Managing my time well is one of those things that takes some work up front but makes life loads easier in the long run. I know a lot of people, including myself, can fall into the trap of wanting instant satisfaction. A lot of the time that looks like procrastination and giving in to whatever sounds good in the moment. It's a romantic idea to imagine being "free" from a schedule.
In reality, I've found that having a schedule of sorts is actually more freeing. It frees you from the trap of indecisiveness and a messy, disorganized home. When you plan your days, it dismisses your brain from having to make decisions in the moment and assures you'll stay on top of your responsibilities as long as you actually do what you've planned.
So my simple answer to managing time well? Effective planning! There are SO many different types of planners and printables out there for busy moms. One search on Pinterest will yield an overwhelming amount of options. There's also Target, Amazon, Etsy, and more. There are pretty designs and layouts for all types of binders, notebooks and printables. Just make sure that the kind you choose suits your needs well. I suggest trying out a few and pick the best one and stick with it.
Being a wife and mom of four boys with a home to manage, business to run and hobbies and interests to pursue (including this blog), I need a planner that can accommodate all those roles in a simple way. I like a clean design, not too minimal and not too visually cluttered. In other words, I want my planner to do some of the thinking for me in the simplest way possible. I was so happy to find the printables that I currently use (pictured in this post)! I've tried a lot of different kinds and these have suited me the best. (Sadly, these specific ones are no longer available but if you'd like to try them let me know via email and I'll send you a copy. Or you could always make your own version in Photoshop or Pages.)
Because I absolutely love seeing how other people use their planners, I thought I would show you my system and what works for me. Being a creative and busy mama can leave me scattered if I don't plan, but if my planning routine is too complex I'll end up overwhelmed and stop using it. So I've developed a process that's simple but includes everything I need. I use three sheets for planning- a daily plan, a cleaning plan, and a meal plan (done once a week).
I meal plan once a week, so I have a new sheet each week. I use this meal plan from Just A Girl and Her Blog. (It is password protected so if you want to download it you need to join her email list, which I would definitely recommend doing!) I write down every breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with snack ideas. Sometimes I stray, if I feel like making something different I do, but I always have ingredients for what's planned so I'm never stuck with the "what to do for dinner" question.
My daily plan gets filled out the night before, that way I have it ready to go when I wake up. First I check my calendar on my phone- my husband and I share it so we always know what the other has going on. I just peek at the week and if there's anything scheduled (appointments, etc.) for the following day I write it down in my time block area (labeled "schedule"). Then I peak at my cleaning plan sheet for the next day and write those down in my chores area, as well as meals from my meal plan sheet. The areas left are to-do's, notes and inspiration. These specific sections work well for the way I think- some days I use them, some days I leave them blank.
When all that is done I go back to my time block area and fill it out. This part is so important. It's where rubber meets the road and you actually write down when you're going to do everything. I consider my life priorities (God, husband, children, home, etc.) and time block accordingly. This is also a crucial step because it ensures that the most important people and tasks get taken care of. I don't like planning things in a super detailed way, so time blocking works really well when I go by the hour. Most days follow a similar rhythm, blocked in one or two hour segments, and it looks something like this:
-Breakfast time and cleanup.
-Focus time with boys (early morning)
-Chores (late morning)
-Lunch and cleanup
-Quiet time/ naps
I always block at least two hours in the afternoon for quiet time, usually right after lunch. This gives me time to rest and recharge or tackle extra chores or creative projects. This block of time is my favorite because I really just do whatever I want to do- I don't plan out my quiet time. It's like an adult free-play. It's honestly sanity saving for me and I highly recommend all moms do it!
-Snack after quiet time
-Pick up my oldest from school
-Focus time with boys
-Dinner prep
-Dinner
-Homework
-Baths & bed
-Relaxing time with Dave
and my creative time
and my creative time
That is the norm for us, but of course there are days we stray and that's fine! Once the foundation of planning and rhythms are strong, straying here and there doesn't take us off track. There are days for bible study, mom groups, get togethers, extra curriculars for the boys, lots of outside play, library trips, running errands, etc. Each season looks a little different. For example, in the summer we go outside more and for longer periods of time than in the winter. Effective planning allows for the ebb and flow of different seasons. You will be a good steward of your time as long as you put to practice these elements of planning:
1. Plan around priorities
2. Use time blocking
3. Use the right planning tool
Doing these three things helps me have much more time to do the things I need and want to do in life. The biggest thing it helps with is staying on top of the house which is huge for us homemakers with creative hearts! I don't know about you but when my home is messy and chaotic it completely drains my energy. Ain't nobody got time for that! Planning this way helps me take care of my family and home while also being able to do the things I want in life, like photography, blogging, reading, writing and much more.
Do you have any specific tips for time management or planning? If so leave a comment and let me know!
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." -Annie Dillard
-Lindsay
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