Overbearing Schedules
Have you ever watched your schedule fill up with a huge list of “have-to's” and
no time left for fun?
To deal with your overbearing schedule, try starting with the
monthly page in your daily planner.
First identify and write in ONLY your "have-to-do" items. These
are the things you REALLY have to do. If you find tons of things
on your “have-to’s” list, go back and decide if each item is really
a "want-to" or a valid "have-to." Many of our "have to's" aren't
really so urgent that they all had to be done yesterday. At the
same time, so many of us have such full schedules that we don't
allow enough time for making dinner, doing chores, grocery shopping,
and so on. Writing things down on our monthly pages really helps
us reorganize and actually remember those things that we think
we won't forget.
Secondly, plan to give yourself at least one day a week with some
free time in it. After scheduling in as few "have-to's” as you
can, write in this personal FREE TIME.
Then review your schedule to see what other "have-to's " you can
combine at one time or get rid of!
Next, remember the things you need to do with your children, parents,
spouse or friends. Here's something I would like you all to try:
schedule time once a week with each family member and maybe one
friend. For example, I give my friends 3 hours of phone time each
weekend.
To review:
#1 Schedule your "have-to-do's."
#2 Schedule in FREE TIME and seriously, write in your planner, FREE TIME!
#3 Reassess your must do's.
#4 Schedule in time needed for and with family and friends. Some examples could
include softball practice, lessons of any sort, Starbucks, movies, driving
kids to a friend's house, chatting on the phone, or writing a note.
If you find your schedule rapidly filling up and your free time
disappearing, then stop and really focus on where your time is
going and how your week will pan out. What happens to many women
is that we think we can do it all. We often don't think to write
down on our schedule that we need to cook dinner by 5:30, and end
up planning something else during that time.
For example, if I schedule softball for one of the kids on Wednesday
at 2:30 after school and then a meeting Wednesday night, then is
there housework, dinner, or anything else I will not be doing because
I used my afternoon time to go to the softball game? That doesn't
mean I don't go to the game. It means that I have to figure out
when I can take some extra time to do those things I didn't do
at home that afternoon, or else eat out. If I was going to the
softball game instead of doing chores, I'd do my best to get up
early that morning, shower and eat earlier that morning, and make
an easy meal to put in the oven, or do some extra chores to catch
up or move ahead of schedule. This way, when I NEEDED to leave,
I could go without worrying about what wasn't getting done.
Don't let your schedule drive you, but remember that you control
your schedule!
©2002 Susie Glennan
Susie Glennan has been happily married since 1982, is mom to 3 teenagers,
and is a Home Maker, Nurturer, Teacher, Author, Professional Speaker,
Toastmaster, President of The Busy Woman, Inc., DBA - The Busy Woman's Daily
Planner®. She teaches time management seminars, offers FREE consultations
with your order, and will help you set up a schedule that's right for you.
800-848-7715 www.thebusywoman.com
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