real right now | time management

I am a fan of lists. 

I am a fan of calendars.

I am a fan of clocks.

I manage every minute of my time, with varying degrees of success, and celebrate order wherever it can be found. When it comes to time management, there are a few lessons I've learned:

1. Late is rude
2. Do it now
3. Purposeful preparation saves time
4. Be flexible and open to change
5. Do not compare
6. Outsource when you can - in my case that includes the cleaning ladies who come once a week, and the chores completed by my kids

If history serves, I'm about to hit a big "change" period with the end of the school year closing in far more quickly than I'd like. Once the good weather finally arrives in a few weeks time, I'll be happy to kick routine to the curb, but I really have to bear down and focus. This is the time to re-evaluate how to more effectively spend my kids-in-school free-time before summer arrives and all routine and structure disappear and chaos takes its annual reign!

I am also in the midst of a number of Life Coach-inspired projects and courses; I am trying to structure my days to find time to dedicate to planning my future and not simply survive my present. Now is the time to be more purposeful with that goal in mind.

I do not believe in "doing it all" and I certainly do not believe in "organize it all".

I do believe in "do what you can" and "everything in it's place" - and if there is no place, there are options: garbage, recycling and donation. This simple shift in mindset has really opened me up and gives me permission to make quick decisions with regards to stuff. With four kids always coming and going, there is always plenty of stuff!

Without that stuff, I'm able to better focus my time and be productive.

No clutter = more time.

Amazing.

I've been inspired by a few posts, notably this one over at Pink Ronnie. Because of it, I decided to put together some "pretty" schedules that I can include in my Project Life - which is decidedly lacking in evidence of my OCD tendencies!

WEEK DAY TASKS

Aside from the usual cooking, laundry and cleaning, this is pretty complete.

KEY: In order to maximize my wait time: in parking lots, in doctor's offices, etc, I have a bag packed with projects, magazines and activities. I do a lot of waiting and I was feeling that time time of Facebook and Pinterest was just too much!

I am always doing something. It is my prefered state of being. Then, inevitably, the phone rings or someone is at the door and it takes me a while to get back in to my much preferred state of creative flow. Having a plan gives me a quick way to get back on track.

WEEKLY TASKS

Each week, in addition to the schedule above, I write out a detailed "to do" list. I no longer just write an endless list, my new system has my chores and errands divided into a few categories:

Errands to Run
Calls to Make
Around the House
Blog, iPhoto, Projects
For the Kids
In the Planning Stages

No category every has more than five items in it. I don't want to be overwhelmed or defeated before I start. By doing this, my time is used more effectively as a number of chores can be completed at one time or at least in one area of town. It really has been effective and tons gets done.

I live in a town where most mums I've met judge their worth by the depth of their lists: the minutia and details. I've learned to judge my worth by the completeness and effectiveness of my list.

Epiphany: Done is better than busy.

MONTHLY TASKS

I have used a Fly Lady-inspired Control Journal for at least a decade now and it has proven to be an invaluable tool for keeping us on track and organized. As my electronic calendar, I use the iCal program that came with my Mac. It communicates with my iPhone and with iCloud I'm able to have it communicate with all of the kids so we're all on track and know where we have to be all the time.

QUARTERLY & SEASONAL TASKS

My seasonal activity chart is a chart of all the kid activities that I made up ages ago. It is a simple table I made up in Word that I update regularly as activities are added and deleted through the weeks. I keep it on the fridge as a physical reminder of what we have to do that day.

ANNUAL TASKS

I have to say, my annual task list is very low-key and I'm happy to not be as crazy busy as many of my peers. It's by choice. I'm sure I could have a ton of other events but my days are so full, I like to pace myself when I can.

With all this I should be the most organized mum around. And you know, I think I am!