diaper bag around, but realized that it was loaded with heavy things we no longer needed and… crumbs. Lots of crumbs. So now, I put our snacks, a few diapers and sunscreen in a small lululemon bag that we tote around with us. It’s not fancy, but it works
-Have outfits planned in advance. Even though I don’t set them out (let’s not get crazy now, haha), I have an idea of what we’re each going to wear and where they are.
-Waking up before she wakes up. This was a hard one for me, as I’m not a morning person, but it’s the perfect way to get in a short workout and some work before we start the day. She’ll usually be up between 7 and 7:30, so my alarm will go off at 5:30 to do what I need to do. As much as I dislike waking up early, I love that I’m able to get in some quiet time, maybe a sweat session, and also get dressed and ready before she’s awake. If I have a head start on work stuff, I’m able to be more present while we’re hanging out and save the work until she’s sleeping.
I’ve found that as our family continues to grow, it will be important for us to stay organized. With all of the upcoming fall events, I’m doing my best to remember everything, be where we need to be (on time!) and pick up appropriate gifts for upcoming weddings and holidays.
Some of our current organization strategies:
-Our magnetic calendar. On our fridge, we have a dry erase board where we write work schedules, the Pilot’s flying schedule and any events. This way I know if he’ll be working late (and Liv and I will be getting hot bar for dinner…) and important events on the horizon.
-Alerts on my phone. Birthdays are set on annual renewal, and if an event is coming up, I’ll have an alert go off a day or two beforehand.
-Setting up automatic bill pay. Back in the day, it was hard for me to keep track of all of our bills. They all had different due dates, some companies wouldn’t bill us regularly, and with everything going on, I’d space it. Now, I have a spreadsheet with our monthly finances, our savings goals, and our bill due dates.
Many of them I have set up on automatic bill pay, so all I have to do is check the statement to make sure we’re being charged accurately.
With the holidays coming up, the last thing we want to do is waste time or money dealing with late fees, and the Citi Simplicity card makes it much easier to accomplish this.
Some of the details:
–Citi Simplicity is the only card to offer no late fees, an annual fee or a penalty fee. Ever.
– Citi Price Rewind searches retailers’ sites for lower prices when you buy and register an eligible item with your Citi credit card. Save your credit card receipt each time you shop. If Citi finds your item at least $25 lower than what you paid within 30 calendar days, you can get the difference in price back, up to $250. The average refund is $80.
-Your Citi Simplicity card offers discounts on travel, shopping, restaurants and gift cards, too with Citi Easy Deals.
Another reason they’re awesome? They’re giving one lucky Fitnessista reader a 16GB Mini Tablet LOADED with financial apps to help you stay organized this fall. Enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win.
Here’s how to enter:
Sweepstakes
The Conquering Lateness Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open to legal US Residents, age 18 or older. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends at 5pm (PST) on October 24, 2013. More details are available here. No purchase necessary.
Only two entries per participating blog per household; if the same or substantially similar comment (as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion) is posted twice, it may only count as one Entry. Eligible persons may enter this Promotion by taking any of the following actions, each of which counts as one entry:
1. Leave a comment in response to the Promotion prompt on this post (how you conquer lateness and stay organized)
2. Tweet (public message) about this Promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that Tweet in a comment on this post.
3. Blog about this Promotion (including a disclosure that you have received a sweepstakes entry in exchange for blogging about this Promotion), and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.
4. To enter without commenting, follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt.
Be sure to visit the Citi brand page on BlogHer.com where you can learn more about conquering lateness!
Happy fall!
xoxo
Gina
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I highly recommend mint.com…..It is the BEST.
I’m not a huge morning person, but I have about an hour commute to work (depending on traffic), so I lay out my clothes, pack my lunch, and take a shower the night before. That way, in the morning, I can roll out of bed and go! I got to work at 7:15 this morning, no sweat 🙂
I use a chalkboard to write down important upcoming events and for a weekly meal plan/exercise plan. I try to do a large food prep on the weekends to keep me on time and organized (as well as eating healthy!)…Finances are still a mess though. I could use some help getting organized!
I set an alarm 15 minutes before I have to leave to give myself an extra alert. I like the extra audio cue. Just looking at the clock and telling myself I have 15 minutes until I need to leave never seems to work as well.
I. I have the mint.com app on my Iphone and every time a bill is due or my balance in my Citibank checking is low, it alerts me!
2. I live and die by my Google Calendar and have monthly recurring reminders for the bills I need to pay, appointments I need to attend, or occasions that need special noting.
3. I am NOT a morning person so when I have to be up early, I prepare everything the night before. I try to make everything dummy proof in the morning.
4. Lastly, there is a notes feature in my Iphone, I use that to make lists or write things down when I am out and about. This way it’s all saved in my phone. I also use voice text for EVERYthing 🙂 I dont have to type, it does it all for me.
I set my clocks ahead 20 minutes. Even though, I know they are fast somehow it works. Never late anymore.
I use a weekly planner notepad and write everything down! This keeps me on track more than my calendar on my phone! Plus if I have an especially busy day I write a list for that day complete with times so I make sure to get everything done!
My husband and I have a calendar on our phones that we share. We put important appointments, etc. in there so that we know what’s going on. An alarm will go off a couple hours in advance to remind me. I make sure I have everything ready and sitting by the door so that it’s all ready to go when we need to head out.
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/FoodNFitDiaries/status/383717539198418944
I also always pack my bag the night before so that all I have to do is jump out of bed, get dressed , grab my bag, and hit the gym.
I have twin toddlers so I try to lay out their clothes and mine the night before. In addition to packing snacks before hand, I try to have breakfastb plated before they get up so I do not have to waste time in the kitchen with two hungry boys begging for my attention.
With 3 different jobs its a MUST to stay organized and prepared at all times! Not only do we have a calendar on the wall at home, but my planner is always in my hand making sure I am to the right place at the right time!
I lay our or outfits the night before, pack lunches the night before, and shower the night before. I also try to get up before the baby to get my stuff done, then I just have to get her ready and head out the door.
What a great giveaway!
i’m obsessed with my google calendar! its the only way i remember to do everything!
I have a chalk board in my kitchen with a calender and my weeks menu 🙂 That really helps me stay on track.
I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/AmyME12/status/383680293535629312
As a teacher being late in the morning is not an option, so I started getting everything ready the night before so I’m almost on autopilot in the morning. It’s definitely helped and now I’m always EARLY!
I am obsessed with my gmail calendar to track everything!
I NEVER press the snooze button and I set it a bit ahead.
My tweet about this promotion: https://twitter.com/Sheila_Hall_20/status/383741836893773824
I conquer lateness by staying organized, sticking to my to do lists, and tackling small tasks along the way versus having to do things at the end all at once.
Packing my lunch and bag up the night before is essential for me getting out of the house on time. This also keeps me from leaving things at home – the worst is forgetting workout gear (like socks!) when I intend to go right to the gym right from work.
I use the calendar on my Galaxy Note II, with reminders set a day prior and another reminder 1-2 hours prior. Also have a calendar on the refrigerator. I am usually on time!
I can not leave the house without my planner. I would be lost without it!
I always use a planner ( I really think I plan everything, maybe a little too much haha) and I also set my clocks ahead a few minutes. Oh, and lots of coffee helps 🙂
Well, first off, my husband hates being late for anything and will complain for days if we end up late for something. This is definitely an added incentive to be timely! Besides that, I keep a bill spreadsheet with dates and amounts so I can always be on top of our finances and see our progress on a monthly basis. I also keep my electronic calendar up to date so that I can always set reminders to ensure I don’t forget anything important.
Doing things the night before is so helpful! I’ll set out my outfit, pack a lunch, fill my water bottle, prep the coffee machine, etc. The morning goes much smoother and I’m way less likely to get behind on time!
Bills are on a spreadsheet, appointments are on my phone calendar and a planner I carry around with me in my purse. As for clothes, I set them out the night before, as well as pack my gym bag and work bag then too, so I can shower, walk the dog, dress, and leave in as little time as possible in the morning 🙂
I get everything ready the night before.
I’m an elementary substitute teacher, so I’m at a different school at a slightly different time every day. I carry my 8.5″x11″ planner with me EVERYWHERE and immediately write down the school, times, teacher, grade, and job number as soon as I accept a sub job for a future day. I programmed each school in the district’s office phone number and address into my phone, too, so I can just tell Siri to tell me where we’re going that day instead of mapping while driving.
I put EVERYTHING on Google Calendar. I have separate calendars on my account (you can choose which to see automatically) for personal life, my boyfriend’s schedule (we share calendars, so it’s nice to see if he’s got a meeting, and also nice to be able to hide it if I don’t want to see it), my work schedule, group exercise schedule, finances (little reminders about which bills are automatically paid on which days– and when paydays are!), etc. It syncs with the calendar on my phone so I almost always have access to it.
I just started packing lunches the night before, and it really helps– why did I not figure that one out in high school? Or college? Or grad school? Silly to not realize that earlier, I know. I think accepting the ease of a “standard” lunch (leftovers, fruit, protein bar, etc.) as opposed to putting pressure on myself to want and have something different every day really helped too.
Next goal: I currently sleep at 10:30 and wake up around 5:45. I’d like to start going to sleep around 9 and waking up at 5 to run before heading off to teach all day!
I have three calendars always coordinated with one another- kitchen, computer and phone.
I also give us thirty minutes more than we need to get out the door (necessary with 3 kids) and we usually leave in time
And here’s my tweet! https://twitter.com/jacquelbug/status/383782175419535360
I’m still working on overcoming lateness but would agree that having a baby has helped me with that! I usually end up late because of a fashion crisis but having a baby doesn’t allow time for that. I’m learning to not be so worried about looking a certain way and instead feeling confident in whatever I put on first.
I like to set reminders on my phone and Outlook calendar reminders at work
Prepping the night before is a must for me! I also keep a prioritized list to help me stay on track and manage my time to avoid being late!
I stay organized by always keeping my agenda with me and noting assignments, appointments and other things I must not forget on the calendar and daily pages. I also pack my meals the night before and make sure to register ahead of time for any group fitness classes I want to take. Thus, I have no excuse to buy food or skip a workout!
I tweeted about the giveaway! https://twitter.com/bkkolota/status/383798078475476992
I definitely struggle with being late also, but I have found that packing everything I need for the day the night before, as well as prepping some meals, has helped so much.
I use my Outlook calendar to remind me of everything, appointments, birthdays, when it’s time for lawn treatments, pest control, even the dog’s heart worm pill. People think I’m so thoughtful for sending cards for birthdays and anniversary’s, if it wasn’t for Outlook I would never remember.
A shared Google calendar and alerts help us all stay on time!
It’s an old trick, but I set my clocks 15 min ahead and it seems to help me be on time (usually).
I have become more financially responsible with online banking and text alerts when bills are due. I get emails/texts when automatic payments post or when an account is lower than I desire. This has helped me tremendously! I would LOVE to win the tablet to use all the tools/apps to learn to help pay my student loans faster.
Always pack my lunch the night before and lay out my clothes. I also make sure to build in extra minutes for traffic or doggie emergencies 😉
I conquer lateness by planning ahead. I find if I do this, then I’m far more likely to head out the door on time. The night before, I think about what I’m going to wear the next day, pack snacks/food, pack my bag with everything I’ll need, and set my alarm on my phone. I go through the same ritual no matter what lies ahead for me the following day. I’m a creature of habit so doing the same things night after night ensures I don’t forget a step.
I set two alarms one on my phone the other on my alarm clock. I set the first 15 min till I have to get up. The second one is the time that I get up. If I sleep thru the first, the second backup one gets me up.
RT: https://twitter.com/sunchicka/status/383878830198255616
blogged: http://fashionsmodernvibe.blogspot.com/2013/09/read-this.html
I’m VERY rarely late to places, appt., events, etc. I was late one time when I was in boot camp, so now I panic a little when I happen to be running late. If you’re not 15 minutes early, you’re late, lol.
However, I do procrastinate with bills, so Mint.com and autopay are lifesavers for me.
The key is preparation in advance. Meal planning, outfit planning, bag packing all happens the night before if not days before at our house.
We have a family calendar on the bar, our phones synced up, and a chalkboard with the week’s meal plans in the kitchen. But we could definitely use some help with organizing some bills!
I always sync my to do list and calendar on my phone, tablet, and laptop so I always know where I need to be and what I need to do! I also try to set aside time on my calendar for specific tasks so that I don’t get overwhelmed by my to do list. 🙂