BEST WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR TIME
I hope you are ready to tell me the best ways to manage your time, because I could really use the input. I see some ladies who just seem to manage careers, family, and friends with ease. They never forget things, never seem flustered, and are always put together nicely. Mind you, I can count the number on one hand, but still they do exist. So how do they manage their time so much better than the rest of us?
My daughter-in-law has three children, works from the home as a beautician, and has a husband who is away a large part of the time. She juggles all that with ease. She always looks immaculate, the house is always clean, and she never seems to get her feathers ruffled.
I think the part where she gets up early, and works till late, might have something to do with her success. I’m not willing to do either of those things. Lol! So other than getting up early and going to bed late, what else helps with time management?
I have one friend who must have the energizer bunny batteries installed in her. I can’t even begin to tell you her schedule, but I will give you some highlights. She has a young child, around 8 or 9, and she works for her husband in his dental office. She preps all their food for the week on Sundays. Are you with me so far? She teaches Zumba at least three nights a week, and she is training to be in the Mrs. Virginia pageant in April. She sells Rodan and Fields, and has recently taken on the role as track coach. And because that is not enough, she runs in 1/2 marathons for fun.
She told me in order to make all that work, she has to be very organized and everything is scheduled. Can you train to be more organized? How do you stay on a schedule? I can’t even find time to make out a schedule, much less follow one. Let’s take today for instance. I go to work like normal, but I had to leave a little early to take the dogs to the vet. The vet is only there till 4:30, so I loaded both the pups up and took them to the vet. When I got home I started working on the blog, what I was going to write, etc. Then my son calls and when I answer the phone, my grandbaby is screaming. I had just taken the dogs outside and she saw me from the window. “I want to come to Nee Nee’s house.” Of course I said bring her over.
We were playing so Joe went for a walk, and when he came back he had a couple we know with him. We sat outside for awhile and Emersyn played while we talked. When they left, I fed her and got Joe’s food ready. It is now 9:20 and I am just now getting to the blog. Cropping and fixing the photos, writing the content, and finding the links. Obviously, I need help. Can you gurls give me any suggestions?
Okay, to today’s outfit. I love this outfit, it has a romantic vibe. The white Karen Kane lace tank is one that I have had for a couple years, and it is so feminine. Lace is a really big trend right now, and most of us can wear lace. You may not like a big lace collar or cuffs, but a ruffle along the shirt hem is easy to wear. The black one is like mine, and the others are similar.
The crepe vertical stripe pants and the cardigan both came from Cato’s. The cardigan was on clearance from last fall, but I think it matches the pants well. Here are a couple other pants that are similar.
I couldn’t find striped palazzo pants in plus size, but I liked these just as good.
The shoes I have on are the same ones I wore here, so the links are there.
I haven’t been linking to my jewelry lately, so I thought I would so a few pieces today. My necklace is from Stella & Dot and is called a Zuni layering necklace. I have on a Michael Kors boyfriend watch that was a gift. My very large bangle is a vintage fashion show find from years ago. It is wooden pieces all glued together.
My purse is a retired Stella & Dot that you might find on ebay. But here is a similar one by Cole Haan. I hope you liked my romantic, flowy outfit. And I am serious about wanting time management tips. Since I have started the blog, it usually takes me at least two hours a night to finish a post.
Great topic but I too am challenged with time management. Love the outfit. Thanks for posting with Up, Down, All-Around.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Tania, I am not real good at the time management thing either and I feel like it comes down to, just making choices. Do I clean the house or work on the blog? Do I read a book or go to the grocery store? Ha, ha. Well, you get the idea. I have always believed that people come first, so if company drops in, I drop everything else. If my daughter needs me to watch my Grandson, I drop everything else. But that also means, my house is a mess and I have no milk in the fridge…..So if you get a management system figured out, let me know! Love your outfit too! – Amy-
http://www.stylingrannymama.com
Isn’t it hard to keep up with everything? No tips here… just empathy! And a compliment on that fab outfit. Love that cool combo. The necklace is especially stunning.
Thanks so much for sharing with Fun Fashion Friday!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
Continued….
5. Banking and Bill paying – have checks automatically deposited in your checking account then set up automatic bill pay so that all of your set bills for the month are sent out by the bank. All of my bills get paid on the 24th of the month so that everyone receives their money by the 1st. For items that vary from month to month like water and electric they send me an email that it is due and the money gets taken out of the account.
6. Keep a well stocked pantry with a good supply of basics so you can always throw together a meal without making a special trip to the grocery store.
7. Have about a two week supply of socks, t- shirts, underwear, etc for each of you so if you don’t do laundry for a few days it’s not an issue. You don’t have to scramble around to do a load of wash cause you’re out of undies or socks.
8. Laundry – put a load in to wash before you go to bed at night then in the morning toss it in the dryer before you leave the house for work or errands. When you have a few minutes in the evening pull out the dry clothes and fold and put away. If they are a little wrinkled the “Wrinkle Release” cycle on your dryer is your friend.
9. Kitchen – after dinner wash the dishes and put on counter to dry or run dishwasher. In the morning while you’re making coffee or packing lunches put the dry dishes away, clean the sink, hand wash your coffee cups, bowls from last night’s ice cream or whatever. Your kitchen is clean and ready when you get home from work. Nothing is worse than coming in the door from work to a sink full of dirty dishes.
10. Let some things go…..perfection is highly overrated!
On this list, I do #9 (at least most of the time). But I REALLY like #10 the best!!! Thanks so much for putting so much thought into this comment.
My best time management tips:
1. Make lists….at night while I am watching tv I make a list of things I have to do tomorrow. The list usually has sections like places to go, people to call, chores that need doing at home. I make lists for EVERYTHING! Sometimes I think even my lists have lists.
2. When I have errands to run I refer to my list and plan a strategic route to go everywhere in the most efficient route without unnecessary backtracking.
3. When you make dinner, especially things like stew, spaghetti, casseroles, etc make a double batch and freeze some so you already have a meal done when you have one of those hectic days. It take no longer to cook a double batch and then when you need a quick meal you can just reheat the second portion.
4. If you like to send greeting cards for family and friends’ birthdays then buy one of those greeting card organizers and buy all your cards in January for the coming year and file them in the organizer. Then each weekend check your organizer and mail out cards for the coming week.
Well, so far Linda I do #3. I sometimes make lists, but I usually misplace them. I promise I am trying harder.
Try – https://www.facebook.com/Peacebypiecelakemacquaire/?fref=ts
I almost thought this was Spam. I had no idea what you were having me look up. Lol!!!!
Whatever you do… keep the blog going! I love your honesty and of course the fashion! The outfit today is so adorable, and by the looks of it, I’d say you were very put together! On that note, I believe at our age we’re entitled to some disorganization! I spent many years with my 2 children trying to keep up… sports, dance, work, friends, church, home, oh and house/yard! Now as a grandparent, I realize I should not sweat the small stuff and instead enjoy all the miracles that are in front of me. We are after all 50, and feeling not too old!
I love your look today. Never would have thought to put the tee and pants together. It’s very chic. I love that your clothes come from various stores. It really is nice to see what can be done at several price points and that you can combine items to look nice. I hope you stay with the varied theme. Some bloggers end up committing to one brand to style. I liked it better when they shop several stores as well as use what they already have.
As far as being organized I like the write it down method. I read “Write it down Make it Happen” by Henrriette Anne Klauser it’s very good. Also “Confessions of an Organized Housewife” by Schofield is excellent. It really helped me when my daughter was younger and I started working. Taking time for your family is the most important. Everything will still be there. And I get the most done when I start with prayer.
I’m 54 and work full-time to put things into perspective. I think there are those who are wired to be accomplishers and there are those who are wired to “live and enjoy.” Not that those who live and enjoy don’t accomplish things, they do. I also think we have seasons. When our son was at home, our priority was to eat dinner together as a family every weekday night. If he had soccer, we ate late. I cooked five nights a week after making a menu, grocery list, etc. I cooked and they did the dishes. (Non-negotiable.) Everyone had chores. I grocery shopped the same day every week. Cleaned on the same day. Etc. A schedule was very important. Doing things that made our house run smoothly came before watching Scandal. Now that it’s just my husband and I, it’s more “do it when it needs to be done.” I agree with the commenter about Sundays. God took the seventh day and rested. We should not be doing “work” on the Sabbath (my opinion) as a general rule. If I want to quilt all afternoon, it’s pleasurable. After church we try to enjoy our day. I hope you find what works for you. Playing with a grandbaby would be at the top of my “to do” list!
Well Tania, the first thing you have to do is quit your day job!! Most daily bloggers have their blogs as their main source of income. I don’t know how you do it!
I would quit if I was making enough money on the blog. Since I am just starting out, that might be a while if ever. ?