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You are here: Home / Binder / Can’t Keep Up? How to Use Binders to Organize Your Life

Can’t Keep Up? How to Use Binders to Organize Your Life

Binder, Organization, Organization Printables, Printables    ·    March 4, 2014

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.
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For years and years I have had “make a family binder” on my to do list.  And there it sat.  (my imaginary to do list because I am actually not a good list maker) Last summer I finally decided one day to make it.  And that was the start of my new obsession.  My name is Mique and I suffer from “BO”- that’s right, binder obsession.   I have a dear friend who has used binders to organize for years.  I used to tease her a little bit about putting everything into a three ring binder but now I have seen the light.  And there is no going back I’m afraid.
By now you’re wondering what this has to do with you, right?  Like…what’s with all the binders?   Why would you want to take the time to make a binder?  Here’s why:

Can't Keep Up? How to Use Binders to Organize Your Life - simple tips that anyone can use to help get your life on track. Printables included! | Thirty Handmade Days

  • Everything has a spot.  No more searching for that one paper.  You know the one- the paper you knew where it was until you really needed it.   With a binder for everything, you know exactly where to find all of those important documents, school assignments, dates, calendars, etc.
  • Having a binder(s) helps you be accountable.  This is a biggie for me.  I can easily put everything out of my mind if I don’t have something staring me in the face.  But if I have to look at a written budget or a printed calendar, then there is no hiding.  It might be forced accountability but hey, I’ll take it.
  • You are able to track progress.  This doesn’t go for every binder but it definitely helps with budget, accountability and school binders.  There is a clear starting point and it is easy to see how far you, your spouse, your kids have come by having it all filed in one spot.  It’s the visual pat on the back you need to keep on going.
  • You can teach your kids/grandkids/students/ spouse how to be organized.  I really think that being organized is very much a learned behavior.  Having a spot for everything and setting an organization system will help you be the example to those around you.  If your kids have a school binder and an accountability binder, they will learn the importance of organization.

Please hear me out when I say- I am not organized by nature.  I am writing this post with a laundry room full of clothes, dirty dishes and a garage that needs decluttering.  I am learning to give myself a little space and be okay with where I am.  If you are reading this post and stuck in a rut, you are not alone.  Just decide to do a little something today.  Don’t tackle it all at once.  Make little steps in the right direction.

Not sure how to get started?  Here are the products I use:
Affiliate links are included below.  You can also find most everything at Target, Walmart, any office supply store.
Binder
Tabs
Pockets
My favorite pen of all time
3 hole punch
Laminator (read why I love and use my laminator so so much!)
Laminator pouches

For mini binders:
Mini Binder
Mini Tabs
Mini Pockets

I have been asked several times how I store my binders.  I actually found a tip from A Bowl of Lemons to use a dishwashing wrack to store them.  It’s hard to see it in the picture below but it’s a wrack and I slid the binders in between.  They sit on a desk in our kitchen for easy access.
http://distilleryimage7.ak.instagram.com/f4955a368bab11e39f54124bc5e839cb_8.jpgShared on Instagram

Have I convinced you yet?  Here they are, the binders and coordinating sheets I have spent 21490239239023902 hours designing, compiling, photographing and posting for you:

Make a family binder - with printables & tips from www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Family Binder + Tips
Updated Family Binder Printables- 8 amazing printables to help you create a binder for all of your most important information www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Simple things you can do to make sure your family is safe! Printable Safety Checklist www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Safety Checklist
Printable Family Emergency Plan - use this printable to prepare your family in case of an emergency. www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Emergency Evacuation Plans
This Week for Dinner for Family Binder
"While we're out" printable babysitter notes from www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
While We’re Out Babysitter Printable for Family Binder
Make your own fabulous mini holiday binder - includes instructions and 14 printables to help you stay organized for the holidays! Amazing- must download! www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Mini Holiday Binder
Organization Tips: Make an Accountability Binder for your kids to teach work and money management www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Make Your Own School Binder with several free printables www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
School Binder for Kids
Month at a Glance- part of the ultimate Budget Binder from www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
The Ultimate Budget Binder, Mini Edition featuring 15 printables from www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Ultimate Mini Budget Binder
the Always Prepared Binder- printable sheets to be prepared for everything. Can be added to Family Binder with the Budget Binder too. | Thirty Handmade Days
the Always Prepared Binder
Tax Printables- easy checklists to help you prepare your taxes | Thirty Handmade Days
Cant Keep Up? Use binders to help organize your life! www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Use Binders to Help Organize Your Life
Why I Love My Laminator SO Much- how it will help you organize
Printable Summer Binder- create a binder full of fun for your kids this summer! Beat the boredom blues! Printables for each section included.
Summer Binder
Make a kids recipe book for your family- with pictures and text to help all kids cook in the kitchen! from thirtyhandmadedays.com
Kids Recipe Book
Free Printable Daily To Do Checklist from Thirty Handmade Days
Get your kitchen organized! Make a family binder with printables from Thirty Handmade Days
Recipe Binder
Printable Blog Planner and Excel sheet - help you get on track with your blog! from Thirty Handmade Days
Get prepared in case of an emergency - Printable Emergency Checklist www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Emergency Checklist
Super helpful Medical Binder with over 10 free printables to add to your family binder or to create a new binder. | Thirty Handmade Days
Medical Binder

Note: You do NOT need to do 10 separate binders.  Feel free to combine binders together.  Do what works best for you.  In case you like what I have going on, print this binder to do list and get going:

Printable binder checklist- do a little something every day to get organized! www.thirtyhandmadedays.com
Download this checklist.  Or a blank one.  For personal use only.  Thanks!

A few other notes: these aren’t editable PDF’s.  They are as you see them and I can’t email them.  Sorry about that.  I get lots of requests for them to be emailed and just don’t have the time to do so.  If you are having trouble downloading, make sure you have a program that can download PDF’s like Adobe Reader (it’s free).

I have a list (yes, an actual list, not an imaginary one) of binders and sheets to add to the current ones that I am working on.  Let me know if you have other ideas that you want to add to my binder collection.

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Comments

  1. Avatar for Miquedating advice says

    June 9, 2014 at 7:34 am

    No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, therefore he/she
    wants to be available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.

  2. Avatar for MiqueAmber says

    June 6, 2014 at 4:30 pm

    I love these binders! I use binders to organize too.

    http://ambertackles.blogspot.com/2012/03/homeschool-binders-and-magazine-files.html?m=1

  3. Avatar for MiqueJen Blanton says

    March 24, 2014 at 7:53 pm

    I really love your binders! I especially love the mini binders. I wish you could convert more over to the mini binder if you get time…

    • Avatar for MiqueMique says

      March 26, 2014 at 6:59 pm

      Thanks so much Jen! I love making the binders but they take a lot of time to put together. I’ll see what I can do. ;)

  4. Avatar for MiqueDarchelle says

    March 19, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    Wow, I couldn’t have found you at a better time. I was just contemplating today how I’d find & use a laminator. I remember using the one at my high school for projects & wishing I had one. I had no idea they made little ones! I am obsessed with your blog now & I am buying a laminator on Amazon as we speak. And what a great deal! Well done! Thank you! I found you via a FB share. I printed your daily meal logs because I am starting a cleanse tomorrow & think it’ll be helpful to track my meals. Yay! :D

  5. Avatar for MiqueChrystal @ YUM eating says

    March 18, 2014 at 9:32 am

    What a great posts of binder material! I have a refillable soft cover 3 ring binder that I have been refilling for a couple of years now. I like that I can print , add and go. It also lays flat on my desk. I am old school in that I have used and carried binders with me my whole life. I am starting to seek out good printables for meal planning and budgeting. Thanks for sharing yours.

  6. Avatar for MiqueJill says

    March 14, 2014 at 6:14 am

    What an incredible resource! Saw you on Kitchen Fun link party. I especially like the accountability binder. Going to be using that for my two kiddos for sure. Pinned! Thanks so much for sharing all this.

  7. Avatar for MiqueJessica says

    March 13, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    Ok seriously… I was on SITS, and I told myself that I will pick 3 links to check out… whichever ones catch my eye, and then it’s time for bed. Your tex-mex chicken was the first one I clicked on, and now this one! I had no idea that they were both yours. Haha! We must totally have the same taste! Lol… I love everything that you post. So awesome.

  8. Avatar for MiqueJodee Weiland says

    March 13, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Cute idea! This could help a child or adult who needs help with organization skills. Sometimes something like this relieves a lot of stress for someone unable to track things for themselves. Thanks for sharing!

  9. Avatar for MiqueKim says

    March 13, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    I’m a big binder girl~ maybe it comes from the teacher in me! I just love those school books! ;) Of course, yours are much prettier than mine. I should get working on a makeover!

  10. Avatar for MiqueHeather says

    March 13, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    BO ~ I “suffer” the same obsession. LOL Thanks for sharing! Dropping by from SITS linky party.

  11. Avatar for MiqueKorilynn says

    March 10, 2014 at 9:57 am

    This is great! I’m really trying to get more organized for 2014. I’m going to pin this so when I get a chance I can come back and get all organized.

  12. Avatar for MiqueEmily says

    March 7, 2014 at 7:49 pm

    I’m impressed. I’ve tried to make and use a family binder….. I’m just happy to keep up with a calendar. Maybe I should try again…..

  13. Avatar for MiqueNicole P says

    March 6, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    Thank you…I bought one binder 3 months ago and the inserts and the folders and have cute pens. I just need to print the dang pages..i’ll get there. One day. But thank you for making these. One day i’ll be uber organized.

  14. Avatar for MiqueDion Seneca says

    March 6, 2014 at 9:30 am

    Thank you so much for these printables. I have been working hard to put together a mini binder that suits all of my needs. I have created some new pages that I will be adding to my binder, and I wanted to share them with you, if you are interested. If so, then please email me or give me an email address where I can send them. Thanks!

  15. Avatar for Mique[email protected] says

    March 5, 2014 at 6:09 am

    These are awesome! Thanks for sharing! Pinning!

  16. Avatar for MiqueAmanda says

    March 4, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    Whoop! Whoop! Awesome printables! Thank you! Here’s a suggestion: A Legacy Binder!! A binder that allows couple to know where to find EVERYTHING if something horrible were to happen to either person. Copies of Medical Directives, POAs, car/home titles, all bank account info, IRA/401k accounts and financial planner contact info, locations of safe deposit box, password log, etc, etc.

  17. Avatar for MiqueCharmaine (The Party Diy) says

    March 4, 2014 at 8:44 am

    Binders are such an effective way to staying organized.

  18. Avatar for Mique[email protected] says

    March 4, 2014 at 8:11 am

    I love anything that helps me get organized! Thanks for the great tips!

  19. Avatar for MiqueDesiree @ The36thAvenue says

    March 4, 2014 at 7:59 am

    These are awesome Mique! Thank you so much for sharing!

  20. Avatar for Miquejen @ Tatertots & Jello says

    March 4, 2014 at 7:51 am

    Thanks for this post Mique. I need some help getting things organized around here. You are so wonderful to provide printables and tips to help us all get more organized!

    xoxo

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Mique

(Like Mickey!) I started 30days several years ago as my idea file. After 9 years and thousands of ideas, I realize I’ll never be able to check them all off my list.

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