Chic organizers whip your schedule into shape

By Alisa Welch
July 28, 2008

If you haven’t noticed, disorganization is a national epidemic.  Whole television series are devoted to helping hapless hoarders take control over their overwhelming messes. Evidently, for those of us a bit deficient in the organization department, we’re not alone.

As any good professional organizer will tell you, the best way to get organized is to start small with one project before moving on to the next. So before you tackle that scary overstuffed hall closet, how about organizing something a little more tangible: your time.

Before buying an organizer or calendar, think about how you are going to use it.  Will it be just for scheduling an occasional appointment, or do you need it to help decipher your frightening daily agenda? At the minimum, look for one that has a replaceable calendar, a notepad for jotting down flashes of brilliance, and an address book.

There are plenty of electronic organizers to whip your schedule into shape, but for the Luddites and traditionalists among us, nothing compares to the ease and elegance of a paper-based organizer.  A chic organizer with room to think, Kate Spade’s Tri-fold Calendar functions as an office on the go. I love the “Just a thought” notepad that comes included.  An inexpensive yet very groovy compact organizer by Franklin Covey has all the bells and whistles without breaking your budget.  Then again, your schedule might seem that much more exciting when housed in a Louis Vuitton Small Ring Agenda, complete with a leather cover stamped with the LV monogram.

For true old school scheduling, I adore Smythson of Bond Street’s selection of cheeky yet highbrow selection of calendars and agendas.  Everything about their Mid-Year Diary appeals from the light blue papers to the silver engraved leather cover.  No wonder the Queen shops here!

If you prefer a simple calendar rather than an organizer, try the August to August calendar that features enough room to keep track of dates and class assignments. Popular with tycoons and executives, the At-a-glance Daily Calendar and Diary with its iconic red cover and gold lettering is great for recording your daily life and keeping track of your VIP appointments.

Whatever schedule system you decide to use, consistency is the key.  You can tackle that hall closet another day.

Mid-year Panama diary ($85)

The classic style week-to-view diary, running from June 2008 to August 2009.