Checklists: Mom's Best Friend

Other moms keep lists for annual events such as party supplies and guest lists, holiday shopping, and things to remember to bring on vacation. Melissa Maver, of Medford, New Jersey, and her family take two annual vacations. To stay organized, she created a master packing list that she keeps in her computer. She updates it yearly, adding or deleting as needed. "For instance," Maver says, "we took the Pack 'n' Play off the list about two years ago."

You may think you're too busy to add another thing to do to your already hectic schedule, but test it out and take the time to organize your thoughts, phone numbers, appointments, and contacts. Like these "Checklist Moms" you'll find you'll spend less time trying to remember what needs to be done and more time doing what's important to you. (And, not that writing this article wasn't important to me, but I can now officially cross it off my own to-do list that's taped to my kitchen cabinet!)