We are pretty much half way through "31 Days to Clean"!
How many of you have a schedule? How many of you have a schedule that you actually follow everyday? How many of you like to write schedule's but never get around to following them?
I am in the latter category.
I love to write schedules and make myself little plans, but following them is, well, not my best strength. In order to remedy this fault of mine (and yes, I consider it a fault) I have decided to come up with a schedule that fits my God-given self! It must be flexible, easy, and workable.
I want you to do the same - up for the challenge?
For those of you who hate the word "schedule," please don't brush me off here! I am not suggesting to pencil in something for every minute of the day (or hour for that matter). What I'm going to suggest is coming up with a schedule (routine, mama's workable day, whatever you want to call it) that works for you.
Here are some suggestions in creating a workable schedule:
Go back to your list of priorities and review it (if you haven't made one yet, now is the time). If you're priority is to keep your house in order and pay attention to your kiddos, but you find yourself on the computer more often than not, you may have to regulate yourself by setting a time limit.
Make sure to schedule time for your hobbies (blogging, reading, writing, scrap booking, etc.) Maybe you only have time in your day for 15 minutes of a certain hobby, or maybe you can block out two hours. Whatever the case, use the time you've scheduled, otherwise you will probably end up wasting time or losing it altogether. I schedule my time with Lord as the sun is rising - not because I'm a morning person but because if I don't it won't happen. I need that time in the morning to give me strength and insight for the day.
Do what comes naturally. When creating your workable schedule, figure out what's already "set" in your day. What already comes natural to you? Start there and don't try and change it - just go with it - you will add on from here. For example, every morning my kiddos watch a morning video and then eat breakfast. We also eat dinner at 4pm (yea, I know, we're weird) and bedtime is 6:30pm (for the babes, not us). This works, it happens naturally everyday, so why change it? (At least at this point - in the fall I plan on homeschooling my three year old so our schedule will change).
Write it down and then stick it somewhere you see everyday. Yes, it can and will change - be flexible.
You can be as detailed or simple as you like. You can come up with a complete cleaning schedule with different things to do each day of the week, or a general one. Either way, do what fits you.
Here's my very general schedule:
5 am - Wake - spend time reading scripture and praying
6 am - Peruse the blogosphere
6:15 am - Make Jesse's lunch and help him get ready for work
6:30 am - Kiddos up - watch video (Right now my little girl loves Angeline Ballerina!)
Around 7/7:15 am - Breakfast
7:45 am - 11 am - Kiddos play, me clean (son takes nap from 8:30 am - 10 am)
11 am - Lunch
11 am - 1 pm - Errands, park, play, grocery shop, etc.
1 pm - 2:30 pm - Kids take naps - I can do whatever I want (although I should use this for cleaning time)!
3 pm - Start dinner, set table, general pick-up
4 pm - Dinner
4:45 pm - 6:30 - Family Time - play, read, take a walk, etc. (no T.V.)
6:30 pm - Kids to bed - oh yea baby!
7 pm - FREEDOM! (Okay, I know that saying "freedom" sounds like I have a bad attitude towards my babes, but I don't! However, I do enjoy the relaxing down time after a full day of toddlers!)
7 - 8 pm - Computer time/writing
8 pm - Time with my man (unless he has softball, then probably more blogging time!)
10 pm - Bed - oh sweet rest, I love you!
13 comments:
Morning :)
I am a scheduler. I love schedules, and even more than that, I love routines. I say that because sometimes a "schedule" can make you feel tied down, but a "routine" is flexible. Anyway, schedules or routines or whatever make me very happy.
I do find times in my life where it is hard to stick to. Like now. We've been out of town A LOT, and it's been really hard. We've got two more weeks of a lot of unusual activity, and then I'm back to refocusing on our routines. During busy times like now, I'm finding your "6 Things" list very helpful! :)
I'm a creature of habit, so I make lots of lists. The problem is, by late afternoon, the heat and the exhausting day make my list fall apart before it's time to cook supper. This gives me something to work on. Basically, if left to my on devices, I could easily turn into a lazy person. However, kids and hubby keep me from falling too far into the "lazy abess"!!
I'm like you. I love to write up schedules and plan my days. However, I don't do such a good job of actually using the schedule. I'll stick with it for a few days and then it will fall by the wayside.
Maybe I try to be too detailed and structured. I'll try your suggestion of being a little more flexible.
i love writing lists and making schedules and routines - i did the whole flylady control journal, typed up all of my routines and laminated them, etc. but i have so much trouble sticking to them. my goal for this week is to stick to my "new" schedule religiously all week, and see what needs to be adjusted from there. my schedule is posted at http://honestandlasting.blogspot.com/2008/06/scheduling-time.html
:)
Awesome! I must be ahead of the game because I came up with a schedule a couple weeks ago after being inpired on this the cleaning stuff...
Here is mine:
http://mymessynest.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-schedule.html
Yay Sarah Mae...this is JUST what I needed to read this morning! I too love schedules but am not as good about following them. I like the flexable idea...that is what I need. I am all about scheduling though...otherwise I would go CRAZY!!! (which is most of the time) I'm sitting down today and writing one up! You are such a HELP! =]
I will try to come up with a schedule. I am so terrible at following them! I will probably do better with just coming up with certain things to be done on certain days rather than times of day.
I'll keep you posted. Thanks for all the helpful tips!
OH I'm great at making lists...it's the sticking to it part that I stink at. Our routine has been tossed in the air since school started and my daughter attended an all day camp everyday last week. Today we went sightseeing in DC so now I'm pooped. Tomorrow will be the first day we have no plans to do anything. I really need to make sure our summer doesn't end up as days where we just do nothing. So I have been determined to set more of a routine for us. You have really inspired me with this post.
Oh you and I are a lot alike in this area! I schedule and reschedule and don't follow either of them. Ha. I'm really kicking myself for not joining this 31 Day program you've set up! Hopefully you'll make an e-book out of it :) !!
By the way, thank you for your comment. My sweet hubby took care of me and I ended up sleeping for about 5 hours Friday afternoon.
I love a schedule!
Actually God has been dealing with me a lot recently about my time issues.... I take on too much, I over schedule myself, I dont treat my priorities like they are my priorities!
Thanks for thie 31 day challange, I really love it- although started late and will have to try to catch up! May I suggest a July re-run?
Oh - I love this challenge - cause it doesn't involve any actual cleaning!
I love organisation/schedules and stick to them well - but my calander only has squares that are big enough for about 4-5 things over the day... will be looking for a HUGE calender next year. I love seeing all the things in my head written neatly on paper somewhere - then I can stop trying to remember everything.
I would love to do a more detailed schedule and saw Katy Lin's idea of blocking time, then putting in bold the most important task in that space of time and if that's the only thing that gets done - so be it!
Will get to my schedule now and will post soon.
Thanks Sarah Mae.
i just started reading you blog and am still trying to decide if i should jump in where you are or start form the beginning on mine (but that's not as fun). anyways, i am the same, love to sit and make lists and schedules and implementing is the hardest part. i think if it was just me it might be a teensy tiny easier, but not by much. i have four kiddos, age 6, 4, 3, and 1 and i homeschool and that has been lacking the most. for the last 3-4 weeks we've had sickness running through the house and that means an unwarranted amount of movies for the kids and lack of motivation on my part. thanks for the reminder to keep it simple, prioritize, and to trust God with the rest. :)
Thanks for your carnival submission. It is ready to be read.
http://homesteadcarnival.blogspot.com/2009/04/carnival-93-thumbnail-edition.html
Abi
Post a Comment