In lieu of living a more simplified, productive life I constantly search for good time management techniques. I have so much that I want to get done (and then there are those things I have to do, like work) that sometimes it’s hard to remember everything and fit it in my schedule.
I am always up for reading a good book on time management and applying new tips I have learned into my life. I have a learned a lot from doing this. This past weekend I reread parts of my two favorite time management books The Habit Factor
The Life Simplifying, Goal Achieving Scheduling System
With tidbits of information floating around in my head from all the time management books and blogs I read, I have come up with my own system: the life simplifying, goal achieving scheduling system. (Has a nice ring to it, huh?)
And here is how it goes.
Step One: List Your Goals for the Month (Make them balanced goals.)
For a few months I was only listing my financial or career/business type of goals. And it’s not healthy to only have those types of goals. My life is not centered on money. I want my life to be centered on people and most of all I want to be a good parent. A balanced life will bring increased productivity in each area of your life.
List your goals. Make family goals, personal goals, financial goals, spiritual goals, and career goals. Try to create goals that are meaningful to you in at least three different areas.
Step Two: Plan Your Day Ahead of Time According to Your Goals
Set your goals out in front of you and come up with a loose schedule for tomorrow. Remember your entire schedule won’t be devoted to your goals because there are those things you have to do like working and household duties.
You can take a look at my goals for July here. This is what a normal workday schedule would look like for me.
- 7:00 am Wake Up, get ready for work, get the girls ready for the babysitter, and feed the girls breakfast.
- 8:30 am Take the girls to babysitter, go to work
- 9:00 am – 5 pm Work
- 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pick up the girls. Read to the girls until six.
- 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Make supper, do a load of laundry, girls play by themselves for a little while, eat supper at the kitchen table.
- 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Have the girls help straighten up the house. Then color, read, or play with them until 8.
- 8:00 pm Bath & Bed for the girls.
- 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm Balance my checkbook if needed. Make lunch to take to work tomorrow.
- 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm Work online. Finish any posts I’m working on or writing assignments from clients. Check out job boards, apply to writing jobs. Do any other online work that is needed.
- 11:00 pm Go to bed.
That would be my schedule for almost every work day that I have the girls. On weekdays and weekends that I don’t have the girls I would devote more time on the things I like to do like reading and writing. And then on weekends with the girls I would spend more time visiting with family, playing outside, and helping the girls learn new things.
The schedule is simple and it only takes me about five minutes to make it each night. By repeating the schedule for a month I am also developing habits that will stick.
I have incorporated almost all of my goals into the schedule and it’s a really easy schedule to stick with. And by writing down my schedule I am much more likely to follow through. It doesn’t matter if I don’t have the times exactly right as long as I do what’s on the list.
What about you? Have you ever made yourself a schedule? I love learning about time management. What are your favorite time management techniques or books?
In college my life was scheduled down to the 15 minute increment, and I was SUPER productive. Now I have the same type of rigid schedule that you do because I take the train to work so I can’t be late to it. That imposes a lot of structure on my commute, but my evenings are most often a game time decision as to whether or not I want to sit in front of the computer some more.
I sit in front of a computer all day at work so I know what you mean. The only difference is when I am working from home I am doing something I like. I don’t have that at work so, it motivates me to put a couple of hours in each day.
Right now as I’m job hunting goals are super important to keep my mind active and keep me motivated. I always try to plan my next day ahead of time, it definitely helps!
I sometimes am schedule oriented and sometimes not. I have noticed, like CashRebel said, if I make my increments of time smaller, I tend to be more productive. When it comes to things like housework, I feel less overwhelmed if I have a schedule.
I was reading a book the other day that said to be the most productive you should work at something for 90 minutes and then take a 15 minute break and do something unrelated. I haven’t tried it out yet but I want to.
I remember a point in my life when I was working full time AND going to school full time and I literally had to schedule out my day in order to get everything done. *Thinks back and smiles* Those were some crazy days in my life, but also very productive days. I have been wandering around aimlessly as it relates to my goals – probably because I haven’t put pen to paper. Great post. I think I’ll work on my goals and a schedule this weekend!
oops, my blog didn’t show… http://www.debtfreedreaming.wordpress.com 🙂
It sounds corny but I do thing goals are a lot more powerful when actually written down. I prefer good ole pen and paper!
Between my husband’s 50+ hour schedule that is completely unpredictable and my full time commitments to work and school, I’ve fallen in love with Cozi. It’s a free program that we both have on our phones, and we can use it to add to our schedules or todo lists. I can even set it up to send N text reminders to do something.
And just because I love paper, I also have a huge calendar in my office where I keep track of future blog posts!
Oh, I lost my train of thought. I also wanted to say that I think it’s fantastic you spend so much time reading to your girls and give them so much attention. I see too many parents not valuing the relationship they could have with their children. It’s so nice to read about someone who knows how important that is.
I’m definitely trying to get more organized with my schedule and prioritizing tasks. It’s not one of my strengths. I think that identifying clear goals ahead of time is definitely a helpful step. It gives you something defined to work towards instead of constantly trying to figure out what you should be doing next.
I agree. I feel like this time around I have made balanced goals and that helps me to make a schedule that I feel good about following.
Congrats! I know it is really hard to get a schedule where everything gets done. It seems like it is going to be simple until you do it. ~ christie
Yes it is! I stopped being OCD about keeping the house spotless and all the laundry done etc. There’s only so much I can do in one day.
Great post, Alexa. I find that I’m a little too ADHD (or, maybe it’s just plain rebellious) to make such a refined schedule, but I am working on become more organized. This is a definite need here, especially now that we’ve moved to a hobby farm. The workload has definitely increased!
I think working on a hobby farm would be a rewarding experience but I definitely understand how your workload increased. Good luck on getting more organized!
Right now I have a general daily to do list. Since I am awaiting Emmett’s arrival I don’t want my days to be too structured and then become stressed when I can’t do everything because he decided that was the day he wanted to come. It also allows me to take really long naps without feeling guilty about it. At what other point in my life am I going to be able to take naps without the guilt?
After I return to work and school, I will probably once again have planned out schedule. It has definitely proven to be a productive way of doing things in the past.
Yeah with a little one on the way you definitely need your schedule to be flexible. It will probably take you a couple of months to get in a steady groove. I am excited for you!