Friday, January 22, 2010

Schedules

I am a Day Planner kind of gal. I LIVE by my day planner and on the days when I don’t refer to it, I usually end up forgetting something.

Having a schedule is such a great way to keep the stress down in the home and get more done in your day.
When you write down all of the things you would like to get done that day, it gives you a purpose and you don’t just let the day happen as it will. (And who doesn’t feel better at the end of a day when you felt like you had a purpose?)

This does not mean you have to give up any kind of Spontaneity in your life, it just makes it more possible. When you focus on get things done at a faster rate, you can then really enjoy doing other out of the blue things because you know you don't have work waiting for you back at home.

Make sure you include your children in that schedule. They trump ANY project you are working on. (Something I am constantly reminding myself)
So if you are doing the dishes and your child wants your attention, either have that child help you do the dishes and spend some quality time talking to them while you work together, or stop what you are doing and go check out whatever your child wants you to see.
I have even played hide and seek with the kids while doing dishes. I count to 40 while I wash some dishes, then go look for them. When I find them all, I go back and do more dishes while I count and they hide. (I am so sneaky!!!)

I think all moms are hard on themselves from time to time.
I know I have had times where I have gotten to the end of my day and wondered “what in the world did I accomplish today?!!!”

Often times we are so surrounded by the things we did NOT get done, that we don’t take the time to stop and think of all of the things we DID get done.
Having a written list can not only give you that purpose, but at the end of the day it will show you all of the things you DID do that day. (The cup IS half full)

Get specific with your list. Don’t just say “Do Laundry.” There are so many steps that you can put on the list such as: “Wash clothes, fold clothes, put clothes away, Iron shirts…….”
It may sound silly, but it really isn’t. How many times have YOU washed the clothes……but then left them in a pile for a couple of days before you folded them. Or folded them into piles and let them sit there for a while. You should get credit for EVERY step you have taken in that “do the Laundry” process.

As moms, we don’t always get recognized for the MANY little things we do. (Not even by ourselves)
So this is just a small way for us to see JUST how much we really do on a daily basis. Even if no one else recognizes it, we will. And sometimes THAT can make all of the difference in our day.

2 comments:

Jess said...

Okay, so I was wondering how you accomplished moms do it. I feel like I'm stuck in a rut when it comes to my kids and my projects (chores included). They make it seem like the end of the world if I'm not devoting 100% of my attention to them, but I can't get things done when they are just asleep. I like your hide-and-seek dishes idea. Thanks!

Rebecca Hansen said...

i love this post, it's so me! i live by my planner, too. i had to laugh at the laundry part, because i write down EVERY step, just so i can check it off when i'm done! it's motivation to get it done because i can check it off! (and checking stuff off makes me feel accomplished)
great post andrea, love yer stinkin guts!