Creative Time Management for the Home

"Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it."
-Margaret Thatcher

I remember a few weeks ago we experienced one of "those" days. Everything seemed to go wrong. The children were grumpy. The house was filthy. Laundry filled up the hamper and overflowed to the floor. Supper was cold. It was terrible. At the end of the day, I sat down in a chair, pulling my hair out by the roots, and cried. All I could ask myself was "Why"? What made this day so unbearable?

It only took a few minutes for this frazzled mommy to know the answer. Because I had not planned my day. I had neglected the night before to make plans for the coming day, and as everyone has heard many times before, "If you don't have a target, you will hit it every time." Although this was an extraordinary occasion, it did give me a renewed appreciation for the few moments it takes to make an unchartered day turn into smooth sailing. If you, too, feel as if your days need to be brought under control, may I offer you the following suggestions which have worked for me:

• Consider starting a routine for your family. I don't know what I would do without this! When you follow a routine, your days fall into a rhythm and your children will be much happier knowing what is happening next. Many ladies have graciously put their routines online for viewing. Stop by some of your favorite blogs and browse to see if someone in your situation (e.g. SAHM of two young children) has put her ideas online. It will give you a "jumping off" place to begin. If you cannot find one, take a piece of paper and jot down the main things you do every day. This may take some time, but it will be worth it. Organize them into a natural schedule for the day (I will share mine later this week) and tuck your paper into your pocket. Try to follow your schedule LOOSELY (don't be a slave to it) and see how much more you can accomplish. It works.
• Use a timer. I cannot tell you what a friend my timer is to me. When I have a bit of "working time", I set it for 15 minutes and complete tasks. It works as a mental "coach" to keep me going until it beeps. Although I work fast without it, I go even faster with my timer. It is amazing what one can do in 15 minutes!
• Assign one large task to each day or clean 1-2 rooms each day. Each day in the Wilt home has a large task associated with it. For example, here is my general schedule:

Monday- Laundry Day
Tuesday- Free Day
Wednesday- Desk Day
Thursday- Errand Day
Friday- Garden Day

This works well for me at this point (only 4 people to do laundry for! LOL), but may change as we add more Wilts to our family! ;o) The key to any good work plan is the ability to change it to make it better!

• Set aside 15 minutes a day for a project you've been "meaning to get around to". Set your timer- 15 minutes a day can make that project a reality!
• Use a weekly planning time. Set aside a 30 minute block of time every week to jot down your weekly goals on paper. This is especially helpful if you have seasonal jobs (like washing and putting away outgrown clothes) to do. Also, don't forget to plan fun and special things for your family: special meals, activities, etc. Jot them on your calendar or post them on the fridge so that you don't forget.
• Consider little ones to be a blessing, not a barrier, to cleanliness. When we first added Johnathan to our family, I thought that having little ones was contradictory to cleanliness. Not so! Plan activities around where your children are during the day. When we go outside, I sweep the porch at some point. When my children are playing in their rooms, I involve them in straightening their drawers, putting away toys, etc. If all else fails, have a bag of creative activities used only when Mommy is cleaning in a room. Play-doh works really well at the dining room table when I am cleaning the kitchen. Think about what your children enjoy and use it to your advantage. Also, little ones love to help! Harness their energy and enthusiasm, even if they don't do it "just right"! :o)
• Try Flylady. I really have found Flylady's routine/zone schedule to be "just the thing" for our family. She advocates many of the principles I have mentioned above. One thing I really like about Flylady is that she encourages you to "jump right in" because "you are never behind". :o) I think many times we feel as if we are not as good as someone else because we may have problems in the organization department. Quite often it is just in knowing where to start! Flylady is an excellent place to begin!
• Rise early and go to bed at a decent hour. It is amazing how much work you can get done before your family rises. Take advantage of these golden hours to do tasks which cannot completed under little feet (mopping, polishing floors, etc.) and save tasks with which they can help (dusting, putting away laundry) for later.
• Most importantly, cover each day with prayer. Commit each day to the Lord. Although our planned tasks may not be completed each day, if we commit our days to Him, His tasks will. :o)

To help you get a fresh start, I have included a link to a Weekly Plans template (.pdf) that you can download and print on your computer. It includes places for weekly meals, projects, and to dos. Simply click below to download. Enjoy! :o)

Graphic Courtesy of Allposters

Comments

[Kelly]

Ahh, Mrs. Wilt! Thanks a bunch for posting on this today! :D I have a ten month old daugther, and it's so hard to get our house organized, decluttered and CLEAN in the first place, LOL. Maintaining it seems out of the question but I try to do my best. I've been much more committed to it lately and have been trying to create a plan to have it "guest-ready" by Mary-Grace's Dedication Party on June 17th.

How have your routines around the house changed since your little ones were tiny? We're a co-sleeing family, so Grace usually naps in my sling while I work around the house, but that's not always possible. She's worn during most of my "work" times during the day or plays in the space where I am. I'm still working out the kinks in being a new mom and also in caring for our home, so I'd appreciate any advice or encouragement that you have!

Thanks, Mrs. Wilt! You're a blessin'!

[Elizabeth]

So true. I always feel so miserably out of control when I don't plan my day. I appreciate your tips for being more organized!

[Sarah]

These are great tips and I've printed off your pretty planner. Thanks.

Is that quote from Margaret Thatcher the British Prime Minister? Hmm, lol, I'm not sure I'd be keen to emulate the Iron Lady! :)

Blessings.

[jules]

Ah Mrs. Wilt, it sounds like you are FLYing!

[Cori]

Mrs. Wilt, I'd love to download and use your weekly plan but I've been told that the site is unavailable. Will it be available soon? Thank you for the time you spend sharing your knowledge with us!

In Him,
Cori

[Sharyn]

Thanks for the tips, Mrs. Wilt, they are truly inspirational! May I ask, on the topic of young children and cleaning, if there are times you have them watch a video while you unload the dishwasher/switch laundry, etc.? Mine are 3 and 1 and so they can be some help, but oftentimes it is tough to get the basics done unless they are occupied elsewhere -- but I don't like having them watch too much TV. Sometimes I can have them do puzzles or crafts at the table while I work in the kitchen (and if I'm cooking, the 3-year-old will definitely help), but laundry time is tough!

Thanks again for all your inspiration!

[Kathy]

I'd like to second Sharyn's question. I have a 2 1/2 year old and do medical transcription from home while she is napping and after she goes to bed/before she wakes up. Therefore, my cleaning/homekeeping must be done while she is awake. Her attention span is not very long and I, too, don't like to use TV too much. She will help me for a short while but quickly becomes antsy :) Please share any ideas that have worked for you.

[Buffy]

I really enjoyed this post and am printing it out! Thank you.

[Jenn4him]

Thank you for this thoughtful and inspiring post.

[CharityGrace]

Thank you. I needed this today.

[Kelly]

Mrs. Wilt,

I just came across this online and wondered if you'd ever seen it. Right up your alley! Super cute!

http://www.homesteadoriginals.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=113

:)

[Robin]

What a great post. I have been doing much better on my homekeeping tasks but the last few weeks... well... everything just seems to have fallen apart. I am striving to get it back together again. This post was most encouraging, thanks.

I do have the book mentioned above. It is beautiful. Lots of great ideas and recipes are included in it as well.

~Blessings,
Robin

[Elaine]

Thanks for sharing the tips. It is always encouraging to be reminded how to get back on track.

Elaine

[Mrs. Wilt]

Hi Friends!
I thought I would pop online for a bit and answer some questions. First of all, let me say thank you for the kind words about the time management tips. Please, please, please don't think I can do these ALL the time...but this is what I do aim for. Most of the time, we have organized days and things get done the way I would hope. Some days...well, you know the days I mean, things just don't happen that way no matter HOW much I plan! LOL Anyway...on to answers...
Kelly,
Oh, I have been where you are, and so recently, too! Hang in there- try to enjoy that baby as much as you can. One thing which helped me was sitting Johnathan up in his Boppy in the room where I needed to clean. Then I would talk to him and sing to him while I worked. It was terrific and he really loved the interaction. No wonder he LOVES to "sweep" with the broom now. :o) It's wise to set a date for a clean house, but don't let yourself become obsessed. Just work in 15 minute pops and you'll be surprised how much you get accomplished. Also, the book you mentioned is WONDERFUL- I do have a copy and refer to it almost as much as my Home Comforts book. It's a keeper! :o)

Sharyn and Kathy,
Here is a post that I did a while back on this very thing! http://thesparrowsnest.typepad.com/the_sparrows_nest/2007/01/cleaning_with_c.html
I hope it helps- it has many of the ideas I use with my little guys. I think you both might find it useful. :o)

Cori,
Oh dear! I have a 4.2 G data transfer per hour. Keep trying- eventually it will come up. Geocities shuts down my site when I use too much data transfer. Let me know if it continues to be stubborn and I'll see what I can do! :o)

[Mrs. Wilt]

Robin,
Hang in there...I just recently went through a period like that myself during a rather messy remodeling stage! :o*

It will get better, and as Scarlett O' Hara profoundly stated, "Tomorrow is another day!" ;o)

Sarah,
Hee hee...yes, well, I just couldn't resist the lure of "the perfect quote"! ;o) You got me laughing with that comment!

[yvonne]

Thankyou so much for this article Mrs Wilt! And the quote is the Iron lady for sure! (Mrs Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher now)

[Kathleen]

Thank you so much for that planning sheet, Mrs Wilt. It is exactly what I've been looking for for ages and I can't believe I didn't think to make one like that before. I used yours and simply added a column for outside commitments/events, as well as changing the order of the days to fit how I like to work.
It's fantastic! No more little scraps of paper floating around with the week's breakfasts written on them ;)

Have beautiful day,
Kathleen