Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 17/03) - Between work and raising families, many people must juggle several tasks at once.

But 'multi-tasking' is not an easy skill to master. Some folks never pick up the skill while others take on so many projects it makes your head spin. The key, it seems, is organization.

Marje Lalonde, 79, is working a part-time job at NorthMart in Iqaluit and volunteering at the Nunavut Food Bank. She stays organized by planning her week. - Christine Kay/NNSL photo

John Jamieson, the co-principal of Nuiyak school in Sanikiluaq, is one of the multi-taskers.

In addition to dealing with over 280 students from kindergarten to Grade 12 on a daily basis, he is involved in many of the school's extracurricular activities.

"We don't have restaurants, or a movie theatre or ballets so there's not too many distractions. Really, that's how I keep everything going," said Jamieson.

Through Najuqsivik, a non-profit centre and day care in Sanikiluaq, Jamieson is helping the community develop its economy. They are producing polar bear rugs, frames for local art, and soon they will start making books to emphasize literacy. It seems like Jamieson has a hand in everything occurring in Sanikiluaq.

To keep it all in order, he uses a trusted day planner.

"It's a really big one. If I didn't have it, I'd be working off scraps of paper here and there and everywhere. I'd be lost," he explained.

Mary Fredlund from Rankin Inlet is just as busy as Jamieson. For her, there's no appointment book or secretary. She works in the home and in her community.

Fredlund is involved in her church, has raised her own children and is now a foster parent of two children, one of whom has Down's Syndrome. She recently became a member of the Pamiqsaiiji Society, which helps people with disabilities.

"My weakest point is being organized," she said.

Fredlund said she gets up early in the morning to do all the little things. Most importantly, she doesn't get in a "knot" about time.

"I write things down and post them on the fridge. Every time I open the door, I see it. That's my system," she explained.

Marje Lalonde in Iqaluit uses the same system as Fredlund to get organized.

Back in the day, Lalonde, who is 79, said she worked with two schools, the air cadets, scouts and the Girl Guides. Today, she volunteers her time at the Nunavut Food Bank, works a part-time job, is a member of the Royal Canadian Legion and plays Euchre once a week with friends.

"You just have to be honest with yourself and not take too much on. People are depending on you and you don't want to let them down," she explained.