I’m over here writing about time management, something I think we all struggle with. However, if you don’t…tell me all you know. PLEASE.
I Should Be Folding Laundry
Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2012 All Rights Reserved
I never have that problem…. haha haha
I never have that problem…. haha haha
I am certain that this is just part of being an adult woman. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t struggle with it – some more than others (like me).
I just try to remember that someday I will have all the time in the world to dust my shelves and polish my kitchen floor.
But then I’ll miss the footprints that used to be there and the ones who made them.
I am certain that this is just part of being an adult woman. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t struggle with it – some more than others (like me).
I just try to remember that someday I will have all the time in the world to dust my shelves and polish my kitchen floor.
But then I’ll miss the footprints that used to be there and the ones who made them.
What is this thing you speak of? Cleaning a bathroom floor? Never heard of it. I obviously have a problem here. Thanks a lot! Ignorance WAS bliss.
Oh – LOVED the photos! Great job, wish I lived closer to hire you too!
Enjoying your blog.
What is this thing you speak of? Cleaning a bathroom floor? Never heard of it. I obviously have a problem here. Thanks a lot! Ignorance WAS bliss.
Oh – LOVED the photos! Great job, wish I lived closer to hire you too!
Enjoying your blog.
Hi I love your blog, I do crazy things like the hair picture too. I have 2 kids and like reading other mommy blogs. My blog is http://www.hopingtomoveon.blogspot.com. Its not as funny as yours, but I try.
BTW i multitask often and I think that means i have a time management problem..??? Is it
Hi I love your blog, I do crazy things like the hair picture too. I have 2 kids and like reading other mommy blogs. My blog is http://www.hopingtomoveon.blogspot.com. Its not as funny as yours, but I try.
BTW i multitask often and I think that means i have a time management problem..??? Is it
I think pretty much everybody’s been in your spot before.
Here’s what works for me…
I print a weekly “chart”. Sounds fancy, right? It’s a landscape positioned Word document with a 5 column table and 1 row. The idea behind the columns/one row is it gives a NICE designation between days. I think I remember seeing in the house pictures that you had an Island in the kitchen? Tape it to the corner of that!
For chores, list realistic items per day. Be as specific as possible. Do you have use enough dishes to run the DW daily? If so, put “empty dishwasher” at the top of the column. This way, it’s available throughout the day for dirty (rinsed) dishes to be placed inside – keeping the sink clear of clutter. At the bottom of the column for each evening, “finish DW and turn on”. Next, laundry. Do you need to do a load every day? Do you prefer to do each person’s laundry separately or do you bulk pile into lights/darks? If you do people specific, then designate everyone a day. On the off-person day, add that as a ‘household’ day – sheets, towels, etc. Advantage to spreading out the laundry during the week, though it may seem excessive, is that if you have only one or two baskets to fold/put away, you are seriously more apt to do it. Plus, it’s a great motivator if you need the baskets on Tuesday, but they have Monday’s load in them. You’re not struggling to get out of 10 loads of laundry that were smashed into one basket.
Next, “chores”. Designate regular chores you’ll need to do weekly. Really, it depends on your household (we have pets, so vacuuming might be more regular for my list than those without). Common items here will be:
Cleaning bathrooms
Mopping bathroom floor
Mopping kitchen floor
Sweeping driveway
Lunch on each day
Empty all trash cans in the house
Clean out refrigerator (you’ll want to schedule this appropriately – the day before trash day – put events like this in first so you can fill in around them) – also, you can cut down or combine your grocery list time with a magnetic pad of paper on the front of the refrigerator. Tossing out the empty jar of mayo? One on the shelf to go into the refrigerator? Put it on the shopping list so you have a stand by jar.
Put trash out (seriously, put it on the list, you’ll see why later)
Wipe down kitchen counters – personally, I put this one on Friday and Monday because we’re in and out of the kitchen quite a bit over the weekend and it helps to not have those sticky spots. Yes, we all have them. We all miss them. The hint for that really stubborn one? Wet a rag with hot water, place it on top of the sticky spot and leave it there 10 minutes. Sticky wipes up without scraping and scratching – risking the finish on your counter.
Once you’ve laid out your weekly “duties” “responsibilities” “tasks” (avoid ‘chores’), again, print the list and tape it down. This gives you an at-a-week glance. Next, keep a pen on the counter and handy. When you finish the task for the day, cross it off – of that day only, it doesn’t count if you’ve got floors on twice for the week and you mop once.
Here’s another key part….save the sheets week to week. After a month or two, look back through them. Make any notes on them during the week of whether you didn’t need to clean the bathrooms twice or whatever. You’ll get an idea of where your time is going, and NOT going, but also if you really do need an extra hand a couple hours a week – what that person should be doing. Is there something on that list that’s continually missed? Perhaps that’s the best time/money spent for employing someone, rather than tasks you can handle yourself.
Additionally, this gives you a breakdown for the day, which also means that you know the time you’ve got for work. There’s not three days of “household to-do’s” staring you in the face, there’s a manageable amount per day, plus enough time to work.
If you’re a “time” (as opposed to “inspiration”) person, grab a kitchen timer and sit down for an hour to work. If you’re really onto something, set that timer for another 30 minutes of work. If it’s just not happening, stop the timer, get up and do something else. Next time you sit down, start the timer for 90 minutes. When you get into the routine – maybe you don’t need a timer, maybe it’s just when the dryer goes off – you’ll find your groove.
Email me if you’d like me to send you the table/chart if you don’t want to mess with laying it out. If you want, also include some of your regular tasks, and I’ll fill them in. I love organizing in general.
I think pretty much everybody’s been in your spot before.
Here’s what works for me…
I print a weekly “chart”. Sounds fancy, right? It’s a landscape positioned Word document with a 5 column table and 1 row. The idea behind the columns/one row is it gives a NICE designation between days. I think I remember seeing in the house pictures that you had an Island in the kitchen? Tape it to the corner of that!
For chores, list realistic items per day. Be as specific as possible. Do you have use enough dishes to run the DW daily? If so, put “empty dishwasher” at the top of the column. This way, it’s available throughout the day for dirty (rinsed) dishes to be placed inside – keeping the sink clear of clutter. At the bottom of the column for each evening, “finish DW and turn on”. Next, laundry. Do you need to do a load every day? Do you prefer to do each person’s laundry separately or do you bulk pile into lights/darks? If you do people specific, then designate everyone a day. On the off-person day, add that as a ‘household’ day – sheets, towels, etc. Advantage to spreading out the laundry during the week, though it may seem excessive, is that if you have only one or two baskets to fold/put away, you are seriously more apt to do it. Plus, it’s a great motivator if you need the baskets on Tuesday, but they have Monday’s load in them. You’re not struggling to get out of 10 loads of laundry that were smashed into one basket.
Next, “chores”. Designate regular chores you’ll need to do weekly. Really, it depends on your household (we have pets, so vacuuming might be more regular for my list than those without). Common items here will be:
Cleaning bathrooms
Mopping bathroom floor
Mopping kitchen floor
Sweeping driveway
Lunch on each day
Empty all trash cans in the house
Clean out refrigerator (you’ll want to schedule this appropriately – the day before trash day – put events like this in first so you can fill in around them) – also, you can cut down or combine your grocery list time with a magnetic pad of paper on the front of the refrigerator. Tossing out the empty jar of mayo? One on the shelf to go into the refrigerator? Put it on the shopping list so you have a stand by jar.
Put trash out (seriously, put it on the list, you’ll see why later)
Wipe down kitchen counters – personally, I put this one on Friday and Monday because we’re in and out of the kitchen quite a bit over the weekend and it helps to not have those sticky spots. Yes, we all have them. We all miss them. The hint for that really stubborn one? Wet a rag with hot water, place it on top of the sticky spot and leave it there 10 minutes. Sticky wipes up without scraping and scratching – risking the finish on your counter.
Once you’ve laid out your weekly “duties” “responsibilities” “tasks” (avoid ‘chores’), again, print the list and tape it down. This gives you an at-a-week glance. Next, keep a pen on the counter and handy. When you finish the task for the day, cross it off – of that day only, it doesn’t count if you’ve got floors on twice for the week and you mop once.
Here’s another key part….save the sheets week to week. After a month or two, look back through them. Make any notes on them during the week of whether you didn’t need to clean the bathrooms twice or whatever. You’ll get an idea of where your time is going, and NOT going, but also if you really do need an extra hand a couple hours a week – what that person should be doing. Is there something on that list that’s continually missed? Perhaps that’s the best time/money spent for employing someone, rather than tasks you can handle yourself.
Additionally, this gives you a breakdown for the day, which also means that you know the time you’ve got for work. There’s not three days of “household to-do’s” staring you in the face, there’s a manageable amount per day, plus enough time to work.
If you’re a “time” (as opposed to “inspiration”) person, grab a kitchen timer and sit down for an hour to work. If you’re really onto something, set that timer for another 30 minutes of work. If it’s just not happening, stop the timer, get up and do something else. Next time you sit down, start the timer for 90 minutes. When you get into the routine – maybe you don’t need a timer, maybe it’s just when the dryer goes off – you’ll find your groove.
Email me if you’d like me to send you the table/chart if you don’t want to mess with laying it out. If you want, also include some of your regular tasks, and I’ll fill them in. I love organizing in general.
Just wondering if Shannon wants to move in? Holy cow girl you are organized!
Just wondering if Shannon wants to move in? Holy cow girl you are organized!
Whoa …. I second the previous poster’s comment, Shannon please come on over!
If you find the true key to effective time management Beth, I beg you to share that secret with me. I would be forever indebted to you!! (and of course if you came to Canada to photograph my family)
Whoa …. I second the previous poster’s comment, Shannon please come on over!
If you find the true key to effective time management Beth, I beg you to share that secret with me. I would be forever indebted to you!! (and of course if you came to Canada to photograph my family)
I think the sign of a truly overscheduled person is that most days, I realize that I desperately, DESPERATELY, have to go to the bathroom around 4/4:30pm…and realize that I have not had the time to go since around 8:30am. And that I never ate lunch.
That happens at least 2-3 times a week.
I don’t think my problem is time management, I think I have expectations on me that only 2, maybe 3, people could effectively manage. The other problem is that I am still trying to meet those expectations.
I’m not sure what the solution is.
I think the sign of a truly overscheduled person is that most days, I realize that I desperately, DESPERATELY, have to go to the bathroom around 4/4:30pm…and realize that I have not had the time to go since around 8:30am. And that I never ate lunch.
That happens at least 2-3 times a week.
I don’t think my problem is time management, I think I have expectations on me that only 2, maybe 3, people could effectively manage. The other problem is that I am still trying to meet those expectations.
I’m not sure what the solution is.