I don't know about you, but my life is hectic. (And that's after we've all but minimized after school activities and extracurricular events). I'd like to just unplug all the clocks and throw my watch out the window. Oh wait, that's called summer (and it's coming...wheee!!!)
I thought I'd share a quick Mom tip with you. It helps me manage the household duties: designate days. Pick a day for errands, one for laundry, another for cleaning the house. I even have two days for writing in bulk and Sunday afternoons are for grocery shopping.
Sticking to designated days really helps keep me from feeling overwhelmed and wanting to tackle everything (or nothing) all at once!
It works for me!
Thank you for joining me for WFMW! {You can read the guidelines here.} Have a Works-For-Me Wednesday tip you'd like to share? I'd love for you to join us!
31 comments:
I've done this with grocery shopping - Monday between my volunteer hour at school and my standing lunch date with a friend. Can't believe I didn't make the connection for laundry and other chores. Thanks!
I used to always have chores on different days, I need to get back to that. I did start doing laundry on my Mon-Wed-Fri schedule this wk. I hope it helps :-)
Thanks for hosting!
-Liz
Designated days is a wonderful idea! Because, quiet frankly, the bathroom keeps getting bumped further down on the list each week. {I hate cleaning the bathroom with a passion! But am thankful I have one.}
So, with your tip, we'll try this coming week with having a designated day for it. Can I also designate a person for the job {besides me}?
the weeks i use your tip, run so smoothly. why don't i do it more???
thanks for hosting!
That is something that I need to try to work on. I tend to just throw my week together as we go. Maybe if I had set days to do things, and learn to say "no" if it interferes with my schedule. I will have to try this. Thank you for hosting =)
Blessings!
As much as I hate a schedule, the truth is that they really work and make me much more efficient.
I have some tasks that are done on specific days and other tasks that get done as needed. It give me the flexibility that I need.
Have a great week!
Designating days TOTALLY helps me, too. We're a lot alike, actually :)
So simple, I cant believe i have never thought about it! I will be trying this next week.
Please check out the giveaway on my blog too
I agree that designated days help me stay organized. Monday - grocery shopping, Tuesdays - Baking Day, etc.
I also have designated fun days in the summer, so that we don't arrive at the end of August and wonder how come we didn't do more fun activities in the summer. So Mondays are water days, Tuesdays are library days, etc.
Yes, a great idea Kristen... I always do my chores on designated days. LOL, and that includes prepping blog posts. :~D
Maybe you'd like frosted cupcakes for Mother's Day? Learn how to make a floral bouquet over at my place...
Thanks for hosting!
Blessings,
e-Mom @ Susannah's {Kitchen} Aprons
http://susannahspaprons.blogspot.com
I really like your "designate days" tip. I somewhat try to do that... It's just the "cleaning day" always get pushed to the end, and somehow doesn't always happen! :-)
This is something that really works for me -- when I do it! *blush*
I used to keep a list on my stove - then I cleaned the stove and threw the paper away... really need to rewrite it down so I stick to it!
Thank you for the encouragement!
And for hosting!
OK I am going to try this! I will get out my calendar and schedule!
I have tried dedicating days - have even made beautiful checklists for each, which ususally work for me - but find that things just don't get done on their designated day and then, I feel guilty or get worried about "catch up". So, I am trying other ways. But, I know for some, day dedication is key -- Flylady followers seem to thrive on it in particular. I am glad it works for many and am still trying to figure out what works for me. :)
Great tip! We need to get better at this...so far grocery shopping is the only thing we have down pat.
Sometimes I feel like "Stop the merry-go-round! I want to get off!" I need to do more of this especially writing blogs in bulk, as I think it would definitely free up some time. Thank you for sharing and thank you so much for posting this meme each week! :D
Sherry
Having activities devoted to certain days has saved my sanity for over 20 years! Monday is cleaning day, Tuesday is errand day, Wednesday is desk day, Thursday is "MY" day, and Friday is "do whatever didn't get done" day. And that really works for me.
Funny you mention this Kristen. I used to have a friend who wrote on her calendar what day she had to clean the kitchen, or wash sheets etc. I thought it as funny/odd...but now I'm starting to find myself wanting to do the same thing - I think if you designate a day for certain household tasks it may help ourselves stay ontop of them!!
I keep telling myself that I'm going to get back into the FlyLady habits once our floors are done.
For this week, I posted Everyday Oatmeal Bread. It is one of the few bread recipes I've tried lately that works for sandwich bread, as opposed to being more artisinal. It slices beautifully for sandwiches and toast!
I love doing this as well. When I freak out though is when I don't get the chore done on that day! For example, I went to my daughter's track meet yesterday so I didn't get my Tuesday list done. It confuses me!
Thanks for this tip. I have done this in the past but for some reason stopped. It really does help get things done and I know I need to be a better manager of my home! In fact I am sitting here looking at a basket full of clean laundry that needs to be put away! Perhaps I should designate Wednesdays as laundry days ;)
I've done this, too. I do all my grocery shopping (typically) every other Friday. I have other "cleaning" days too, and I do most of my blogging on the weekend when my husband is watching the kids. Then I have a few small daily chores, like dishes, checking Twitter (ha), etc. It does work!
Tomorrow I am having a GAPS/allergy-friendly recipe carnival if anyone wants to come over and participate!
I do that for certain things to! Friday morning is my grocery shopping day, I have to do laundry everyday, but bathrooms get cleaned on Tuesdays, etc. :)
This is a great tip. I used to have a list of a few cleaning things to do everyday, but I think doing them all at once a couple times a weeks might work better. (Or you could just come over here while you have your cleaning stuff out? Trade ya for cookies?)
I do that, too. It makes life so much easier. If only I'd stick to it!
I didn't post about this, but I thought I'd share it in the comments:
I HATE to clean. And it shows in my house. However, my husband likes a clean home, and has asked me to make cleaning a bigger priority. SOOO... I've started doing one cleaning task each morning before getting on the computer.
Right now, I have no "schedule" since SO much has been neglected for so long, I have a ton of choices.
Parts of my house that haven't been cleaned in over a year are seeing the light of day (after the dust/dirt is removed).
Setting the 'goal' of one task a day has helped to keep it from overwhelming me. And giving myself a 'deadline' has helped to get it done!
I need to designate days, especially for writing in bulk. I think I need a time management intervention. Thanks for the tip!
Kristen, does it not bother you that you shop on Sunday?
Or, maybe not even Sunday, but not one day devoted to a day of rest?
I mess up and shop on Sundays, also, but it is not a planned thing.
It bothers me that our world is raising a generation of children that see no day as holy.
Sunday, or Saturday, whichever it is for the person, should be set aside as seperate - different.
I love your blog, especially the refrigerator.
This is a fantastic reminder. It helps to designate play days with your kids, too. I find that I tend to forget to make time for it because I am so busy. So, I make time for it when I designate one day a week as craft day or kitchen day with the kids.
Great idea! Starting next week, I'll literally at the ball fields EVERY single night of the week, so I really need to make my days easier.
Post a Comment