As you've probably guessed from my post title today, things have been a little crazy around here. Hence, I haven't posted anything in a week, my house looks like a tornado touched ground, and I feel slightly guilty for blogging right now instead of planning my storytimes and seminary lesson for tomorrow. But I'm justifying it due to the fact that I need some type of Organizational/Time Management INTERVENTION and any tips you could offer me would be GREATLY appreciated.
I used to consider myself an organized person being a school teacher and all. My classroom was tidy and I knew exactly where everything was...even with 24 students. I had daily lesson plans. I knew exactly what time the kids would go to art, eat lunch, play outside, etc...
Fast forward to the PRESENT! I only have two kids and my house looks like a war zone. My husband's schedule is completely unpredictable these days so I never know whether he's coming or going. I'm waking up BEFORE the crack of dawn to teach seminary (an early morning Sunday School class for high schoolers)and praying that I can get out the door without the kids waking up. (Yesterday was the FIRST time, they both stayed asleep...it was a miracle! Of course, they were up again today.) I'm rushing back home to get Abby ready for preschool and myself ready for storytime 2-3 days a week. I have an all-day conference tomorrow, another meeting on Thursday night, a Teen-Read week library activity on Friday night, etc... etc....etc...
I'm hesitant to even post this seeing how there are so many of you out there who have a much heavier load than I do. I guess that's why I'm seeking out your expert advice. I've read articles, visited FLY Lady, etc...but I would just LOVE to hear some tips from you ladies who are in the trenches along with me.
For starters - Do you schedule your housework? plan your meals a week in advance? have a certain day that you run errands?
Sounds so simple, doesn't it?
I wish!!!
Thanks in advance for your tips. I need all the help I can get!
*Now if you'd like to read about SUCCESSFUL tackles, click here. :)
11 years ago
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11 comments:
I may be of no help because I have no kids however I usually try to schedule the weeks meals during the weekend and make sure I have everything for them. As far as house work I usually reserve that for the weekend.
My mom watches BB one day a week, so that's the day I run my errands. Perhaps there's a mom at your church who could watch your kids one day and you could watch hers another? As for cooking, I make a double batch and freeze the leftovers. I only cook 3 nights a week each week. The other 4 days we are eating something out of the freezer. I simply alternate what I cook so it's not something we just ate and froze a bunch of. As for housework, I try to do 1 load of laundry a day and clean 1 thing a day. The laundry is never all done and the house is never completely clean, but everything is manageable and I don't get overwhelmed. There are a lot of good things to be involved in, and I think that as women, we sign up for too much. At this season in your life, when your children are small, it's okay to cut back some and focus on your family. There will be lots of years in the future when you can spread out more. I'm not suggesting just staying at home, but maybe just do what's really important to you and say no to the rest.
oh, I hear you! And I don't even have as many responsibilities as you! That's a lot on one plate. I can get twice as many errands done without my son, so I try to grocery shop, etc. when he's in preK. Also, just let stuff go. We have dog hair balls all over & baskets of unfolded laundry, but it's not the end of the world.
Oh, and my all-time fave cookbook is a lifesaver: Desperation Dinners. All take 20 min or less.
I dont have kids...but my job is all consuming and leaves me little time during the day to think at all. But here is what I do, maybe you could tweak it to use yourself, because it really isnt much, but it just helps me to remember and focus. I have one notebook. It's my to-do notebook. On sundays I sit down and write the things I need to accomplish that week. I put them on Monday's schedule and as monday goes along I add to it. Whatever I did gets marked off, I re-evaluate the things left, either tweak them, take them off, or move them to the next day. That way i am just reminded of the things i need to do. I also have a calander that I use along with it so I make sure I remember appointments and can plan accordingly. As far as meals go, I would just write down a plan of what you want to have for the week, make sure you have those things, and if you are feeling like you want to switch a night you know everything is there and can tweak the schedule as you go along. Anyway good luck! I can only imagine how overwhelming it must be!!
honey i am tired just reading about your busy life!!
i wish i could say i had a weekly plan for chores and such but i don't. however one thing that is a must for us is the meal planning. we do sooo much better at the grocery store if i go in knowing what we are eating for the next week.
it doesn't take long to map out what we want and then the trip to the grocery store is focused and i can be in and out - less wandering!
good luck friend :)
I really think you are amazing. I can't imagine teaching seminary right now with 2 young kids. That is such a huge thing!!! I can't believe you also do a story time as well. You are a busy mama.
I don't really have any helpful advice. My apartment is only about 800 square feet so pretty much if the kids are awake the whole place is a mess.
Good luck with all that you're doing. I love your blog.
Hon, I am glad you posted this--it sounds like you have a lot going on and I am hoping the little break you took to blog helped you relax, even if for a minute.
I try to have all of our clothes set out the night before (if we have places to go, etc). I am nowhere near as busy as you are, but I swear that one little thing helps me out in the mornings.
I try to shower at nite. Straighten my hair, etc so it won't take me as long to get ready.
If we do have a busy week, we try to have a menu planned and go shopping during the weekend to ensure we have everything that we need.
I used to do all of my house cleaning on one day. Now I just do one thing here, one thing there. As long as it gets cleaned I am okay.
I hope we help you a little. (((hugs)))
Well welcome back to the world of blogging. I am glad you found time for us:)
I was just thinking today that I need to organize my life so I am not so stressed out because I always take my stress out on my poor kiddos. My advice is to eliminate the stuff that stresses you out. For me, if I got up just a bit earlier I could shower and be ready by the time my kids got up and wouldn't be still in my jammies at noon.
Simplify!!! You are doing too much girl.
By the way, you should see my dad's house right now. He is out of town and I have let the kids run wild. So not like me.
I wish I had all the answers. But my life too is in constant disarray.
I know that I could make better use of my time but I do need some time to relax in a day or else I go bonkers.
I have a friend who cleans until 11pm and another who gets up at 5:30am to clean. Those are options I cannot even begin to consider.
I do plan my meals ahead but i think that is the extent of my organisation.
I work full time from home and have 4 kids plus various neighborhood kids here after school and for dinner. My schedule is my BFF. I have a calendar for the kids stuff, a calendar for appointments. I clean on a schedule. I plan meals for the pay period and do a big shop twice a month.
For me, it's all about organization.
Of course, today, the baby wouldn't nap, the toddler was up from 2am on and I had to work 8 hours. My house reflects this. Indeed.
THe key is just finding what works for you and sticking with it. Good luck!
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