Scheduling. The only way to maintain my sanity.

Scheduling has become more and more of a necessity in my crazy life. Juggling a home based business, family and keeping myself sane with some "me" activities can be reather daunting. Does this sound familiar to you?? I'm sure it does. Even if you don't have a business you run from your home, or you don't have children, we all have a lot on our plates this day in age. So this post today is my way of sharing how I "attempt" to keep my life balanced by scheduling. If I can help you learn one more way to balance your own life, I will be happy.

So making a schedule has been SUPER hard for me. I am the kind that has really always prided myself on being a "fly by the seat of my pants" decision maker. My husband and I would wake up (pre-kids of course) and if we both happened to have the day off, we'd run off on an adventure. Want to make dinner plans with us... tonight? Sure! I have never liked the restraints of a schedule, but the more stuff I try to shove in to our lives, the more I realize a schedule is a necessity and a sanity keeper.

Here is how I have made it work for me. First, I use a "chunking" calendar for my month. This is where I plan out the general times that I have to do things. For instance, Mondays I wake up, get ready, run Titus to preschool, do errands while he's in preschool, lunch, naps, family time, dinner, bedtime.

Then each week on Sundays, I plan in the specifics. First, I make a to-do list for the week. What I need to get done for my business, what I need to get done around the house and anything else nagging me in the back of my head. Then I put those to-dos in to my schedule...which errands I'm going to run while Titus is in preschool, who I'm going to call during naps, what's for dinner... every minute has something scheduled in it. Of course, as I set appointments while I'm running my business, these get put in my calendar right away.


Now, don't think that just because I schedule out every single second means I actually do all of those things. If you need to schedule in wiggle room for yourself, that is fine. Personally, I just know that almost everything can be moved, unless it is an appointment I have with somebody else. So, for instance, even if I have scheduled that I am supposed to be cleaning the house from 9 to 10 and my friend calls and wants a play date at the park, I don't make myself clean the house then. It gets put off for a little while.


Let me tell you though, there are weeks I will go without using these techniques, and I don't get half as much accomplished in my business or at home. You could probably walk into my house and look around and be able to tell if I made a schedule that week, because life just happens to me when I don't. And I would rather have more control over my life than that, hence the rigid schedule.

So I'm curious, what are your scheduling skills like? Do you have any tips I haven't mentioned here? Or have you thrown your hands in the air and said "Whatev." I'd love (as always) to hear your thoughts!

Thanks!
Kelly