The (All Important!!) Command Center

Be in COMMAND

WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE OF SIMPLY YOU

Whether you have a family of 2 or 10, managing schedules can be a daily struggle. This is especially trying when people need to be brought places and that task is shared or there are other obligations occurring at the same time! Setting up a command center can help manage all of this. A command center is a centrally located wall space or wall plus flat space to post schedules, calendars, important communications and more. What you can see, you can use. If all the schedules are in a folder closed up, chances are something will be missed. Identify what you need to see and keep it in the space and then decide what is needed to manage them. If you have a school, YMCA and church schedule, room to post all three on a cork board would be ideal. A bin on a surface or a wall mounted pocket is helpful for notices, permission slips, fundraisers and more. If you want to house mail (bills to pay, catalogs, etc.), baskets or more wall mounted pockets should be set up for those. Let’s talk about those calendars. You may have a shared digital calendar system already but a wall mounted calendar can be helpful too (for duplicate information or different information.) Especially for carpool duty. Maybe every other week you switch; you could write that in. You could use the calendar for family outings and use your other systems for activities. Chances are, something is being missed that could easily be solved with a joint family posted calendar. Some people use a different color for each family member. Some use a large dry-erase calendar with a spot on each day for each person. This may be weekly rather than monthly for clarity. Whatever you choose, set up a reminder for the last day of the system to set up the upcoming period posted fully. A message board in this area can also serve as notes to each other such as posting items to buy as a family, dinner menus for the week, changes to the day and more. Even when there is only a family of 2, you can relay info to each other in this area to facilitate good communication. Typical locations for this critical activity are in an entry like a mudroom or in the kitchen. You could even use the inside of cabinet doors if you don’t want it out in the open. The command center can keep many things in control. Consider establishing one for your family! SF