'Out of sight, out of mind' (DIY Door Planner Thingy)

Overall...I feel like a pretty productive and organized human being. But I always feel more at ease and like I can get more accomplished when things are organized...and for that reason I am ALWAYS on the lookout for organization hacks.  (Seriously, I even have a 'Organization Junkie' board on Pinterest dedicated to the topic, check it out if ya need a fix!)  

I love a new planner like nobody's business.  Yep, I am talkin' about the old school, write in (...with your own HAND and a PENCIL! wow!) planner.  I have even made my own, and dedicated a blog post (with printables!) to the subject.  Besides my planner, I do enter the info onto my Google Calendar so I will get reminders via my phone...but I am a visual person and...I just needed...something...MORE.

One thing that has really kind of stressed me out lately...the many artist calls and exhibition opportunities that I a trying to keep up with. Right now my system is as follows; I find'em, print'em, highlight'em, make notes on'em...then add'em to my calendar(s) then take the printed materials and hang'em to my bulletin board.  But I still miss out on some things.  Deadlines pass.  My current system is not working as well as it could. One thing I know about myself is the old adage really is true, 'Out of sight, out of mind'.  If I don't see something, even if it is neatly placed away and labeled in some kind of color-coded, alphabetized fabulousness...might as well not even exist.

Current organization method/madness...my bulletin board

So I decided to take matters into my own hands (literally, its called DIY for a reason!) and I started thinking of how to correct this organizational flaw.  I think I was straightening up in my studio at the time...and the answer was right there- my closet door.  

Ain't no free organizational real estate like the back of a door....but that's a whole other post so I will stay on topic.

This space isn't used for anything,  I walk by it every single day, multiple times a day...perfection!  I thought about mounting some sort of dry erase or chalk board system but the main drawbacks were the door itself (I didn't really want to both with nails, screws, etc)...I didn't want to spend alotta moola (DIY on a budget, always!  Momma Love taught me RIGHT!)...and I thought that the dry erase marker and chalk might get on my clothes when I walked by.  

So then it came to me...here's what ya need;

1. Two pieces of Foam Core board
   
2. Some sort of adhesive to attach it to the door or wall (ummm...I did double stick tape...hopefully it will hold and not be too crazy to get off later)
   
3. A permanent marker
4. Some (decorative) tape
5. Sticky Notes

The foam core boards were perfect because the standard size is easy to divided up, six sections for each board, so two will give the full year.  I didn't measure out the sections, just kind of eyed them. The decorative tape was pretty easy to reposition, and if you use Washi tape it would be even easier.  I wrote in the months, mounted the boards to my closet door and done!  Probably took me 15-20 minutes to complete.  I think...wait...I KNOW it took me longer to choose the sticky notes that I would use.

And as for those stickies...each one represents a different call to artist/submission/msc deadline.  I even have notes posted to help me plan my upcoming themes.  (the lil' blue stickies are some of our trips, I try to think about that so I can plan materials if I am traveling)

I think this system will work better.  I am still going to maintain my physical planner and add things to my Google calendar...but this...this might be the start of some type of organizational zen for me.  

...my new 'year at a glance' door organization thingy