This is a Full Time JOB! To schedule or NOT?

Who was that dummy that recently said Mitt Romney's wife hasn't worked a day in her life?! 

Wouldn't you just like to strap that lady to your vacuum and let her watch what you do all day -  for a week?

I told my husband yesterday........this is a full time job!

Running a household is like running a business - there is always work to be done!

I spent the entire afternoon, yesterday, working on billing, accounts, filing receipts, and other various "office" type jobs.     I was working on lesson plans for school until 11:30 pm!

Between homeschooling, housework, office work, cooking, driving, laundry, grocery shopping, errand running,  activity running, and whatever else we do, we are working a full time job.   And, I don't even work on the outside of the house, but I know women who mow, garden, take care of the animals, etc. (not gonna happen on this farm!)     But, you get the point!

Right now, I'm trying to work on our school schedule for the summer (schooling Year-Round, remember?) and I am seeing how having a basic, daily schedule can really make a difference in the flow of my day.

I remember when I was reading Managers of Their Homes (many moons ago), they advised their readers to schedule out all tasks in 15-30 minute segments.     Their philosophy stated that doing something for 15-30 minutes DAILY would yield more results than randomly spending hours on something, a few times a week.

I wasn't disciplined enough to stick with that rigid schedule for more than a few weeks, but I will admit - when we used it, it certainly yielded great results.   Even the kids appreciated it. 

I came across some notes I had taken on the subject of scheduling that said this:

"When you don't schedule, you spend the entire day making decisions."

How true is that!!!

When I don't have a plan, already in place, I spend alot of my day saying things like "Uh, hold on........" "Hmmmmm.  Let me see what we need to do next."     I frustrate myself for not being better prepared.   Collin gets off track and turns his attention to something recreational while he's waiting on me.   It's just not a good way to use our time. 

But, as much as my heart is on board with scheduling; my human laziness is a big deterrent.   I get sidetracked.   I get tired.   I think the boy needs more sleep (doesn't seem to help).   I let my guard down and the next thing you know......we're right back to where we started - only about half as productive as we should be. 

I remember watching The Super Nanny and loving the way she even laid out the day for moms of pre-schoolers.   She did this, in order to bring structure to the days of these little munchkins that were running around wild, while the mom was spinning in circles.   Kids just function better when there is purpose to their day.   Apparently, so do adults.

So, how to apply all the scheduling talk to our homes?

Let me put it this way......if I don't write it down, it most likely won't get done.    The opposite of that is - when I deliberately write something on my To-Do list, I am aware of what direction I need to go and I'm working toward the goal of marking things off my list (yes, I'm a Type-A).  

I have to insert a funny demonstration of how much I count on my To-Do list, in order to function:  Recently I made some changes to my "office" space (seen here)

and, at the same time, I changed my daily planner.   NOT GOOD for a Type-A person!!  Too many changes at one time!   Here's what happened:  I couldn't function.   Moving my computer messed me up.  Not having my normal, daily notebook messed me up.    I kept going to the wrong file cabinet, couldn't find my stamps, and the list goes on!    Needless to say - I've gone back to all my old ways - and I like it!

My point is this:  with so much responsibility, my house works best when I have a routine.   I'm more productive when I stick to my morning routine, my To-Do list, a basic school schedule, an errand day, etc.    Does it always work out perfectly?   No.  But, at least when I get off track, I can go to my trusty little schedule book and see what's left.  

Would you run a business without a plan?  NO, I'm guessing you wouldn't.   If you did, you would go out of business very quickly.   People would be un-impressed with your quirkiness, your failure to know when and where and what.    It just wouldn't work out in your favor.

So, don't we owe more to our jobs at home?  Personally, I say we do.   If we truly believe this is the "job" God has given us, then we should be giving our best - not our leftovers.  

Schedules don't have to be so rigid that there isn't freedom in your day.  In fact - if you schedule out your responsibilities,  you will have plenty of room for freedom and it will be guilt free!   How great is that?  To have time to read or scrapbook or sew or walk with the kids, because you were diligent with your "have-to's".

I love to hear how other people schedule their days.  Not sure why that fascinates me, but I think it's because I'm always looking for tips and better ways to do things.    So, I would love to read about your days pertaining to running your home and school (which means you would actually have to write in the Comments section)!

Hope to hear from you......