I feel like I need to start this post with a little information about me as a person because I think it also explains how I get things done. Ever since I can remember I've been a busy person. Even before I can remember, because my mom often tells me I was an extremely busy baby. I also come from an equally busy mom. I have never seen my mom sit and watch TV without knitting, quilting or reading. Being a single mom,she was also just busy in general; work, her school, our school, our activities, cooking, generally keeping us alive. I guess I just always thought that everyone was always this busy. Now in present day, I also can't watch TV without blogging, crafting, or planning. In fact, right now I'm writing this post while watching TV.
I heard a quote on a podcast I was listening to recently that really stuck with me, and it was "You have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyoncé". Really you could substitute Beyoncé with anyone that you see as super successful, but the meaning stays the same. It's not a matter of how much time you have but how utilize it. These are a few tools and tricks that I use to get as much done in one day as I possibly can.
Get rid of your smart phone!!!
I know, this is a hard one for everyone. But if you do nothing else on this list, use this tip! It's shocking how much time we spend in a day "quickly" checking Facebook or Instagram. Hear a "bing" from your phone? Yeah, that's the sound of 10 minutes going down the drain. Not a big deal. Until that "bing" happens 10 times a day and you've lost an HOUR AND A HALF!!! Think of all the things you could get done in an hour and a half. Can't resist the urge of the "bing"? Turn off your ringer, stop all notifications, turn off the phone, stash it in a box (just don't forget where). Give yourself intervals to check your phone. For example, I won't let myself check my phone until the entire kitchen is clean. Nothing earth shattering is going to happen in the next hour that I need to have my phone stuck in my hand. So save yourself some time, and put down the phone.
Make a list
I am a HUGE fan of lists! I constantly have lists on the go, and I have a spot reserved on my calendar every week just to post a list of things that need to get done during the week. These things are different from the every day tasks and usually involve getting things ready for birthdays, cutting the dogs' nails and hair, all that kind of fun stuff. I also have a few dry erase boards stuck to the fridge that I use to jot down notes while I'm cooking. I'm blaming this on baby brain, but if I don't write something down as soon as I think of it, I likely won't remember it by the time I sit down to plan at the end of the day.
Each morning after breakfast, while the kids are busy playing by themselves, I take a few minutes to jot down a list of things I want to get done that day on one of my many sticky note pads. I get an extreme amount of joy from crossing things off a list. I actually might have a bit of an addiction...
Use a calendar
I LOVE my calendar! I'm a planner, so I like to know what is going on when, weeks in advance. I mark down all the different programs the library is putting on, when we are going to playgroup or the park, when all our bills are due, and anything else you can think of. I love using stickers to distinguish the different events since it can become pretty cluttered after awhile. I get most of my stickers from Sweet Kawai Design on Etsy. Plus the stickers make it fun, and if something isn't enjoyable you aren't going to keep it up.
Plan your free time BEFORE you have it
This is by far my best tip! You likely know when you will have a few minutes or even an hour of free time each day. For me, I know that I usually get an hour in the afternoon while the kids nap, and at least an hour at night after they go to bed. These are my prime time to get things done that I just can't do with the kids around. I like to set aside certain nap times and evenings to work on specific things. For example, on Monday I might work on my blog while the kids nap and that night I will sit and do nothing (and by that I mean chase Roman back into his room 50 times). The next day I might clean the kitchen during nap time and meal plan at night. I like having these times decided ahead of time so that when I finally get the time I can jump right into whatever I'm working on, rather than sitting trying to figure out what to do and wasting precious kid-free time.
Think MONTHS ahead
Obviously you don't need to plan out each and every day months in advance, but there are some things that are much easier when you think about them early. I always have a ton of thing that I want to do with the kids during the fall and holiday seasons; crafts, recipes, outings. I think I have a ton of time to figure it all out until, WHAM, an entire month flies by and it's a week before Halloween and we haven't made those cute Halloween rice treats or the cute ghost craft I wanted to make. To avoid this all together, start thinking about these events 3 months before. It might seen like a long time, but we all know how quickly time can slip through our hands. If there is a craft you want to make, make a list of everything you need and get those items together in a bin or box. Write the craft down on your calendar of your weekly/monthly checklist. That way, when you see it on the calendar, all you have to do is grab that bin and you have everything you need for that craft. This will save you a ton of time running around the house, or out to the store, trying to track down all your materials. Meanwhile, the kids are annoyed and over it before you even pull out the glue. Not that I have an experience with that...
Like I said before, I love planning and being organized so this comes fairly easy to me. If you aren't the planning type it might take a bit of time to get into the routine. Don't try to overly plan your life right from the get go if you aren't used to it. Try implementing one step at a time and slowly adjusting. There isn't one correct way to organize your day so tweak these tips to make them work for you!
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