“Getting Organized,” Part II, managing time

Out of Perlot and Hahn’s books that I mentioned in the first part of this series in getting organized, I realized that organization really is individual to the person and their temperament and habits. I’m a morning person. I don’t function very well after 10 p.m. but have no problem getting up early and starting the day. Our kids are also all morning people so far. Adam isn’t. And all this needs to be considered when planning our week.

When I first started making a schedule of our week, I was trying to fit in all the things that sounded good on paper. That didn’t work too well for me. So I decided instead to first write in what we already do. We already have some good routines in place for meals and nap and the times they occur. We also have weekly commitments with our holy hours, and other church commitments and such. So all that went on the weekly schedule first. I just finished our fall weekly schedule and incorporated time we have to be schooling at home, going to the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and our Latin co-op. What’s nice is that once it’s on paper, you see just how much time you have for everything else like grocery shopping, extra playdates, running errands. I have this posted by my kitchen sink where I spend a good portion of my day. It also shows you where and how you can make your time more efficient.

I also have a quick view of our weekly calendar. Our computer is upstairs and Adam and I started using Google last year to keep our calendars. It was the best thing we did. We can view each others commitments on one calendar and know when we have something out of the ordinary going on.  My paper version “quick view” of my weekly calendar has one column for each day of the week and rows for: meals, events/errands, kid activities, and chores. So Saturday or Sunday I fill it out and I have my meal plan up there for there for the next week. I have any special events or errands that are happening for Adam and I. Then I have things I need to take the kids to and finally chores that need to do that week that I have to fit in the extra time of my weekly schedule. I have this posted on the fridge next to the stove –my other most popular hang out of the day.

Finally I try not to pack too much in one week. Part of what I like about homeschooling is that I don’t have to be dragging the kids all over the place every day. And in fact I make sure I don’t unless there are special circumstances. I also have learned that there are somethings that I just can’t do for the sake of my sanity and there are some times when I have to tell friends that we just need to go home even though we’re all having a good time at a playdate.

All in all this has been helpful for me so far and we’ll just see what kind of adjustments will need to take place upon Baby G’s arrival!