Time Management Tips

I've always been pretty good at using my time well. I'm almost organizational to a fault. I have learned to relax a little, but I enjoy things being in their place ... and feeling like I go to bed having had a productive day.

So - if there's a chance you want to ramp up your time management - here's what helps me:

♥ A Small Notepad ♥

I keep this in my purse, and it is where I keep my to-do list, my meal planning ideas, and any random thoughts or ideas (which happens A LOT).

♥ To-Do Lists ♥

I make a list each morning of things I want to accomplish by the end of the day - usually in the order I will try to do them. When I cross them off, I move on to the next task. I find it keeps me from sitting down on the couch to "think about what I should be doing," which usually leads to turning on the TV, snacking, and wasting time. If I don't cross it off, I keep it on the list for the next day. No guilt.

Today's Example To-Do List:

√ Grocery Shop
√ Laundry
√ Unload the dishwasher
√ Dinner: Chicken and lemon-basil pasta
√ Pack lunches
√ Quiet time
√ Bones on TV (8pm!) - can't leave that out
√ Work Out

♥ Meal Planning ♥

I take notes in my notepad for meal ideas for two weeks (I try to grocery shop for two weeks at a time, but you can do one ... three ... four ... whatever!). Then I have a weekly, dry-erase calendar on my fridge where I post our meals for the week. This is actually really helpful because if I know what I need for dinner, I can set it out in the morning. I found early on that if I came home tired from work and had no clue what to fix for dinner, we ate out A TON - or ate junk. It also helps because I use my two-week plan to make a grocery list. I get the stuff we need, and it cuts down a lot on wasting food and grabbing junk off the shelves because it looks good. This also helps because Brent can see when it's his turn to make dinner. I just write it on the calendar, and he knows that Friday he's making Schnitzel!

♥ Budgeting ♥

I keep an extremely detailed budget because I'm an extremely detailed person. If that's not your flavor, do something more basic! But I have found that if I know what I am spending my money on, I don't feel guilty about splurging in some areas, or I know that it's time to reign it in. For instance, when eating out money starts to near our monthly allowance, I know it's time to stop suggesting McDonald's for dinner.

♥ Cleaning/Chores ♥

I try to put one or two chores/cleaning tasks on my to-do list each day (unless I'm super busy that evening). I don't like getting up Saturday and feeling like I have to spend the whole day cleaning. I'd rather do one thing each night, and enjoy my Saturday.

♥ Prayer ♥

God is the ultimate keeper of our time. Our productivity during the day is a reflection of the things we care about. Pray for effective use of your time so that you can spend more time on the things you love: quiet time with God, your family, your friends, etc.

Happy Multi-Tasking!