It’s summer, and we all know what that means…chaos.
With kids at home all day, if you’re anything like us, most of your time is spent playing referee to sibling arguments, bored melt-downs, and chauffeur to this camp and that pool party. While your kids are living like VIP’s, you may be struggling to just keep your sanity. Your goals, well they flew out the door with the last chime of the school bell.
But, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you follow these 4 simple rules for managing your time, you’ll not only have your kids in line but you’ll also have that much-needed breathing room to focus back on you and your important goals and dreams…because take it from us, while it’s tempting to dissolve into tears, it just takes a few quick tricks to take back your time.
1. Know your priorities
When there is too much to do, knowing what things are truly most important helps me stay focused. A few months ago, when I was really struggling to get my priorities in order, I literally wrote down the order that I wanted them to be.
My list looked like this: God, Family, Friends, Work, Reading, Diet & Exercise, Keeping House, Entertainment. Sadly the list didn’t match how I was actually spending my time, but it did give me the motivation to make some changes.
I decided to prioritize my time better. I start with A tasks—those items that are MOST important. And by most important, I don’t mean most urgent or pressing, but the items that will get me closer to my BIG goals. Because urgent doesn’t always equal important. Then I add the B tasks—those items that SHOULD be done, maybe because they are urgent, or because there’s a pressing deadline or whatever. They are things that are important, but things that won’t necessarily move the needle towards my bigger goals. And then finally, there are the C tasks. Those things I would like to do if there is still time.
Once that is done, it is a matter of blocking out the time to make it fit. I actually take the time to schedule appointments with MYSELF for each of those tasks on my to-do list, starting with the A tasks, moving down into the B tasks, and then, if there is time, the C tasks. To make this task easier I usually use our Daily Do It™ sticky notes to help me prioritize my to-do lists and time block.
2. Start the morning well
One of the biggest changes I made was adding a morning workout into my routine. I have always been a morning person, so getting up early to get my work done–or at least started–is what makes sense for me. Those 3 hours in the morning, before anyone else gets up, when the house is quiet and I can simply be alone with my thoughts, are precious, and I usually wake up raring to go and ready to start my day.
But I’m ashamed to admit that I hate getting up to go workout! I often feel like skipping morning runs or my weekly training sessions, because it feels like it was just taking too much time, time that I could be using more productively. But after reassessing my priorities I realized there was a no more important way to start my morning.
I have a few other morning rituals that keep me focused as well–drinking several cups of fresh hot coffee, turning off my phone, not checking email or Facebook until my other work is done, finishing my most dreaded task right off the bat, and then filling out my Daily Do It™ sticky note so I have a road map to get me through the rest of the day. I find that doing things in the same order keeps me more grounded and focused, and it is usually only when I stray from my routine that I start to get distracted and lose track of time!
3. When in doubt, clean something
I almost always start my day with a speed cleaning session. I’ve written before about why it is so important to me to keep my house clean, and in terms of my own time management–and sanity–a tidy house really is key. When my house is messy, I can’t think straight. I can’t find anything, I feel anxious and out-of-control, and I just spin, not even knowing what to do next. It is almost as if I am paralyzed by some unknown force of chaos, and I just can’t get anything done.
DIG DEEPER
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But when I take the time to get my home in order, the rest of my life seems to fall into place too. I do some of my best thinking while I am cleaning, and when I am done I can then move on to the next thing.
4. In case of emergency, refer to #1
Don’t be fooled by the hype: No one can do it all. That is where the priorities come into play. On the days where my schedule goes exactly as planned and I get everything checked off my to-do list, I usually feel pretty good about myself. But those days are very rare. Almost nonexistent. Most of the time I am constantly having to readjust, re-prioritize, and lower my expectations. I’ve realized that even one small thing done per day gets me that much closer to my goals.
When something unexpected comes up, however, I am finding that knowing what is most important still makes the rest of the day go smoother. At the end of the day, it won’t matter how many things I checked off my list if I turned my back on the things that matter the most.
Hopefully, these 4 simple strategies for managing your time will help you keep your sanity amidst all the summer chaos.
More wise words from Ruth! I have completely let January go without really achieving anything that I had wanted to – because I just haven’t prioritised my plan. Trying to take the next couple of days to get myself in order in an attempt to start a fresh!
Thanks as ever x
Good luck Rosie! Let me know how it goes!
After waking up at 4:30 this morning with my 3 yr old I was feeling very stressed, tired & knew our day was ruined. After reading this, my whole attitude changed. Yeah, we may be tired but we’ll be ok and it just means an earlier bed time tonight 🙂
Thx Ruth.
Aw I feel you completely on the sleep deprivation! I think Trouble has only slept through the night once or twice since she was born. Little stinker–I often say God made her cute for a reason! 🙂 I’m so glad my post could encourage you this morning. I wish you many blessings today Kate!
well, you’re superwoman to me, it that counts for anything.
LOVE your post and thanks for being such an inspiration.
love you.
:))
edie
As are you to me, my ahhh-mazing friend! xoxo
Wow this was just what I needed to read this morning! My biggest struggle is that sometimes (like today) I just don’t even know where to start. I get overwhelmed and then I do nothing, but when you put it his way it makes it all seem so much more manageable. Thanks for the tips!
You’re welcome Amanda! I’m so glad it was helpful for you. I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed! In fact I’m feeling a little like that right now…..
🙂
My kids are exactly the same way….they can be as busy as can be until the second the phone rings and then they are all over me! It drives me crazy! I am super impressed that they stayed busy for 2 1/2 hours! Loved this post!
Thanks Jennifer! 🙂
I love your 4th point: In case of emergency, refer to #1. It’s really all about priorities, isn’t it! You’re doing a great job!
Yes, I have to remind myself of that one daily! Thank you for your sweet comment. 🙂
Ruth,
My farm kids are all getting quite grown up now, but oh, how I could feel the tension rise up in me when you described “The Very Important Phone Call”.
For decades I was employed outside the home while parenting many offspring, and made so many mistakes in how I prioritized. You are so wise (and blessed), to have come to such vital understanding while your lovelies are still so young.
I am profoundly grateful to finally be fully home and righting some of the wrongs.
I don’t remember a single one of those calls…
You’re doing a mighty work and I am so glad you shared your heart with us again today.
Thank you Laura! 🙂
Ah, the superwoman syndrome. If only we could trample that ideal in its dust! There is so much great advice in your words and I realize, sitting here, that my priorities are a bit out of order! Thanks for inspiring me to be better 🙂
Just read this earlier this eve when I went to search your blog for the “24 Hours In A Day” post to include in MY post. So, yes. Clearly you ARE SuperWoman. LOL
I am so happy to have finally met you in person, friend, and cannot wait to see you in March!
xoxo, Claire
I am new to your blog but finding it incredibly inspiring and comforting- actually a sense of relief is more accurate. I have a 9 month old and have spent the last couple of months trying to figure out how to manage everything while going through a rough time mentally. I have just started to find my way and find your writings are so on point! Thank you for taking the time to write and share. God bless!!
I would LOVE to have 3 hours to myself in the morning!!! However, my kids are up at 6am, and 5 is the earliest I can manage right now. I totally agree with starting the day off in God’s Word – spiritual food should be top priority. No read, no feed has become something we try to share with our kids. 🙂
“It is almost as if I am paralyzed by some unknown force of chaos, and I just can’t get anything done.”
Haha… I could have written that!