I'm trying hard to get on some type of schedule and get everything done I need to in that schedule. How do you fit in time for the puter along with housework, kids, gardening, canning, sewing/crocheting(if you do this), taking care of the critters?? I'm very curious and hoping to find some good pointers here. TIA!
I'm assuming you're a homemaker? If you're going to have a schedule, you need to treat homemaking like it is an out-of-the-home job. Things should happen at specific times. 1. You need to get up at a certain time (set your alarm clock) and get the kids up at a certain time. Develop daily routines for the kids, even though it is summer vacation (the routine might involve basic hygeine, making the bed, putting their clothes in the hamper and getting breakfast). 2. Open (and close) the kitchen at certain times when other events are not disrupting your day. Devote a day of the week to each chore. For example, on Mondays you might go grocery shopping and do the food prep for the week (if you're into the time-saving meal prep trend). On Tuesdays you might do laundry. Don't drop everything and run when the kids are hungry. Pre-determine snacks (such as a bowl of fruit) that the kids are allowed to grab from so that you aren't spending your entire day making sandwiches, etc. 3. Determine times when the animals will be fed and cared for. Most farm families do chores in the mornings and evenings. You might set up a similar schedule. 4. Schedule in time each day for personal activities that refresh you, perhaps at the same time as the kids' naptime. Plan time for exercise, spiritual time/devotions, personal hobbies or quiet time. 5. Schedule in time for personal relationships. Perhaps you want a quiet night every two weeks to go on a date with your husband. You can plan ahead to find a sitter for the children. 6. Write down your schedule and try to stick to it as best you can. Post it in a visible place, such as on the fridge. Edit it as necessary as you find out what works for you. It takes 27 consecutive days to make anything a new habit.
ours is fairy loose... I get up about 6, fix breakfast for dh, and eat with him. between 7-8 while the children are getting up and doing their showers, rooms, and such, I feed the birds and fix the children's breakfast the children eat at 8 while I do whatever that needs to be done, or check e-mail 8:30 they start school (we homeschool year-round)-- I sit in the schoolroom, answer questions and crochet (I can't leave the room, or they will talk and not do their schoolwork). 10 we have tea-time 10:30, back to school and crochet 12 lunch, then the children (all the way up to the 13yo) have quiet time during quiet time is generally when I go on-line 2 we have a little more school, then free time until about 4 when they come in and do their chores and I start dinner 6:30 dinner, then those children who shower at night do so. I chase the turkeys into thier pen Children's bed-time is at 9pm Sometimes I use the computer at night, other times I go to bed.
Quote:Yes, I've been a Domestic Engineer (LOL) for 6 years. However, during all of it up to the past 8 months, I ran internet based businesses, too. Now, besides our family blog and little store, I'm totally household centered. I can't tell you how many schedules I've written up and have gone astray. I figured if I could look at other people's schedules, that maybe I can get ideas to create we can stick to.
You asked!! 4:45 out of bed 5:15 leave house for gym/exercise 7:00 leave gym for work 6:00pm leave work 7:00pm arrive home eat between 7:00-8:00pm and go over days with wife and 12 year old son. 8:00pm start whatever chores need to be done around yard/house 10:00pm haven't finished all I want to but it's getting late 11:00pm bed time I pretty much keep to the same time schedule during the weekend, however I have been known to sleep in till 6:00am.
Since you asked... 5:00 out of bed, walk dog, check chickens, shower & hop on the train by 6am 7:30-4:30, work 4:30, hop on the train home 6:30, home. Walk/train dog, check chickens, throw some dinner in the microwave or rice cooker, eat and mess around teh intarwebs. Go swimming if it's hot enough. 8:15 or so, take dog out again. Watch a bit of TV if House is on. Pick out clothes for tomorrow. 9:30, go to bed. The key is mostly multitasking--set up your schedule so that you can do multiple things at once. At work, I set up one machine to run an experiment for me while I do something else that has to be done by hand. At home, I set up laundry to run while I'm baking bread, and while the bread rises I mess around the internet and go swimming.
2 am wake up, drink coffee, shower dress, check email, online store and BYC. 3:30 leave for work. 4 and to 12:30 work. Home by 1 pm check animals (and play with them) check online stuff, Sew for 3 to 4 hours Check online store and fill orders for shipping. Coordinate duck intakes and adoptions and other stuff. Check animals make dinner put animals away for the night, water garden, fill feeders and waterers relax a bit and bed by 8 if I am lucky.
I can relate to wanting a regular shedule. My schedule is different every day but about the same week to week. I have two jobs that keep my schedule a little crazy. I spend a lot of time around the house and yard. Most of my yard work and house work gets done on my days off. I try to make as much time as possible to spend with my husband. We don't have any children yet but are hoping it will happen soon. Of course, there are a good number of animals to take care of (2 dogs, 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 8 chickens). I am also taking online classes that constitute a full-time class load. My week looks pretty much like this most of the time: Monday-I work 10AM-6PM Tuesday-Day Off Wednesday-Day off Thursday-I work 9-noon but save the afternoon for tackling whatever household project I have going. I also spend most Thursday nights at my husband's grandmother's house (she needs a caregiver). Fridays-I get up at 5:45 and go home. I go to work for about 5 or 6 hours depending on what else is going on that day. Saturday-I work 8AM-6PM. Sunday-I work 4-6 hours. My daily schedule is not regular at all. That is the thing I dislike most about my schedule. With the online classes I often times wind up staying up too late. Also, each class has a different schedule as far as what days of the week assignments are due. Because I start a new class every five weeks this keeps my schedule in a state of constant change. On the other hand, I have found that the busier my life is the better organized and structured my schedule is.
well during school... up at 5am get ready for school 6:30am-4:00pm-school/homework 4:00-6:00: "chicken/animal time" 6:00-8:00: dinner/shower/prepare for school next day/chill with family 8:00-10:00: CSI then bed during summer between 7 and 9 am awake and take care of chickens 'till about 10 or 12. then the whole day is mine :] I BET THAT HELPED YOU SO MUCH!! Oh its great being 15 :]