Simplifying schedule




In my goal of New Year's Resolutions, I have chosen March as the month to really concentrate on simplifying.  I've accomplished a few goals so far such as my kitchen, my nightstand here and here, washed all my curtains, and even ventured under Paige's bed.  I still have a lot of big tasks to work on, but it feels good to have some of these little hot spots tackled.

Because I work full time and commute 30 minutes away, I have to be organized with my time or else I become frustrated.  I've tried to use mornings as a way of getting some extra cleaning done, but it doesn't always work.  What I have learned is that I have to focus my mornings on just getting me and the kids out the door.  That's it.  It's easier to try to get things done after work in between all the activities rather than try to use mornings.

My schedule for the week looks like this right now:

Monday- Friday                                            

Mornings-        7:15 - Get up (bathroom)
                        7:30 - Start waking Paige up (get her breakfast)
                        7:30 -8 Shower, get Jeff's breakfast
                        8-8:15 - Get dressed, fix hair, get Jeff in shower
                        8:15- 8:30 - Get Paige off to school (she walks a block to her school), pack Jeff's lunch
                        8:30 - 9:00 - pack Jeff's backpack, get my things together, Jeff dressed and teeth brushed
                        9:00 - drop Jeff off at school on way to work
                        9:00 - 9:30 drive to work
                        9:30 - 5:00 work

Evenings-         5:00 - 5:30 drive home
                        5:30 - 6:30 dinner, dishes, mail
                       
This is where the evenings change depending on the day or time of year.  Right now it looks like this:

                        6:30 - 7:15/30  Mon & Wed work out
                                                Thurs - roll grape leaves from 7 - 9:30
                                                Tues- relax as Paige has lateclass                                            
                        7:30 - 8:00   laundry, bills, any small organizing orcleaning project/hot spot
                         8:00 -9:00  get kids homework checked and in pajamas
                                           except Tues as Paige has private gymnastics lessonfrom 8:30 -9:00
                         9:00           I'm usually in bed - watching tv, reading, or n computer. By 9:30 I'm asleep!

Friday evenings are not as structured as it's the beginning of the weekend and we may have other activities planned those nights.

My weekends are not as structured either, but I do try to use Saturdays to get extra cleaning and laundry done.  Sundays are for couponing and getting to the store.  I make up a list of things I want to get accomplished on Friday and fit it in on the weekend around other things. 

My schedule may not be all that simple with my husband and kid's activities, but I don't try to micro-manage every second of my day.  Some evenings I may come home from work and hang out in bed all evening reading magazines or watching tv.  Other evenings, I may be ambitious and clean out my refrigerator.  I let my mood and energy level gauge what I want to do most of the time.  It may not always be the best way to plan out my day, however, I also don't want to feel stressed about always having to get everything done at certain time on a certain day.  I like to be flexible. 

Schedules are good to keep track of what needs done, but I don't want to be a slave to it either.  Life happens.   While my kids are older now and I just have to supervise and not actually help them all the time, it is easier for me to plan my schedule around what I need to do and less on helping them.  That makes a big difference in how my day is compared to others.  But trust me, softball and baseball is starting soon as well as cross country and that's when my schedule gets unbearable at times!!