Organizing my day

[MelissaD]

I really think I need to manage our time better. Here is a list of the things that are buzzing around in my head right now.

~both school-age kids need some sort of schedule of what subjects we will do each day
~chores (mine and the kids) need to be written out so they are done regularly
~personal devotion times needs to be more consistent
~menu plans need to be done so grocery shopping is easier
~I need to come up with a way to make sure I have the necessary craft supplies in advance


We do okay "flying by the seat of our pants" but I'm finding it a little stressful. Crafts and lessons and chores do get done but I feel like my day lacks a sense of peace. Any wise words? I've looked into MOTH but I know that I would spend a LOT of time making the perfect schedule that I probably wouldn't follow very well. Am I making any sense?

[Frontier Mom]

:tongue_smilie:

I am watching this post for some suggestions because I feel I need this as well. I've been working on these myself and I've started with a few things that are helping.

Since I have a new computer, I have gotten HST Plus loaded and going. That is helping me with scheduling. One project I want to do is put their daily chores in it also so I just print out a schedule of chores and assignments daily. I find things not written down don't usually get done.

I have been thinking of getting Motivated Moms or something similar to give me something to go by. I have been trying to come up with meal planning by category. For instance, chicken on Monday, beef on Tuesday, fix-your-own Wednesdays, etc. I have just started but it seems to be helping me some. I also bought a rice cooker that I load in the morning and don't have to worry about and a new crock pot with a timer. My other one got too done on low if I turned it on in the morning and I would forget later in the day.

Anyway, I am sure you will get some great advice. I have MOTH but never used it very successfully. Rather, I find I am a "block scheduler." For instance, I say before 9 am for chores, school work from 9 to 12, lunch, reading after lunch for one hour, etc. This just works better for me than dedicating everything to an exact time. If I was 30 minutes off, I would just trash the whole schedule for the day. I think I learned some good things from it but my personality just doesn't fit the specific time allotments.

[Melinda in VT]

We do okay "flying by the seat of our pants" but I'm finding it a little stressful. Crafts and lessons and chores do get done but I feel like my day lacks a sense of peace. Any wise words? I've looked into MOTH but I know that I would spend a LOT of time making the perfect schedule that I probably wouldn't follow very well. Am I making any sense?

I definitely have the tendency to plan but not implement the plan, but we tried MOTH last summer and it was wonderful. I am already thinking about our schedule for this summer.

I took me a week off and on to read the book and another week off and on to make up schedules for me and four kids. Well worth the time.

I have recently started using Motivated Moms for chores, and it's going well.

Can't help with menus. DH does the cooking and grocery buying.;)

[Frontier Mom]

Can't help with menus. DH does the cooking and grocery buying.;)

I would go with menu planning like that for sure. However, in his defense, my dh takes us out to eat pretty often.

[WTMindy]

I can tell you what works for us, but it will probably be different for every family. For me, I have certain time slots that I plan for. I don't plan every time of the day, that would drive me crazy, but just for things that I want to make sure get done. My quiet time is before the kids wake up. It means I have to get up a little earlier than I like. History projects are on Monday at 2:00 when my neices come over for history project. (That way I don't put it off because they are coming over for that). Cleaning used to be done on Monday mornings (the kids have a list and I have mine) but we recently moved it to the weekend when we have a bit more time. Daily chores are usually done before Dad gets home in the evening while I make dinner.

I don't think you need a super-complex schedule to do this (although MOTH may be very helpful-I haven't used it). I get totally burnt out on over-scheduled days that allow for no flexibilty. So the key is to play around and find the balance of flexibility and schedule that you are most comfortable with.

[langfam]

I have one suggestion for a grocery list.
List all the foods/household items you usually purchase on a Word document.
I list mine according to the aisles at the grocery store.

For example,
Aisle 1:
Milk
Yogurt
Eggs
Butter
Cottage Cheese

Then always have one copy printed out and place it on your refrigerator door. When you run out of something, hightlight that food/item.

Also, I have a very boring standard menu that's set in stone.

Mondays--Mexican Tacos or Burritos
Tues--Spaghetti or Chicken Alfredo
Weds--Church potluck
Thurs--Soup (16 bean or lentil or split pea)
Fri--Fish
Sat--pizza
Sun--Roast chicken

There's always salad or side veg. Fruit is a prerequisite before dessert (couple cookies)

HTHs

[Frontier Mom]

I have one suggestion for a grocery list.
List all the foods/household items you usually purchase on a Word document.
I list mine according to the aisles at the grocery store.

For example,
Aisle 1:
Milk
Yogurt
Eggs
Butter
Cottage Cheese

Then always have one copy printed out and place it on your refrigerator door. When you run out of something, hightlight that food/item.

Also, I have a very boring standard menu that's set in stone.

Mondays--Mexican Tacos or Burritos
Tues--Spaghetti or Chicken Alfredo
Weds--Church potluck
Thurs--Soup (16 bean or lentil or split pea)
Fri--Fish
Sat--pizza
Sun--Roast chicken

There's always salad or side veg. Fruit is a prerequisite before dessert (couple cookies)

HTHs

I like that idea. Anyway you would email me a copy of your document to get me started?

We just got a new Super Walmart and I can't handle the size of it right now. It takes me forever just to find what I want. I was just thinking I need some sort of "aisle list" so I'm not there all day. I would appreciate a copy that I can work from.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I live by lists!

Food: Every week I make a menu. Our breakfast menu is the same each week (though we don't eat the same thing every day). Our lunch and supper menus change. Once I have enough menus made I will give myself a break and use an old menu for a week or two. I make my shopping list from my menu.

School: I use Microsoft Outlook (calendar program) to schedule our lessons. It lists times but we ignore the times and just do the order. For example:

Read-a-loud (we do this during breakfast- it is usually our 1st grade history reading)
5th gr. history 1st gr. math
break
5th gr. math 1st gr. phonics
lunch/ read-a-loud
Quiet time (5th grader does recorder practice (for music), typing practice, spelling and reads his history readings. 1st grader has a special fun story time with me. Everyone gets free time for the remaining time (about an hour))
5th grammar 1st (varies- history notebook, lang. arts, handwriting,
science)
5th Latin
5th (varies - science, art- with 5th grader, music)

Household Chores:

I made a household notebook. I have 3 columns (me, ds10 and dd6) each of us have our morning chores and afternoon chores listed. Some chores are the same everyday (like feeding the dogs!) but some vary. Even my 6 yo likes to look at the book to see what her special chores of the day are. On Friday we have "special chore" day. We love this day. It is our day for doing those things that never get done (last Friday the kids repotted an orchid that was root-bound. The week before they fixed a broken knife block and a knob that had come off of an appliance.

Personal devotions I don't have planned as such.

Craft/science supplies I put on the grocery list. I only have the car on weekends (and at night) so I do all my errands if possible on Saturday. I need to do better on this. I am usually one week late on my crafts and science experiments because I get out the book and if it needs something unusual I'm out of luck. We THEN put it on the list for that week's shopping.