Controlling the lists

It's been a while since I've shared a "works for me [1]" type of idea/tip, but today I thought I'd write about how I've gotten the lists and clutter under control on my kitchen counter!

See how lovely my clear counter looks? In the interest of full disclosure, it fills up with dirty dishes every day... I do not maintain a miraculously clean kitchen all day! But, aside from dishes and food stuff, that lovely stretch of counter likes to collect papers. Lists. Bills. Stuff-I-will-deal-with-later kind of things.

So, I came up with a plan. All lists now get written on post-it notes, usually one or two notes per day. I usually have one post-it with big things that need done that week, and another post-it or two with my daily reminders, jobs, etc.

The post-it notes go on my cupboard doors, leaving the counter clear. I would send you to a free sample box of post-its, but that freebie is gone now... sorry! :(

You can make your post-its last longer by turning them over and writing on the back, too. See? :)

I also have my daily routines/schedule written on a dry erase board which is hung in the kitchen. Hanging things on walls sure frees up lots of extra counter and cupboard space, I've found!

[1]
(Click to enlarge)

This is what keeps me on track. I write menus on the left, as I described in this post about menu planning with a white board [1]. The top has my morning and evening routines, and the bottom has some general times for meals and bed. :)

It's really simple, but the post-it lists and the dry-erase schedule have helped me immensely to stay focused while fighting paper clutter! :)