Through this blog, I hope to show busy parents like me, what's seems important, what's actually important, and how to balance everything while still making time for yourself. It just takes a one essential item!
A Planner
This is my lifeline. I carry it with me practically all the time. You don't have to use a crazy expensive one. Just as long as it has plenty of room to write down reminders (birthdays, appointments, lunches with friends, etc.), plan out dinners, and keep track of children and spouse schedules. I'm also a full time student, so I use it to keep track of assignments, exams, due dates, and most importantly, breaks! I also think it comes in handy if there is an address book attached to it.
Out of all the planners I have purchased over the last 10 years of my life, my all time, hands down favorite on is the Mom Agenda (http://www.momagenda.com). Seriously, take it from me; this planner has it all! I'm able to take a look at my week, my daughter and my husband's schedules, plan dinners, and keep track of my school work all in one place. The weeks are from Monday to Sunday and there is a designated space for each child, dinners, and ample space for me! It also has this neat feature in the back called 'Mom Essentials' which is an address book and stores a whole bunch of other information (veterinarian contact info, insurance information, family information to include blood types or allergies, ICE info, and oh-so-much more!). They're always running specials, especially around the new year when it's time to renew and update! Not a mom? NEVER FEAR! MomAgenda also makes a MyAgenda; a version of the same planner without the child spaces. Seriously? What's not to love.
Okay, so now that y'all know my love affair with planners, I can move on!
Have you ever sat back after a super long, stressful day, and thought to yourself, I didn't get one dern thing done that I needed to. Here is your answer - plan it out! Once you get into the habit of writing every little thing down, you'll feel more in control of your day and will be more productive. I mean it!
Make the Time challenge of the week!
Plan the following:
Dinners - Never again will you find yourself at 5:00 in the evening with your hubby and kiddos begging you for the answer to 'What's for dinner??' I always feel like I've just been caught with my pants down. If I write it out and take a quick peek in the morning before running off to start my day, I can set out chicken to defrost, or better yet, make a note to stop by the store to pick up last minute ingredients! If your kids are anything like my little girl and dinner has to be ready at a certain time or else! this will make it so much easier. I also have found it easier to make the grocery list and stay within budget. Notice I said attempt. Good food aint cheap!
Kids' schedule - think there is a play date this week? Or perhaps a birthday party? What about a classroom holiday party and you, in a zealous and overconfident moment, volunteered to make 2 dozen cupcakes with sprinkles? Are you really going to leave it to your already cluttered and disorganized brain to remember everything? No more! Take note of when and where the play dates are. Mark down when the party is and the gift you're planning on buying (or better yet! already purchased), and what time the cupcakes need to arrive at school. Less stress and instant time with your kids. Maybe this will be the week that junior can frost the cupcakes. Ahh memories.
Husband's schedule - I know what you're thinking! If I'm keeping up with my life, our kids lives, the dogs life, the groceries, the drama with work, the gossip with friends, car maintenance, and the fact that our neighbor's goldfish died last week, why should I keep track of HIS schedule too?! Here is your answer, my dear: Because you can handle it! It has been through my own experience, not to mention to wisdom passed onto me by my mother and grandmothers before me, that women are designed to multitask. I'm not saying that you need to map out his day, like you may do for yourself. I'm just saying keep track of a doctors appointment that he's forgotten and had to reschedule two or three times. For all the military spouses out there, keep track of duty schedules or retirement ceremonies that he has to attend. That way when he looks at you on Wednesday night and says with fear in his eyes, 'I have a change of command tomorrow and I need to get my uniform ready!' You can say, 'I know, I had your uniform dry cleaned.' Then sit back and soak up the praise, ladies. Your earned it!
Upcoming Birthdays - I am super blessed to have 16, yes 16 nieces and nephews, 4 brothers, 5 sisters-in-law, both parents, in-laws, grandmothers, and 7 BFFs to keep up with. Yes, yes, I know that it isn't necessary to send a little something-something in the mail to each and every one of them but I like to! And no, I don't spend a million dollars. My personal budget for gifting outside of Christmas and special occasions (weddings and babies) for all the aforementioned people is only about $200. THAT subject is for a later post though.
For the purposes of this post, just take a peek to see who's celebrating a birthday this week and if you've put something in the mail already!
School or work stuff - For all you scholarly types out there, take notice to due dates of projects and assignments. When was that Stats exam again? When you can see it coming, you can better plan to study instead of lying aimlessly on the couch watching a marathon of Walking Dead (great show!) when you could have been studying for that test. No one likes a low grade on an exam when they had ample time to prepare, am I right?
Work stuff! Before I decided to go back to school, I was on active duty in the US Navy. I was very involved in my command with work and collateral duties. Being able to write them down and stay on top of them put me ahead and made me look good to my superiors. Plus, how professional would you look carrying around a stacked planner with pen in hand? Need I go on?
Since I'm about to open my own Etsy shop (stay tuned for the big announcement!), I also make sure to plan out what I'm going to put up for sale! Since we're in March and St. Patrick's Day is only a few weeks away, I need to make sure that I have plenty of materials to keep the crafting happening and ready to ship.
And finally:
You - make sure to carve out some time for you! Have lunch with a friend. Get a pedicure. Go to Target by yourself. Get up extra early one morning to watch that Pioneer Woman episode you missed last night (Ree Drummond, you genius you!). Or just sit back and relax while drinking your piping hot coffee in bed and watching TODAY. Ah serenity. It's times like this in a busy woman's life that brings her back down to earth and reminds her to take a moment and slow down. You can't be super woman, wife, and mom without a little break to be just you.
Well! There you have it. Get a planner and take over the world! Not really the whole world, but at least you can take over your little piece of it.
'Till next time!
Sarah
No comments:
Post a Comment