I’ve been busy, busy, busy working around the house. I got one of my every month or so urges to purge and clean. After a few days of trying to sort, organize and toss, I was winded, tired…pooped. Not a good thing.
I want to have a home that runs like a well oiled machine, but that doesn’t always happen. Babies need to get fed. Toddlers need to potty. Moms need to…survive?!?! No way.
Right now, I need to create a second brain for myself. So I mentally went through all the organizational systems, I’ve tried. The only one that worked for me is the Sidetracked Home Executive’s index card system. The way the system works is this: every time I complete a task, I put the card into the next day’s (or next week’s, or next month’s slot).
I pulled out my index card box from my cluttered kitchen drawer and started writing out my daily routine. (I’ll add weekly and monthly later. Baby steps!) Here’s a sample of the cards I’ve written:
- Feed baby in the early a.m. (around 5am)
- Read Bible.
- Journal.
- Take shower and get dressed. (With two small children I have to remind myself to do this!)
- Brush teeth and use flouride rinse. (Another must!)
- Quickly wipe bathroom counter and mirror.
- Quickly swish the toilet with toilet bowl cleanser.
- Make bed.
- Feed baby again. (Around 7:30/8am)
- Pick up clutter around bedroom and toss or put in its place.
- Walk out of bedroom with a load of laundry.
- Make my breakfast shake and take vitamins.
- Drink shake and talk to the toddler. (Hubby is very helpful. He always gets the toddler up in the morning before he leaves for workso the toddler is already in the kitchen dresssed and ready.)
- Go over Bible story and positive words for the day with toddler. (We also say a quick prayer together.)
- Wash breakfast dishes. (I used to have toddler help me unload the dish washer, but now I’m into hand washing dishes. OIf I didn’t hand wash them, I would run out of dishes by the time the dish washer was full enough to turn on.)
- Put in a load of laundry. (I try to remember to have the toddler help me with this as I’m starting to incorporate chore training with him. He helps by simply handing me the clothes. Not a big deal, but it’s a start!)
- Dry Swiffer the floor. (Toddler also helps with this. I have a child sized broom for this. He gets distracted while we’re sweeping up, but I do see a fair amount of dirt on his Swiffer when we’re done!)
- Toddler watches an educational video and I a) write or b) do the family budget or c) feed baby earlier than planned if she’s screaming.
- Feed baby again (if she’s still sleeping, I wake her. This is the late am feeding.) I also do a quick sponge bath for her (When I can remember! I should make an index card called ‘bathe baby’) and dress her for the day.
Etc…
At this season of life, I squeeze in the writing in the mornings and during nap times. I have a word count goal (if I’m in the drafting/writing stage) or a time goal (if I’m in the planning stages) for writing. I’d like to pound out an evening writing session, but by then I’m trying to make it to bed time!
I have most of my morning routine worked out. I have to work on the other stuff (afternoon, evening routines and weekly/monthly plans). Baby steps!
I like this system because it tells me what to do next when a distraction has occurred that has pulled me off track. And the index card box is small enough that I can carry it around the house. Much better than a big, bulky planner.
Moms: Do you have a planning system to get through your days?
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