How I have Organised My life in 2026

It is amazing how my organisation has changed. I enjoy planning and completing tasks and working on my yearly projects and programmes and feel that I have some more of my life back. Looking at what I have got that I can use as gifts as I have birthdays leading up to Christmas.

I am a volunteer for my local hospital radio, published more books and writing more and filming again for my Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner. I been altering the home and moved back to Epsom full time and making a real effort when it comes to the home.

There still things that have to be done. I am still sorting out my room and focusing more on present time. Yes I plan for the week but I also think "What can I do right now that will make a difference?" and getting to know who I am as a person now? I like that I have really non negotiable about my daily habits. I read everyday, every morning as soon as I get up I brush my teeth and once my son goes off to school write and do some form of physical activity each day.

I have been working on a few books that I want to publish. There is one I want out before the end of the year so I will spend mainly Mondays on my books and just making sure I do something positive each day and I love walking. I love a morning walk and on the treadmill. I love cooking and making dinners, but doing a health reset at the moment. Check this recent video: https://youtu.be/BjCdG457taI and just getting things in order. 

It is good that Henry has returned to school. He has been doing so well and it is good his sports clubs are back on and I like getting up and feel more ready each day. 

Having a routine that works feels good. Having a good full food cupboard is a must. I love my food cupboard and it is such a resource of making meals and I enjoy our dinners. Mondays is when I will do a home cooked meal. I love tins and it is just have plenty of staples. 

I have been planning events. It is good to have somethings to look forward to. As I write this blog it is my birthday and later off to see a show and yesterday we went to watch the Ladies England Rugby team and had a meal in a pub we know and made arrangements to see one of my friends boyfriends band in  October and feel buzzed with the things I have planned.

I am working on be up to date with my finances again as it gets a bit hectic with the summer holidays each year so doing money reset too. 

There are things I have had to cancel due to other commitments but you find that and will do again when have a clearer time I just think time is everything and somethings I want to hold off but doesn't mean I won't do them it just doesn't feel right to do somethings where I am at now.

So enjoying the morning. Soon it will be my sons rugby, so will be posting more and so please follow and you will be notified of when I post on this site. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Make Sure You Always RSVP

There has been time where I would be scared to say no I can't make and then not RSVP. 

I remember before the internet and mobiles you'd just made the appointment and you went. 

I do find that having a mobile, being able to do facetime can make you be lazy and scrolling, but then it helped during the pandemic, so having a mobile has its uses but it is good to properly socialise and I like that time, but if I don't feel like it or want to do something else then RSVP. 

There will be times we can't make it to a get together with friends and times when you can, but I like to be reliable and to help build relationships reliability can help and it builds a trust and understanding. 

Its a pain when people just don't turn up. I remember my wedding and I had people asking for a invite and then not turn up. I find it now learning by my own unreliability that it is disrespectful and even if it is a check up just let them know.

Even if you forgot an appointment contact them. Something I am still learning to do. I feel somewhat uncomfortable in writing this because I am guilty.  

It is fear. I know I need to go to the dentist but it gives me goolies and once I've gone I have been fine but its the initial making the appointment and I should be used to it by now.

Arranging a kids birthday party is not a walk in the park. There will be that child who won't be happy with the food or I was the super shy kid and a fussy eater but if I couldn't make it my mum would let them know and just saves so much time.

I hate chasing people. If your late, let them know and setting up a WhatsApp group can be good idea, but it can be constant messages. In one respect it did help kept up with events and it just helps know numbers if you go to a sports club or booked a fitness class; It takes two seconds to say Sorry Can't make it and it shows you care.

There is Podcast that Fearne Cotton did about it and it struck a nerve because no one has turned up and not said anything. 

So just make the effort to reply back. The worst thing is not showing up without a word, not even a text and yes you can't please all, but you can be respectful and I hate time wasting and I hate wasting other peoples time.

If you want to keep the bond with people let them know that you can't meet as planned and then they will then often be "Okay lets plan another time" and noone feels let down.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X

 

Losing something makes you declutter

This was inspired when looking for my sons straps for his watch. I looked everywhere. It made to the tasks I've been avoiding and they fallen behind the radiator and was on the floor under the radiator but made me sort out my storage bin. 

"If I had put in a place where it couldn't fall behind the radiator and the bins were already organised, then it would have needed to be declutter" I can hear from the voice in my head and those who are organised would say, but I am not organised.

I create this blog post because of the things I use to help me be more organised. 

It made me tidy up and I actually like it because it stops me from being on my laptop all the time. 

Having kids you lose a lot, because they love playing and getting toys out leaving the home in chaos. 

My son currently has his countdown game all out. I this morning tidied it up the best I can but I think I need to do it again because I feel it is growling at me to sort it out, better. 

So before I continue this blog I am going to tidy it up.

As 😊you can see below it not perfect but it is better than the first picture.

Our coat stand can get overloaded, so we do often go through it. I have to go through it again because there are coats for Henry but he won't wear them and hates wearing a jacket. He just doesn't want to know. 

The one thing I use is plastic folders. Yes I am aware that too much plastic is not good but I find them so useful because I like to craft and decorate my journals and I love a notebook and at the moment use my own I have created. 

Still at the planning the designing, but I will be selling hopefully by the end of this year. 

I love a journal and using paper to plan and take notes. I have used notion but only use this a little, but may end my subscription as don't really find it useful anymore.

The one thing I'd like to do more of is create Printables for you to use and plan, going on how I plan and I love having a wall planner. Going through my notebooks and journals is making sure they get used and they are great as gifts. I love paper.

I hope you find what you are looking for and declutter as it is for me a kind of therapy. 

It helps make sure I reduce waste and use what I have got. I check my Food cupboard a lot and my freezer. Go through what needs to be used and take not of what I have and so will learn more about improving organisation. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Having a Downtime Routine

I love nothing better than time with just me and the TV. I love socialising but I also love time with no discussion or interruption. A). Decide on time of day B). Set the planner up C). Prewarn and I like it when my son is at school to stop being on my laptop and watch a bit of TV and just with the remote and the TV and I look forward to this time. 

Try to do an hour a day. I have already planned what I am going to do when my son returns to school. 

I will be having my first bath for autumn and getting up at a new time so looking forward to this and means plenty of TV and I have a plan of having a old TV with a DVD so I can watch some films I own. 

Something I miss. 

I want to play my CDS too and get off my phone. I feel better when I am not on my phone all the time. I like having a phone to stay in contact with people and to vlog for my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Carriechalloner but I like a break from it too. 

Or perhaps a Portable DVD Player so I can watch a film and use the bedtime to watch rather than on my phone and save the battery too. 

Having that time to just lay and switch off from daily chores, errands and motherhood. Its important to be able to just switch off from the outside noise. It is good to plan what you want to drink. I love a tea or sometimes a hot chocolate and nibbles. I am on a health plan and so having the odd bit of chocolate but no ice cream or biscuits for me. 

Doesn't mean you have to be eating rice cakes or stick of celery, just the odd thing and I love a hot chocolate than a chocolate bar.  

I am drinking Camomile tea now some evenings I did sleep well and then what to wear? Well I like a good t-shirt and a pair of shorts with pockets now not buying anything without a pocket as I prefer that  and so I have ordered a new pair of PJs bottoms with pockets and going to get rid of the ones I have that don't. 

Having a downtime routine is a must for me and feel good when I do. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

 

How to still get the most of your days with the days being shorter

Already the mornings are staying darker later and I am so happy about that. Sorry if you are not but I like it and I am already getting prepared. I still going to read in the mornings and evenings. Go on walks in the morning and have a coffee in a coffee shop some days and autumn is the time I change what I drink. I will be buying herbal teas and Earl Grey and a coffee from my Cafeteria and just enjoy the crispy mornings to get outdoors and workout indoors. 

The battle is my sons energy. He often gets unwell around the time the weather changes. He is prone to chest infections but he often doesn't want to wear a coat or jacket. He really has to be persuaded. 

His skin is better and the bed wetting appears to have stopped now, but he is just has so much adrenaline that he often still wants to play at 9pm so it is getting him to unwind. 

It is good to have things planned. My son sports clubs return so that will help along with school and still walking and exploring and off to see the England Ladies play. It is my birthday and my nieces and going to book swimming lessons for him and having time watching some good quality TV as not a lot to watch during the summer and I just love the cosiness and the layering. 

I have my buzz for cooking again and today made for the first time a bread and butter pudding for the first time and it was good and made a chicken roast dinner. I will be doing more and I have filmed a vlog and will be sharing. I love doing these vlogs and it is good for me and want to get back into making my own soups and curries and just enjoy the kitchen. 

It will be good to make homemade food and looking forward to the festive season, more than before. It is finally raining and I hope the ponds fill up as many have dried up due the heatwaves and the grass being dried out and help maintain lawns in gardens and parks. 

Just because of the darker days it doesn't mean that things have to be put on hold. My niece is having a birthday party and I am off to see Bon Jovi in concert and the Real Thing on my actual birthday so looking forward to those and be snuggled up and chill on the sofa with my son and watch a film, read more and have a hot chocolate which I have started to do in the evenings as I find this helps with sleep. 

So lets get planning and enjoy the new season ahead. 

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Give Yourself Time to Sit Down

My Nan (my mum's mum) would be on her feet all day and either was out getting shopping or in the kitchen cooking. She made an amazing Macaroni and Cheese, Cottage or Shepherd's pie, making baked goods and Christmas dinner was always delicious and this is from a once fussy child when it came to food. 

Now I see why my Nan was continuously on her feet. Looking after a home, being a parent, going to work and trying to be super active, I find it hard to sit down and chill. 

It is important though to sit down and be attentional. Enjoying a cup of tea on the sofa and not reading, not planning or writing just sitting down and take a tea break. Builders are famous for making sure they have a tea break because of the intensity of the work they have to do and so do we. 

Both of my Grandparents were busy women. My Dads mum had three and my mums mum had 5 children and I have her body clock. No matter what time I would go to bed I still wake up early and I have learned to embrace it rather than be an hindrance and my Nan would wake up at 6am every morning making sure she took her tablets. She would did later in life would go back to bed but most of the time she'd be on her feet and looking after us her grandchildren. She was a family orientated person. 

I admired her physicality because she didn't run, do weights she did housework, cooking and shopping. She was a bit of a gambler but she never smoked, drank and she'd had immaculate nails. 

When I think about her I think what have I got to worry about? She experienced war and rationing but nothing ever stopped her and why I make sure I clean, read, sit down and not rush around. In September I a going to challenge myself to do things in silence and write a blog without noise, drink a cup of coffee without being on my laptop, go to a coffee shop and not browse on my phone or journal as I saw a women do that. I wrote a blog about it: https://everyonecanbuildacastle.com/2026/08/10/taking-the-time-to-just-enjoy-your-coffee-inc-weekly-cheat-sheet/

It is good to sit. Now going to watch some football as I write this blog and enjoy my third cup of tea for today. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Love having a physical Diary again

I have tried digital planners but I like to plan physically because for me it enters into my mind better and stores it and I think its a science. I would love to study the mind and find out if writing is better rather than digital? I wonder what results I'd find? 

It is good to get a pretty diary as for me it helps to use it. I no longer use Filofax and use a physical book type diary. I have a wall calendar and I have found it more functional for me and its seeing it in front of me making it easier to remember what is happening and its there in plain site. 

I have my sons terms dates near by so having it on a pinboard aswell as a diary more simple and a notebook and using paper. I recycle. I am still using Notion but have two lists and that's it and I get satisfaction ripping paper up. I use the Notebook APP but that is for any codes or things and brief notes and trying to use my phone less. 

In browsing on google I asked "Is writing things down better than typing them up all the time?"

The response was: Writing things down by hand is better for memory, learning, and conceptual understanding, but it is not necessarily better "all the time" depending on your goals. Neuroscience studies show that the physical act of handwriting activates broader, more synchronized electrical patterns (such as theta and alpha waves) across multiple regions of the brain—including motor, visual, and language circuits—which helps encode new information into long-term memory. Typing, by contrast, is faster and more efficient for capturing large volumes of text verbatim, but it engages fewer neural circuits and often leads to shallower, more passive cognitive processing.

I have used Google Calendar which I do need to alter and is good as its free and Notion is good but I find I am using it less and I like to use online tools for blogs and creating my books, but not all the time because too much screen isn't good. 

Yes google calendar I use but just reminders but I find it clogs up my email and with Notion it doesn't and it is free if you use it for personal use rather than business. 

So tell me do you prefer a physical diary still?

Please use the comments box below.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X