January is usually the beginning of what most of us see as a fresh start…the parties and holidays have come to a close and it’s time to move on to New Year’s Resolutions and goals for the year.
As January comes to an end, I reflect on those New Year’s Resolutions that I made. I’m not usually that into making resolutions, I feel like it’s setting myself up for failure because I usually don’t stick to them.
My biggest resolution and goal for 2014: I decided I would start really using my calendar/planner. I always try, but I usually fail. I am ALWAYS late, always.
I made the decision that scheduling “office hours” was a MUST. “Office Hours” is my big 2014 Resolution and goal. I can do “Office Hours” and I can be on time!
Scheduling Office Hours is something I’ve heard of from many successful people in the blogging world. I’ve never succeeded at making office hours work for me. I really do believe that office hours are essential to being successful, organized and less frazzled when working from home, like most bloggers do. When I’m at home, I always get distracted, I always find myself moving on to something else, not completing one task but starting another.
This is a weakness of mine, which usually leads to me being late for the next thing that I’m committed to. At the beginning of this month, before I went to bed (most nights) I got out my old school paper calendar/planner and scheduled my day for the following day.
It went a little something like this…
7:30 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.: Take the girls to school.
8:30 A.M. to 9:30 A.M.: “ME” time-eat breakfast, take a shower and pick up the house a bit.
930 A.M. to 1130 A.M.: “Office Hours”-Two hours dedicated to this blog.
11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M.: House/Family-Two hours reserved for whatever pressing issues and chores are currently the most important. This time is usually spent on cleaning the house, doing laundry, prepping for dinner and errands.
2:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M.: Pick up the girls from school.
Now, this worked really well for a couple of weeks…I was really motivated and felt great about it. I felt successful and was actually getting things accomplished without feeling so darn stressed out all the time.
I was even ON TIME for almost all of my commitments.
Confession: I’ve had a few slip-ups. I blame that on just being human and imperfect. There have been days where I simply don’t even look at my planner and think to myself, “I’ve got this…I know what I have to do and when I have to do it.” I’m wrong though. The days I don’t depend on my planner for my scheduled-out windows of time are the days that I feel most overwhelmed and get the least amount accomplished. AND these are the days you can count on me being late.
So, I’ve accepted it, I’m worthless without a little planning and guidance from my good ‘ol pen and paper. My new goal is to embrace that I have recognized my weakness and found a tool to help!
How do you stay productive, organized and on time? I would love to hear how you make it all work…leave me a comment, it will make my day!
Tootles,
I’ve been making lists and keeping a calendar since I was your age. It’s just what busy moms have to do. I get the greatest pleasure in crossing things off my list. I do this daily at work; and have even begun doing it on my Saturday errands. It’s amazing when you go to six places in an hour because you have your list ready. I think you’ll learn to like it as you realize that it brings you peace of mind. Love you!
Dawn you are right about feeling good when crossing things off the lists! I love that! Most of the time I forget my lists when I leave the house…I need a list to remind me to take my lists with me! Haha! Love you!
I know what you mean about needing office hours! It can be half a day wasted if I don’t set a timer or something to give a clear line of stopping and starting on the computer or cleaning or whatever other projects I need to divide my day between.
Back in the day I had a Franklin Covey planner and LOVED it. A couple years ago I bought one again but failed to use it at all. I think before kids it was more feasible to schedule a day – but once your day has children in a big chunk of it – it gets really complex.
I keep trying though!
Joann, isn’t that the truth about the kids…once they are in the mix everything seems so much more complicated than just using a planner. I’m hoping that as my girls get a little older it becomes a little easier to manage. I’ve thought about splurging on a really awesome planner just so I’m excited and motivated to use it!
I commit to small goals. Writing things down for a week. Then expand to two weeks. If I’m successful, that’s awesome. If not, I reassess. But I really can’t take away work time. Or else I wouldn’t bring in the income we need 🙂 I have given up driving to the gym and walk around the neighborhood instead for exercise, or do a DVD workout.
Danielle, small goals sound like a great idea to me. I always feel so overextended and overcommitted! I’m going to make a “small goal” list today. Thanks!