Time Management & Stamina

[Peacock]

OK folks...I genuinely want some advice. I know my time management skills stink and also know that the #1 piece of advice would be to get off HT and go do what's on my list.

I was pondering this tonight as I sent everyone else to bed and still had about 4 things I wanted to do before I hit the hay myself. I'm a night owl by nature, but I did get up at 8 this morning with my kids.

You know, we were discussing my DD on another thread and her busy schedule. Angie pointed out that often, kids who have time-consuming extracurriculars like gymnastics or ice skating still manage to get A's in school because they develop excellent time management skills. My DD is pretty good at that. I, on the other hand, never did much after school at all except Scouts twice a month. I came home and fought off boredom every day. I was a "lonely only" and if I struggled with homework, it was for entirely different reasons. In fact DD impresses me SO much how EFFICIENT she is about getting her work done; she's really no-nonsense about it. Me, OTOH? I remember sitting at the kitchen table for hours moaning over every math problem. She doesn't have time to do that.

Of course...that may change soon since Friday's going to be her last team practice...but she'll probably find other activities to replace it soon. Back to my point.

Do you have a system for planning your day, or do you just know what needs doing and do it? How well is it working for you?

About a year ago I began using spiral notebooks for this process. I write down what I intend to get done that day, and underneath it under "upcoming" I write things I know I can't do that day, but hope to get to soon, so I won't forget. I make a separate list for business - client projects, calls, etc. and finally a list of things I need to buy next time I'm out.

I used to do this on my computer using Schedule, but I wanted to be able to actually leave my computer chair and still remember my to-do list.

This is working fairly well for me. The problem is I just can't seem to get everything done and most of it carries over to the next day! For a while I was making the mistake of writing WAY too long a to-do list, which just intimidated me. But most days I'm lucky to cross off 2-3 things out of about 10 listed.

Having the energy to get things done is also a problem. I recently started taking ginseng and gingko biloba, hoping that'll help a little.

I'm looking forward to finding out what others have to say about this.

[Caelma]

Wish I could help you but I'm one who tires to put 36 hrs of stuff to do in 24 hours, usually forgetting somethings that needed to be done.
If you get it figured out, please share your secret with me.
I'm also one who makes lists to find my lists

[ladybug]

I know exactly what you mean, I'm a mom of 4, I homeschool, and I have to make lists for every little thing or I will forget what I'm doing. It's awful, I'm beginning to think kids cause forgetfulness

Ladybug

[frazzlehead]

I find lists require too much maintenance. I have a daytimer for things that need dates so I remember where to be and when, but for the ongoing stuff, I like cards.

It's a trick from work - they are just recipe cards, you write on them what the job is. They are easy to sort, it's fun to shred/burn/rip up the card when the job is done, and you don't have to keep recopying a list if you want to reorganize or shuffle things. Best of all, you can GIVE THE CARD TO SOMEONE ELSE TO DO!

If you have a magnetic place (fridge?) you can put the cards up there that you intend to work on soon - you take one when you're gonna work on it. If they are 'shareable jobs', then anyone can take a task off the fridge whenever it is "work time". "Someday" cards go in a box or envelope or whatever, not too far away, somewhere you can stick more on the fridge. Go thorugh them every so often to pick out what you want done next.

Any time you think of something you "really oughta do", just write it on a card.

Anyone with geeky tendencies may recognize this as a strategy from Extreme Programming ... and anyone with really geeky tendencies might want to google "WriteItOnACard" and read up on the joys of task cards.

[Peacock]

The card thing...I saw that somewhere else. Was it Sidetracked Home Executives?

Yikes, I think they had the cards color-coded and everything. I'm not discounting the way you do it -- but some of these organization systems (not yours) require so much work just to set up. Flylady's is intimidating too, even though she insists you don't have to set it up all at once. But I'm an "all at once" kind of gal. Which, Flylady points out, is probably why I have this trouble in the first place.

I got the spiral notebook idea from a neighbor I used to have, who was a scatterbrained alcoholic pothead. Okay, so it sounds weird to take an idea from someone like that - but I figured that if this notebook thing helped her run her life and her kids' lives despite...well, you know, maybe I ought to try it too. She sat at her kitchen table jotting things into her notebook, which was always at her fingertips. It was handy for card game scores, phone messages, grocery lists, etc. At least I try to keep it systematic and neat. I have it on hand for notes when a client calls, take it to GS meetings, etc.

My trouble is getting the stuff done, not necessarily remembering what I have to do!

[Wildwood Flower]

I think your spiral notebook idea is the greatest! Just don't get more than one going--you'll really get confused. Make a list, and don't worry about crossing everything off in one day. Next day (or whenever you make a list again)...start the list with what's left over from the previous one.

It's such a good feeling to cross even one thing off!

Here's an idea too: One of my fondest memories (now) is of helping my mother. I learned so many valuable things from her. Enlist your daughter to help you. A household takes a team effort. And it's so good for a young girl to learn the womanly art of home-making--from her mother!

I know when my granddaughters come over, I have them be my "secretary" and have them write the list. Then I consult with them throughout the day..."Okay, how are we doing on our list?" I do give them a little spending money to help me, but not always.

They especially love making the list when we're planning for a holiday or a party, or when we're going shopping. I always make it a little fun, and add something we WANT to do to the list--maybe for after we get our chores done.

I feel like it's a good learning tool for them, on how to be organized, how to spell, and how to work together with others. If I have more than one child with me I have THEM figure out how to divide up the chores--who's going to do what.

Doing things this way with kids does take more time sometimes than just doing it yourself, but worth it down the road when you can see them becoming more and more responsible and helpful to the family.

I've even had my grandkids balance my checkbook for me.

[suzfromWi]

Most women are mulitaskers and we do sometimes run ourselves ragged. I do lists but also have a routine. I do the chores in the same sequence everyday. I dont overload myself if I can help it. If you can designate some to others that might help. If its just a lack of energy you can look into why that is and change it. If you have too many chores then change something there. We have to take time to enjoy our short lives too. Sit and listen to nature, read a good book, play with a child. Not all of us are go getters. Relax, it will get done.

[MarleneS]

If you do not wish to spend the money to puchase a Time Management/Scheduler at your nearest office supply store make one up yourself. It's a calendar with the day broken down into hourly/ or less segments.

Take your list of things to do and prioritize them in order things that have to be done on a daily bases, then in order of importance (even if it's only important to you).

Post them into your scheduler - no matter how mundane they seem. After a week, see how well you did on guessing the time allotment for each activity. Rework as needed.

Don't forget to schedule in time to go over the schedule - making it the last thing of the day before preparing for bed works well.

Good luck,
Marlene

[trixiwick]

I'm a spiral-notebooker, and that's all I need for most things. It doesn't do much good to spend lots of time writing stuff down and not much time doing 'em.

This is going to sound weird, but I'm a big advocate of physical exercise. Yes, it's something else that takes time, but it will just multiply your energy. Get your blood going and your heart rate up, and your body will be able to keep that momentum going rather than sinking back into the low-metabolism stupor that makes it hard to get moving.

[Dente deLion]

I don't do lists daily - most of the time I carry it around in my head, and mentally "cross off" the finished items. Unfinished tasks get carried over, and there always comes a point when I get sick of "seeing" task X on my list for so long - it's part embarrassment, part irritation - so finally I just do it, and it's always a relief to get it off my mind!

Then there are the times when I'm either planning something big (like a party) or have a "working vacation" (I take a couple days off work just because I have so much to do at home) and have a million things to do - all that stuff gets written down. Usually the time constraints of those situations are enough pressure to keep me moving.

So, maybe you can set challenges for yourself - look at the list, pick three things, and challenge yourself to get them all done by noon, or whatever. Mini-motivations.

[DocM]

Actually, I wrote an article on this very subject.

For myself, I use a dayplanner, and make lists, but read the whole article.

http://intothesunrise.blogspot.com/2...cheduling.html

[sewsilly]

I use a modified card plan from the sidetracked ladies. I got the book at the library, probably 15 years ago, and at first, I used it as they laid out. It worked marvelously for a busy, busy house with kids of everyage, an elderly live in relative and two busy adults. The house stayed neat and tidy in a way that I've not accomplished in years, with little stress.

Now, I use a modified version of that plan. Kids are teens,(one daughter on her own) DH works remotely, coming home on the weekends, etc. It works well, and sounds a lot like the notebook plan.
Ihave a daily selection of cards (and certain days a week to accomplish certain things) and I take a separate card and make my daily/weekly list to do. The daily cards, for example... Monday is my 'desk day', pay bills,, work on calendar, schedule, etc. tuesday is a 'half clean day', a couple of hours on certain things in living areas, Wed is MY day. thursday is errands day (family knows if they need it, it'd better be on my list by thursday am, or they'll do without it till next thursday, I grocery shop, go to library, go to bank, etc. Friday is the full clean day, again a laid out several cards with specifics. If it doesn't get done, then I flip that card(s) into the SAturday pile.
Saturday is family day, fun stuff, or some household chore/animal chore that requires help and cooperation. Sunday is day off for everyone/church/family.

Through the week, you have little cards (like 15 minutes of pick up in a hot spot -telephone table, anyone?) that any of us can grab and do when there's a few minutes to spare. Sometimes, when things have backed up, I call it and we ALL grab a quick card and get a task done. There are seasonal things that rotate up in the card file and remind me, ahead of time, to get stuff on the list (stuff you do once in a while... someones birthday/ gardening/ holidays, things that you don't want to surprise you at the last minute)

We're reworking right now,,, DH, after 9months at home between job is now working, but is staying in the city where he works though the week and I'm in transitioning between parttime teaching and the process of opening a retail store. The card system still keeps thing at home running along pretty well. If I don't get something done, I don't sweat it, just pop it back into next weeks file and keep going.

I'll point out that the teens here help out willingly and cooperatively, so I don't feel like I do it all. They do their own laundry (after the age of 10) and one load of household laundry a week, each. Each has animal chores they attend, without being checked up on. And they're band kids and they do make straight A's. The oldest one lifeguards about 10 hours a week. (Yes, the busier they are, the better they manage their time, now and in the future). They can all cook and after meals we all clean our own things. Frees all of us for some family time/sharing/talking/getting in touch with each other everyday, which I consider more important than the vacuuming/tidy aspect of life. On my busiest days, they help to prepare meals (the little one, once a week, the older one twice). I am NOT a night owl, but get up at 5:30 to get a bubblebath and a jump on the day.

The card system helps me by sort of keeping me on track. Again, I don't sweat it if we get off a day or two, I prioritize and just catch it the next time around. For a person who likes an organized life, but NOT housekeeping, it helps a whole bunch.

[michiganfarmer]

My organisational skill are pretty poor. The only way I ge things done is with sheer will power, and many many hours per day. Often times 7 days per week.

[Kevingr]

His and hers sprial notebooks, with weekly and daily tasks. Family events/tasks go on the calendar on the wall.

[Peacock]

Originally Posted by DocM

Actually, I wrote an article on this very subject.

For myself, I use a dayplanner, and make lists, but read the whole article.

http://intothesunrise.blogspot.com/2...cheduling.html

Very nicely done, Doc!

[Peacock]

Thanks. (sigh) I am glad I'm not the only one who's a slave to a spiral notebook. Really, it's nice to hear I'm on the right track.

[Macybaby]

I have to be careful that I don't let myself get bogged down because I have somethign to do that I really don't want to do.

I'll try to do it, but I find myself dragging around, or getting seriously distracted by doing nothing (like picking up a book and reading, instead of what I should be doing). I've even been known to clean the toilet instead of working on a term paper.

So I will set a very short goal, work for just a bit, then on to something else that I'll enjoy more.

Last spring the sheetrock work just was not getting done in the dining/living room. So I decided I would work on that for about 30 mn each morning, and then not worry about it the rest of the day. And you know what? I did get it done.

The number one thing about completing a project is actually starting. BTW, DH and I are in the third year of a major renovation project, so that takes up most of our time. I wonder what life will be like when we don't have to spend 10 - 20 hours each weekend working on the house. . .

Cathy

[Pink_Carnation]

After you make your to do list rank them in order of importance...and do them in that order where possible. If it is an ongoing project try to spend some time on it each day. At the end of the day decide if the things that didn't get done are going to be forwarded to the next day/week or deleted. I would also suggest that you do the most disgusting or annoying priority thing first.

We have also been working on recording what we are doing all day...for example 7:30 breakfast, 8:00 get ready for class, 8:10 internet, 9:30 dishes....this is letting us see where the time is going and what we did all day.

[KatW]

I don't use a spiral notebook, I use printer paper and a clipboard. I can take it anywhere, have a built in surface to write on, and it has a pen holder! At the beginning of the week I sit down and jot down everything I can think of that I want to accomplish. If something has to be done on a specific day I write the days letter in front of the job (example coffee cake for hubby's staff meeting M:coffeecake).

During my morning cup of tea I sit down and look over the list then put an asterisk in front of what I want to accomplish that day. I don't put just "chores" on the list either. I put down fun stuff, projects, read a book, etc... too. When I finish something I cross it off. I review every day and add stuff that I think of and remove stuff that I've decided I don't want to work on this week. If there is something I still want to do (or need to do) but am not going to accomplish this week I switch to another sheet and add it there. I tend to add stuff that I do daily --like emptying and running the dishwasher-- something I don't really need to be reminded to do, just because I like to cross things off the list and at the end of the day look at what I really did accomplish.

Good luck with your goal of getting more organized. For me it is a constant struggle.