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 always prepare my clothes the night before and set out anything additional- make-up pouch, tea cup, etc…I also use post-it notes to keep me organized.
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/384333302900850688
I have a special bill planner that I use to stay on track!
I set my clocks a few minutes ahead so I always think it is just a little later than it really is 🙂
I stay organized and avoid lateness by being a little OCD with my planning! I have a monthly planner where I put the “big” things – generally 1 time things that I would forget about otherwise (e.g., doctors’ appointments). Then I’ve got a weekly planner where I have all the nitty gritty stuff (e.g., work meetings, due dates, etc.) Then I’ve got a daily list I always make with urgent To-Dos that need to be accomplished that day. I know its a bit much for some people, but it works for me! : )
I do everything I can the night before and make sure I always have a few extra minutes in the morning to just chill
I lead a very busy life with two jobs to keep financially stable. I use a planner and color code system (Highlighters) and write everything down in my planner. I write down how long each task might take and what I hope to accomplish in a day, along with what I want to accomplish in a week.
I make to-do lists like crazy!
I definitely rely heavily on my online calendar, reminder app on my phone, and even the occasional sticky note to stay organized and conquer lateness.
I rely heavily on my phone and set all my appointments, reminders, and notes to myself on it. Couldn’t live without it at this point!
I conquer lateness by writing out my life in a planner. If it’s not on paper in there I swear I won’t remember it.
Prepare as much as possible in advance!
I try to stay organized using my day planner. I like to see things in writing and to cross off things once I’ve accomplished them!
We have a family calendar on our fridge that is coordinated with my cell phone calendar with alerts. Online banking also really helps. I also try and get everything ready the night before – backpacks packed and ready, shoes and coats by the door. Sometimes though, no matter how hard you try, you just run a little bit late!
It’s all about being prepared! Like you said, planning the snacks/meals/outifts ahead of time or the night before helps a lot. But I too tend to always be 10-15 minutes late. Something I need to work on!
I stay organized with the calendar on my phone, to do lists and making sure I have a plan in the morning or night before so I leave the house on time. Since i”m on tour with a play I also have to be sure to gps my destination on a few different programs to make sure I get to the next theatre!
I keep everything on my calendar
i have a planner that keeps me organized… it’s a new thing for me but it’s necessary since i just started a graduate program! as for the lateness…it’s a work in progress. i’ve gotten better, but i still have a bad habit of being 5 min late wherever i go!
I try to not procrastinate as often as possible!
I pack everything up the night before, helps me get out the door quicker and keeps me from forgetting any essentials!
I am a nurse, and so I have to plan my schedule 6weeks in advance! I try to stay organized by meal prepping every Sunday-I am a firm believer in tupperware!
I swear by my planner! I’ve come to love iCal and depend on it daily to keep all my classes, meeting, patient encounters, etc. straight. I also plan my outfits ahead of time those mornings I have to be up and out the door early.
I use my timer/alarm on my smart phone to keep me on task. That way I don’t get carried away or caught up in any one thing…I know when it’s time to move on, leave the house, meet for playgroup, leave the grocery store, etc. It definitely comes in handy!! Thanks so much for the chance to win!
Tweet Tweet!
https://twitter.com/EMERS0N_LANE/status/384527757020905472
I rely on my Gmail calendar to stay organized & on time. I set up email reminders depending on the event (a week ahead of time for birthdays, so I have time to mail a card/shop, an hour ahead for doctor’s appts, etc), and I’m always checking the calendar to know what’s coming down the pipe. I still miss some (like the farmer’s market this morning! Forgot it was Sunday, and I wasn’t at my computer…need to set up an alarm for that on my phone or something). But I would be lost without Gmail!
I save myself from being late by doing 2 things.
1st I put everything in my calendar (in my iPhone) for 15 minutes earlier than I actually have it (so if I have a 1:15 dr appt I put it in for 1)
2nd I set the reminders to go off like whatever the drive time is + 5 minutes beforehand
I really hate being late, I’d rather be early and wait on someone else than have them wait on me. I have my clock set about 10 minutes ahead so that I’m sure to get out the door in plenty of time.
Honestly, I’m very rarely late…its silly but it stresses me out, even when its nothing important. Mostly, I just wake up early and/or get things ready the night before. That saves me!
I usually don’t have problems being late, but my spouse seems to take forever to get out the door. I’ve started reminding him 15 minutes before we’re supposed to leave so he has time to get his stuff together.
I (try to) conquer lateness by using my phone’s calendar, making and storing snacks and meals at least a day in advance, and by setting out my clothes the night before (I have a very minimalist wardrobe, so it’s pretty easy to keep outfits organized). My daughter is 4, so I try to put her in charge of her morning routine (getting dressed, shoes on, sitting down to breakfast).
I keep detailed “to-do” lists everywhere… and if it’s really important, i stick it to the back of my phone so i’m constantly reminded!
I use my phone calendar a bunch, and I remind myself every morning that leaving early for work makes the commute exponentially less stressful and sets a good tone for the day.
I’ve found the best way for me to be on time for work is to prep everything the night before- lunches, gym bag, etc. It helps so, so much. Otherwise I’m always late!
The husband and I share our calendar so that way we are always helping one another stay on track. We also started planning meals on Sundays….we keep a weekly calendar on the fridge as a reminder.
Google Calendar saves my life – it syncs to my phone, I have a separate calendar for all my bills, and I can share it with my bf or parents when I’m traveling!
I fight to stay organized. I naturally create many piles and loath filing. With my little one at home, the best remedy I have is to be diligent and disciplined with organization. Even 10 minutes a day makes a HUGE difference.
I keep my diaper bag packed with everything I need and I plan to be early to everything so even if we run a little behind we will still make it on time
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/LindseyMDaly/status/384756022738292736
I write in a day planner that I keep with me at all times, I have my work Outlook calendar synced to my phone, which keeps me from forgetting anything, but I do still have more work to do on the on-time issue. People who know me well know to tell me a “fake” time that is about 30 min earlier than the actual time they want me to be somewhere.
I rely on my Google calendar to stay on time for events (or close to it) with reminders texted or e-mailed to me in advance, depending on the event – a week before for birthdays, 30 minutes for appointments. I also use Google calendar to plan out our dinners for the week. That way we know what we need from the grocery store and we’re more likely to use all the food we buy!
Currently not working so I have a tip for those who have limited appointments to track.
My tip is to use post=it notes that can be put on the car visor so it is easy to refer to when out running errands. My current post=it has 2 Dr appointments, 1 car maint apptmt and a special sale only valid for 3 hrs at one store. While I will accomplish many more things, those 4 are the only time specific items for this week. I have the calendar in the house, but found I needed the reminder while in the car.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/bettycd/status/384783615625662464
My bad habit is also lateness, usually by about 10 minutes. I try to have my watch and car clock set a few minutes ahead to give me a little bit of a buffer, but mostly I need to prepare my food and outfits the night before if I want to be anywhere on time in the mornings. It drives my husband nuts when I’m late, so it’s definitely a habit I need to break!
I use a million google calendars with alerts to keep myself organized and on time. I also use them to plan my meals and shopping list. That way, I can always access that info from my phone and never have a “forgot my shopping list” moment.
My tweet! https://twitter.com/salstory/status/384804983398346753
I have a paper calendar where I write most of my schedule. It’s kind of messy 🙂 like the rest of my household. My husband is the organized one. I have piles of paperwork stuff all over the house. i’m currently looking for my DMV form for license renewal. ugh.
I’m usually on time for things though, and loathe being late. I mark the time, place and date in my calendar and be sure to have directions cued up if needed. I also set an alarm on my phone if it’s a very important date.
I always keep a to-do list for every area in life!
I love the little “Note” app on my iPhone! I am always making lists and to-dos on there to keep myself organized.
I write lists of “To Do” items daily, and check things off as I do them to stay organized on a day-to-day basis. For longer term deadlines/goals I put things on my Google Calendar and reminders on my phone about upcoming appointments. I’d like to actually be more organized on the “financial” front – and so the tablet with the financial apps would be an awesome start for me!
I’m an old fashioned list maker!