Category: Time Management

Leaving the House Without Losing Your Mind

Published on by Kim1 Comment

The title for this one came from a friend. Pretty descriptive, isn’t it? For those of us who can instantly relate to the phrase, here are some things to think about.

Be ready before you get ready to leave. Allowing enough time in your day to get ready is key here. When you do your daily planning, know what is coming and make sure you can prepare effectively. If not, rearrange or cut something out. Set yourself up for success.

On the way out the door to the ballgame is not the time to think about the snacks you volunteered to bring. If you look at your calendar before grocery shopping, you’ll have the box ready and waiting when it’s time.

It’s so tempting to put off getting gas, but it hurts to have to stop when you are running late. Keep the tank maintained, and you’ll be ready to go.

Replenish the diaper bag when you come home (and still remember that you are used all the clean clothes), and you will be ready to pick it up and walk out the door. It may not be possible the minute you walk in the door, but resetting soon, after immediate needs are met, will save you time and energy in the long run.

Keep items that need to go somewhere in a spot by the door. I have a bench  and a shelf by the front door so I see stuff that should come with me (i.e., a book to return at the library, a gift for a friend). If it’s not the very next trip, I will see it again before the trip I need it.

Strategic things in strategic places. If you always need tissues or wipes wherever you are, keep a pack in your purse, in your car, in your backpack — wherever you are regularly. The less you need to remember to bring with you, the less time you spend.

We have a bowl of individually packaged snacks on the kitchen island, ready to grab on the way out the door as needed. No need to go scrounging at the last minute. They are replenished when needed when groceries are put away, not when it’s time to leave.

Take a minute to plan. Your stops, your route, what you need, etc. Know what you are doing before you pull out of the driveway. It’s safer, for one thing, but it also will eliminate U-turns and confusion. That minute up front pays off with no frustrating minutes later. This also gives you one last chance to remember something you may need to bring with you.

Cleaning up after yourself along the way helps here too. You don’t need to stop to clean the house before you leave just to avoid coming back to a mess. Pick up messes as you go, and you can walk in and out the door with a (reasonably) clean view.

Protect August

Published on by Kim

Well, now, y’all, I am tired. Producing more than refueling. So much to do…like writing a blog post.

You’d think that all the principles of margin and time management we discuss here would cut that out forever. But, no. Some times in life are simply a marathon to push through until the finish line. We’ve chosen wisely and planned well, but sometimes we are called to do a lot. It’s a heavy load.

So today…since I need to write a blog post anyway…let’s talk about being in that kind of a push. What am I doing to handle the load?

First of all, pray for grace and strength. You need it. He loves to give it as we rely on Him.

Then, look for the light at the end of the tunnel and protect it. With the end in sight, you will push through in hope. Will there be a break at the weekend? Do you have a vacation scheduled in a couple of months? Will the project be over in 6 weeks? Take a minute to think about what is coming and make sure it doesn’t get overrun. You will need it.

For this household, it is August. We are not planning, or accepting, or scheduling, any new commitments or responsibilities during that month. It’s not a month off (a vacation), but a month with all the breathing room we can get our hands on. We will work hard during the week, then we will have weekends and most evenings to relax and restore. That time is necessary to recover from a push like this, as well as being a HUGE motivator on the long days. If I know it is coming, I can hold out better!

Although it may be tempting, don’t stop prioritizing. You will keep first things first AND hopefully catch a few things that don’t actually need to happen right now. Those can be pushed to a time when you have more time and energy — or cut out entirely.

Cut the corners you can. Dinner tonight is from the slow cooker. Quesadillas are a quick and easy option for another night. Do surface cleaning as maintenance, but deep clean the storage closet another time, far in the future. I love cooking meals from scratch with fresh ingredients, but this is not the week for that. Accept it, and move on.

Finally, don’t give up good habits you have made. It’s tempting to cut out planning time or prayer time or routines, but now is the time you really see the worth of your effort. Hang on!