One Binder Wonder

I get asked all the time what organizational tool I use personally to keep myself organized.  The tool I use the most often is a three ring binder.  I fill it with accessories and divide it up into sections for every area of my life.  I run multiple businesses so each one gets a section of its own, with areas for inquiries, a calendar and much more.

What I have inside the binder isn’t critical to this story…it’s the system and how YOU can use it to its fullest potential.  Three ring binders can be used for everything.  I wrote a whole other blog post on them and you can view it here.

Here’s what I used to set up my binder….

I started with a Bindertek One Touch Three Ring Binder in Ocean Blue.  (They have larger and smaller sizes available as well as lots of colors.)   I love this binder because it keeps up with the wear and tear I put on it.  At the same time, it’s sophisticated and the blue color just makes me happy.  I also love the silver finger pull on the side which makes it easy to get in and out of bags or on and off shelves.

From there I added in some page protectors and some inspirational printables I found online for free.  I have a Pinterest board full of pretty printables.  You can access it here.  I also have lots of FREE organizational printables available on our website.  You can print out sheets to organize your holidays, daily tasks, meal planning and much more.

Access all the free documents here.

The inside of the binder is divided into sections.  Each section has it’s own tabbed divider insert to designate the beginning.  I used these Kraft dividers because they were plain, durable and I could decorate them any way I wanted.

I labeled the dividers with a Brother Labeler.  I had a pink label refill in it for a little more whimsy and cheerfulness.  There are so many options of label tape that you can customize your organization to meet your style or even office decor.

My favorite new addition to the binder were these bookmarks that fit into the binder itself.  They are plastic, have a unique pattern and each one has a tab on the top so I can see exactly where I left off.  What I love about these is that they are replacing post it notes for me.  I used to use post it notes as book marks but they quickly became worn or torn and needed to be thrown away.

To make sure I always have hole reinforcements with me, as well as a few pens, I added in this small pouch from Poppin.  It pops right into the binder and takes up almost no space.  I also added an open folder to hold papers I don’t need to hole punch.  I found it at Staples for $1.

Overall the binder doesn’t weigh a lot, but it holds a lot of information and keeps me organized. Everything I need for work and life in general, is in one space.  With this binder and my laptop I can get just about anything done, from anywhere.

 If you want to put together a binder like this for less, try Yoobi.  They are an amazing brand that donates to school kids in need for every purchase you make.  Available online and at Target, their products are adorable AND effective.

Their binders are less than $5 and come in some adorable patterns.  My favorite, is the nautical striped blue binder.  I love that you can slip something under the cover for decoration or safe keeping.

Add in their matching binder pencil case for note cards, highlighters, and everything else you need.  I have all kinds of goodies including hand sanitizer and lip gloss in mine.

Instead of the dividers seen above, you can go with Yoobi’s more durable and colorful option.  They come in a pack of 8 tabbed dividers with colors that will match your binder. They are awesome to brighten your day AND keep you on track.