Time Management Problems About This Page:

[statelady01]

The weight of a full course load, part time work and 4 kids for the first time, is starting to fall pretty heavily on me. I think at the root of my problem is I don't manage time effectively (that good old addage)

I would love to hear some tips. I did get myself a day planner and am tracking everything I do for the next week to figure out where I could save time.

Any other suggestions?

[goofy4goofy]

Well, why not try NOT sleeping??? LOL That way you'll have plenty of time to do it all!

Gosh, you've got so much going on. You're an inspiration!!! Just the fact that you have time to breath is incredible! I truly admire you..sometimes I think it's rough being a single mom and working. Man, you've got me beat!! LOL

How about taking one day a week (like a Sunday afternoon) and making all your meals for the week..freezing them..and then heating them up and adding a few things later in the week? I know that always saves me time.

Kelly

[Colexis Mom]

I agree with Kelly, Maureen, what an inspiration. I couldn't do it. Since I work full time with 2 little ones, I've just learned to let the little stuff slide (the house doesn't get vacuumed as much, my beds don't get made every morning, laundry doen't get done as often, meals are not very complicated since I don't have the time). Something's got to give. Whatever you do, make sure that you still have time for yourself (even if it is only a half hour). Sending pixie dust to you [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Tara O'Hara]

Maureen, I have truly been there! I, too, have four kids and went to school full time and worked full time! I had my daughter while taking Anatomy! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Looking back, I honestly don't know how I did it!! I certainly couldn't have accomplished it all without the support and cooperation of my family-especially my wonderful husband! But even so, there were literally days where I didn't know whether I was coming or going and I feel like I missed so much stuff! The fact is, you simply cannot do it all and you need to sort out what is truly important and let everything else go. Going back to school for nursing was the best thing I ever did in the long run for all of us and it was well worth it!! I now have a flexible career and can work around my home life! Kudos to you for doing all of this and take all of the support you can get! You've come this far, so just bite off a bit at a time. You can do it!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[All Ears]

The three key things I have learned:
1. Being able to prioritize.
2. The art of delegation.
3. List-making, and sticking to the list.

Delegation:
Are there things that you are doing, that others can do instead? Can the kids help out with some household tasks? Can hubby help out more with some of the tasks?
Prioritizing:
Are there things you can say "no" to that you have been doing? For example, serving on any committees, etc. that you don't love serving on, etc.
List-making: (and prioritizing, and delegation all in one!)
Make a list each day of what needs to be accomplished. Now prioritize what MUSt be done. Now delegate who can help accomplish that list. Then begin doing the list. Lump tasks together... For example, 1x a week I set aside an "errands morning." I do all of my running around in that block of time -- grocery store, dry cleaning, post office, library, etc. I don't go back to any of those places till the following errand morning, again. It saves me time & money by not making repeat visits.
Hope this helps.
You are a very busy woman, so definitelty make sure you have some "me time" daily, too. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
Michelle

[statelady01]

Thank you everyone!

I am going to try the lists and have the kids help more- I think I am doing too much for them. I think if I can eliminate alot of repetitive running around, bill paying, etc that might be very helpful.

Thanks for letting me share and thanks for your help and support!

[mrsmaup]

For me, the key to time management is to stay away from the things that cause me to be unproductive and waste time. I do not talk on teh phone unless I am doing something else(folding laundry, grading a test, cookign dinner, whatever).

I do not have the tv on during the day, to avoid the temptation to sit for "just a min".


I am a HUGE believer in cooking in advance, or once a month cooking. I dont necessarially cook entire meals and freeze them, but I always cook the meat and package it into meal size portions and write on the freezer bag what its for(chicken cut into cubes and labled chicken enchaladas, etc). I also precut all my veggies and fruits(melons, celery, peppers, etc) and package them up, as well as shred all my cheese and package it up. That way, when I am making chx stir fry, I can start the rice, and then grab my prepackaged veggies and chx and have dinner on the table in 30 min.

I shop every 2 weeks, so in between time, I spend 1 day before a shopping trip writing down what I think we want to have for those 2 weeks(in no set in stone order, just 14 days worth of meals) and make a grocery list, making sure I have all the ingredients on the shopping list, then I shop w/o my kids, just me and my husband(quicker that way and almost a date!LOL!!).

I also find routine helps me be a time saver. I have a set day to wash sheets, etc. That way, Im not trying to do too much in one day and then end up getting frustrated and doing none of it...

I took the time to teach my children how to cook and clean house. My 12 year old is responsible for lunch and laundry every day. That means start to finish(making, eating and cleaning up lunch for example). My 8 year old has to clean the main bathroom every day and vaccum every day, plus the various and assorted back yard clean ups, dishes, etc. I am not the maid, so we instill a sense of everyone helping out, plus teaches them to be capable of taking care of themselves when they are grown

The biggest and I do mean BIGGEST breakthrough for me was to get rid of clutter. My clutter problem soloution was a drastic one and not one I would recommend, but it worked wonders for me(we had a flood and lost everything we owned and realized we didnt need 99% of it anyway, so never replaced it). I found that I wasted more time moving things to clean, sorting through things to find 1 slip of paper, etc. DROVE ME NUTS!!

Now, Every appt, invitation, etc goes immediately on the calendar in teh kitchen or in my palm pilot. No more slips of paper or phone numbers jotted down on the back of a catalog.

I dont keep catalogs anymore, throw them out as soon as they come. Dont buy clothes, shoes, purses, etc w/o getting rid of 1 first(1 in 1 out rule in our house for everythign from toys to clothes, etc).

If you have a desk, then you could make that your work station for your school work and keep the children's seperate from yours, if you dont have a desk, you could buy plastic milk crates from Target and keep your work in there on the floor of a closet> At least its all in 1 place.

I would suggest you do hard schoolwork at the library or coffee shop, someplace where children and husbands and laundry and hosuework wont be a distratction..

Sounds like you have a full plate, but are doing a great job!!!