Time Management -
It's Not The Dreaded Thing You Might Think!

Find A Scheduling System That Fits Your Personality

There are many different types of systems available to work with. It’s important to find what works for you or you probably won’t keep up with it very long. Creating a system that works includes having the tools that you need. It might be a day planner, a simple wall calendar or maybe an electronic PDA.

Erin had always used a Day Planner, but one year she decided to try a PDA. After a few months, she realized that it was NOT for her. At least not for right now. So, don’t be afraid to try different systems until you like one. There are numerous options and they are there for a reason... different systems work for different personality types!

We've carefully selected a few of what we think are the best mom focused calendaring and planning systems and have reviewed them for you on our Calendars and Planners page.

Create A Schedule But Allow For Some Flexibility

Creating a schedule is much like creating a budget for your family’s income. With a budget, you tell your money where it is going to go, rather than not knowing where it goes each month. Do you see the analogy? In much the same way, a schedule tells your time where you’re going to spend it or how you’re going to use it. This way you do not waste too much time on things that don’t really need to be done, or conversely, spend too much time working. A schedule can help create a healthy balance in your family’s day.

Stick To Your Schedule The Best You Can

Once you have created a schedule with blocks of time set aside for family, work, shopping, meal preparations, leisure activities, etc. you must stick to it as much as possible. This can be especially challenging for SAHMs and WAHMs because your day can change at a moment’s notice.

Jen is not real fond of "schedules" preferring to take the day as it comes. However, there are certain constants to many of Jen’s days. Each weekday Jen and her family get up at the same time as well as have dinner during the same time frame. So Jen can look at the constants and stick to those parts of her schedule that work for her family.

Of course, no one can truly decide how you spend your time but you. It’s important to be vigilant about not allowing other people to talk you into doing "just this one thing" (unless you really want to) or you’ll be headed right back to your time management struggles again.

Fact: You'll Need To Adjust On A Near Daily Basis

Just as your budget may fluctuate with added income or loss of income, your schedule can fluctuate as well. No one knows this better than a mom. Things like your child deciding not to do a sport he’s done for years can free up time which can be used for more family time or to add something else. Whatever changes come up within your schedule, you’ll need to stay flexible and not get too frustrated when a day doesn’t go as planned.

Managing your time can provide significant benefits. While flexibility will be needed when managing a family along side all of your other responsibilities, the most important benefit is using your time more wisely.