Friday, September 3, 2010

Mommy Needs A Schedule

This is rather embarrassing to admit, but I need some help.

How do you create a schedule and how do you stick to it?

I feel like life just keeps happening all around me and I can't keep up. I get side-tracked or bored, or it seems like everything happens ALL AT ONCE - and when that happens, what do you do first?

HELP!

I am feeling very overwhelmed and I need to change that. Surely someone has some suggestions... don't you?

9 comments:

  1. Quick and dirty --

    1) List the things that you need to do including time requirements if any apply.
    2) Prioritize that list.
    3) Determine if you need anything further from anyone else to complete the task.
    4) Then beat up the highest priority task that falls into the current time frame.
    5) Repeat number 4 until list is empty or you need something from someone else for each of the remaining items.
    6) Go to step 1.

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  2. Hi! Long time no talk! I like to make hourly schedules. I list what is going on every hour for that day and then fill in any empty spots with what else needs to be done. As for keeping to it.....I motivate myself by giving myself something fun to do (or I give myself a yummy treat) after the list is done. If I don't finish, I take the items I didn't do and add it to the next day. Sometimes alternating fun things with everyday work makes housework/errands more do able. Hope that helps :)

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  3. @Isepik
    Making a list scares me! 5 pages long? 10 pages? Even longer?

    But I guess I could give it a try...

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  4. @Sara
    Hourly schedules, huh? I hadn't thought of doing it that way.

    How do you keep Kaleigh busy when you are trying to get something done? Any suggestions for me and Matthew?

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  5. I usually can't do anything when Kaleigh is awake. She is at the age that all my attention must be on her. Just a stage in our lives I guess, looks like we won't get as much done as we would like. I get things done when she naps, when she is eating in the high chair, when she is watching a baby einstein movie or if her siblings are home then she is entertained enough for me to work on something, or when Dale is home then he takes her. I just tried to organize play dates for her to entertain her. I offered to watch their kids for an hour 1 day and then they would watch Kaleigh a different day--one more hour a week to get what I want to do, done. It is hard.

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  6. I say that, and you know about using the backs of business cards and taping them up, and of course the task list in Outlook. But they only work if you read them. And can stay focused. The truth is, I have that problem as well. You and I overdo it, take on more than we can chew, have some ADD going on, and this is the price we pay. What will work one day won't the next. Keep up the variety of ways because no ONE way is going to "work" for you forever, don't beat yourself up. You are a great mommy and wife and make sure those priorities come first.

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  7. My favorite technique when I get feeling overwhelmed is to promise myself that "today" I only have to do THREE things. I put those three most important things on my list only. As soon as they are done, I can do whatever I want to do. Sometimes I feel like doing a few more things that need to be done. Other times I do something I really want to do like read a book or craft.

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  8. I have been using the lists at Motivated Moms. Teh things it says to do for one day are not too hard, and if I can do only that and a few other things, I can go to bed not feeling guilty that I didn't do everything. After a week of doing that, things are pretty much in order.

    I'm just like you, though. So disorganized and distracted. I shouldn't be sitting here now....so much is waiting for me to be done...

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