Where did the time go?
First off, the thought of me writing a post about time management is funny.
Really funny.
Because time is really not my thing.
I can be (and am) very productive sometimes...
but it's usually on my own timetable.
Now that the new semester has begun at the college
and our homeschool group's classes have started,
we've to adjust our routine a bit.
I like to do fun things, enjoyable things, pleasant things first-
then save the other stuff until the last minute.
I know I'm not the only one...surely not.
So I thought I would share what works for us.
It might not work for you...
just like planners, timers, and alarm reminders don't work for me,
but I'll share anyway;)
First, we need time at home- large blocks of time at home. I want my girls to have the freedom to get lost in a book, have time to spend the afternoon drawing or crafting, or just play outside for hours...that just can't happen for us if we are not at home or if we have our eyes on the clock because we know we have to be somewhere later. The very reason interest led learning works for us is because we are at home and not bound by a tight agenda. The girls have plenty of time to follow their interests.
That's why we stack our days by scheduling all of our out-of-home commitments for Tuesday/Thursday. Those are the days I teach at the college and the girls take enrichment classes. We also play with friends and run errands on those days. That doesn't mean that we don't leave the house at all on the other days but that our days are free and open to do something spontaneous with friends or just stay home and have uninterrupted time to pursue our passions. So, yeah...I guard our family time like a crazy person but I think it's okay. My girls are growing up, and I want to have this time with them.
Next, I have a master calendar in the kitchen...just a plain, simple paper calendar. The whole family writes important dates on the calendar, and it's the only place I keep track of our commitments. Seriously...if I should ever lose it, I wouldn't know where we were supposed to be or when. Now I have tried keeping our family calendar on my phone too, but I much prefer paper.
But the best thing by far that I've learned is to segment my day. One of the other professors at the college shared that he takes each day and divides it into three parts. At breakfast, he decides what is most important to accomplish before lunch. Then he does it. At lunch, he decides what is most pressing or needs to be accomplished by supper. Then he does it. At supper, he looks at what he needs to accomplish before bedtime. Then he does it. So, at least three important things get done a day...twenty-one important things in a week (and there's still plenty of time left over for fun;)
Now that's easy,
and it yields incredible results
without a rigid plan or agenda for the day.
I can handle that,
especially if it means that
I have plenty of time for fun and family:)
Really funny.
Because time is really not my thing.
I can be (and am) very productive sometimes...
but it's usually on my own timetable.
Now that the new semester has begun at the college
and our homeschool group's classes have started,
we've to adjust our routine a bit.
I like to do fun things, enjoyable things, pleasant things first-
then save the other stuff until the last minute.
I know I'm not the only one...surely not.
So I thought I would share what works for us.
It might not work for you...
just like planners, timers, and alarm reminders don't work for me,
but I'll share anyway;)
First, we need time at home- large blocks of time at home. I want my girls to have the freedom to get lost in a book, have time to spend the afternoon drawing or crafting, or just play outside for hours...that just can't happen for us if we are not at home or if we have our eyes on the clock because we know we have to be somewhere later. The very reason interest led learning works for us is because we are at home and not bound by a tight agenda. The girls have plenty of time to follow their interests.
That's why we stack our days by scheduling all of our out-of-home commitments for Tuesday/Thursday. Those are the days I teach at the college and the girls take enrichment classes. We also play with friends and run errands on those days. That doesn't mean that we don't leave the house at all on the other days but that our days are free and open to do something spontaneous with friends or just stay home and have uninterrupted time to pursue our passions. So, yeah...I guard our family time like a crazy person but I think it's okay. My girls are growing up, and I want to have this time with them.
Next, I have a master calendar in the kitchen...just a plain, simple paper calendar. The whole family writes important dates on the calendar, and it's the only place I keep track of our commitments. Seriously...if I should ever lose it, I wouldn't know where we were supposed to be or when. Now I have tried keeping our family calendar on my phone too, but I much prefer paper.
But the best thing by far that I've learned is to segment my day. One of the other professors at the college shared that he takes each day and divides it into three parts. At breakfast, he decides what is most important to accomplish before lunch. Then he does it. At lunch, he decides what is most pressing or needs to be accomplished by supper. Then he does it. At supper, he looks at what he needs to accomplish before bedtime. Then he does it. So, at least three important things get done a day...twenty-one important things in a week (and there's still plenty of time left over for fun;)
Now that's easy,
and it yields incredible results
without a rigid plan or agenda for the day.
I can handle that,
especially if it means that
I have plenty of time for fun and family:)
RSS Feed
