Organise '08 - Time Management

Organise ‘08 - Time Management

Posted on July 7, 2008
Filed Under 2008 the year of organisation |

With such a boring title I won’t blame the half of you who have already clicked away looking for a blog a little bit more exciting than mine today, but if you have stuck around, please… I need your help! I need help with time management.

There are a lot of things I want to do, today, this week, this month, this year, in my life…. a lot of things. Most days I am lucky to even get done half the things I’d like to do, let alone all things I don’t really like to do but need to do anyway. I make lists, and I have good intentions, but somehow time sort of goes all wonky on me and slips away before I actually achieve anything. Either that, or I just can’t seem to manage to fit all the things I need do in around each other in a way that is actually manageable.

I am feeling so scattered at the moment, feeling like I need to schedule my life in order to achieve anything, but then our lives don’t seem to run to a very convenient schedule so that frustrates me all over again. I know that is a very normal symptom of life with small children, with all the comings and goings that they need, plus the added bonus of a partner working a rotating day and night shift roster, so a regimented schedule is never going to work for us, that’s ok… but something has to work… doesn’t it?

How do you run your days? Do you set aside blocks of time to do things or do you just go with the flow and still manage to get stuff done? If you are a WAHM (work at home mum) do you set aside specific time to ‘work’ and only work at those times? Do you set yourself a goal of x number of hours work a day or week and just fit it in wherever? Or do you just squeeze in as much time as you can whenever you can?

I’m trying to wrap my head around a lot of things at the moment, to set some goals and make some decisions about what I want to spend my time on. So getting a handle on the actual time is seeming rather important right now but also very allusive…. but hopefully you, my wise and wonderful (suck suck) readers will be able to help. My sanity is in your hands…

share the love... These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Comments

7 Responses to “Organise ‘08 - Time Management”

Alison (3xkewl) on July 7th, 2008 1:42 pm

LOL.. Oh Kate - I can laugh because I’ve been there (and I am also laughing because the idea of someone’s sanity being in my hands makes me a little nutty!)
It sounds like you already know that too much of a schedule does not work for your family. That is a really good start, I think! We are the same.. Over organising makes as feel suffocated and we all rebel - me just as much as the kids. Left without a routine though, and we are our own worst enemies.
What works for us is a little of both. At home we have regular times for meals, sleeps/rests and home learning activities but leave the rest of the time free. I work out of the house 1.5 days a week and the routine on those days is far more regimented because it helps us all cope with a big day.
There are also regular weekly activities that we go to and we kind of just work them into our day as they come around.
I think having a balance between scheduled, routine activities and time to go with the flow is a great way to live - it’s just a matter of getting the balance right.
Can you set up regular time to focus on just one or two of your goals? Will your goals work themselves into a lose fitting routine? Do you have to achieve everything all at once? (’Cause I know I usually feel like I do!)
I hope something in all of that makes sense and helps, even just a little bit :)
Michelle on July 7th, 2008 2:10 pm

I wish I was a bit more organized at home and getting the child out in the morning.Instead of relying on the t.v.and on the computer…oh well .one of these days.I hope.
Babyamore (Trish) on July 7th, 2008 2:17 pm

I am no expert and I’ve been feeling a failure in time management too but slowly I am turning a few things around.I’m interested in the responses too.

I started subscribing to a website calling Getting things done. One of the key principles is the 2 min rule … make a list of jobs you can do in 2 mins , time yourself and see.

I break things down into 2 min jobs - put a load of washing on , empty the dishwasher, tidy the kitchen etc… knowing I can do a few dozen 2 min jobs while the boys are playing I do longer jobs when they sleeping.

Just a few minutes ago I read this

Debt Dieter points out:

“As with a weight loss diet, you can’t throw in the towel if you don’t hit all of your targets, doing something right consistently will get you where you want to be, even if it takes longer than you originally thought.”

It resonates with me in terms of getting things done.
I don’t have a regular work /home schedule but we do have routine things like playgroup.I work at home for my husband’s business whenever I fit it in … usually after hours or when it is then crunch time and stressful for both of us.

Blogging is my worse vice I can whittle away hours reading/commenting and writing posts …knowing this is my answer doesn’t help because I ‘d rather blog than work or clean.
MP on July 7th, 2008 6:09 pm

I use Remember The Milk http://www.rememberthemilk.com It’s a free list maker and you can synch it with your phone (if you have a blackberry whatever, I don’t!) I prioritise everything, add things to it via email and can add dates. Then i can see what needs doing at one glance and print it out.

Theres a lot more neat features, Im just not tech savvy enough to figure them out yet!
PlanningQueen on July 7th, 2008 9:38 pm

Last month I created a work plan for myself (going to blog about it later this week)with regards to my blogging time and gym sessions.

I have become very disciplined about not the computer on all the time. I only turn it on when I have a scheduled work session and I have found this saves me loads of time. These sessions are when the kids are asleep.

As you can guess from my blog, I have a pretty scheduled week. This works for us because of the age span of the kids and related activities. But I also make sure there is plenty of down time for the kids where they need to occupy themselves (and I can get some housework done!)
Bettina on July 7th, 2008 9:56 pm

this is where the flylady thing has been a lifesaver for me. Not the nutty stashing dirty dishes under the sink stuff, but the developing routines stuff. It’s helped me work out what I need to do to keep things moving each day so that I’m not feeling like things are on top of me all the time.
fazzbech on July 8th, 2008 10:17 am

I have no magical answers, and I have no schedule I’m afraid. But I like having no schedule…during the day the kids and I do stuff, and I just jump on and off when I can to check emails mostly. It’s night time that I do most of my stuff, as you know. I’m happy with it mostly - sure, I’d love to have more time to do things, but that time will come. The kids are young now, and one day they will be in school, so I’m enjoying them while I’ve got them.

Ok, I do have perhaps one small wee suggestion…at the risk of you donking me on the head! Twitter…Facebook…necessary? Hmmm, not so much! LOL Notorious time-wasters!