Just Do It!

A question that often pops into my inbox is how do I manage to get so much done.

It's no secret: I just do it.

I have a housekeeping schedule that everyone in the family now uses. When the kids were little I did the bulk of the work, but now they do it for me. Without fail, that schedule is followed week in, week out. It doesn't take long, about half an hour a day at the most, but it means that every room in our home is cleaned from top to bottom, including windows, every single week. I don't do spring cleaning - there's no need.

I also have a bill paying schedule that everyone now knows how to use. The kids have adapted it for their own financial responsibilities, and I know that if I'm not able to take care of the bills, then Wayne or one of the kids can do it for me. It takes less than 10 minutes a week. There is no excuse whatever for not staying on top of your bills. If you want to know my bill paying routine, let me know.

Something that helps with keeping on top of things is actually doing them.

Take emptying the dishwasher for instance. It's one of those jobs that seems to get put off until it's time to start loading it again. Seriously it takes less than two minutes for me to unload a FULL dishwasher and wipe over the seals, leaving it ready to re-load throughout the day. Two minutes! I know some folk who spend more time than that thinking about unloading the dishwasher or arguing with someone else to get them to do it. Just do it! Two minutes and it's done. That's a commercial break during your favourite reality TV program!

Another chore that is often put off is folding and putting away the laundry. Just do it! I fold as it comes off the line and I stack the clothes in people. Then I just deliver the stack to the relevant person and they put it away. It takes about 8 - 10 minutes to take the laundry off the line, fold it and deliver it. And then it's done! No more Mt. Fold Me in the family room. No more hunting through piles of crushed clothes for something to wear. Just do it. Ten minutes is less time than most people spend on Facebook of an evening!

Cleaning the kitchen is another job people put off. If you clean as you cook, then after dinner it shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to get the dishes done and the kitchen cleaned and tidied again. There's nothing worse than getting up to a dirty kitchen that needs to be cleaned before you can start breakfast. Don't put it off, just do it.

Five years ago I was diagnosed with a chronic disease. Since then I've had other health issues, totally unrelated. It's meant that some days it takes all my energy to open my eyes, let alone climb out of bed and face the day.

It would be easy to ignore the things that need to be done, in the hope that I'd have the energy to do them later. But later, they'd be bigger chores and harder work, and I wouldn't be able to tackle them. Doing things as they need to be done, while they are small jobs that only take a few minutes means I get quite a lot done in a day, even with having to rest regularly and spending more time in bed than I ever thought I would.

Some of you work full time. Some of you study. Some work part-time. Some work at home. Some are retired. I know a few of you are also suffering from chronic illness. Some have babies. Some have small children or teenagers. Some live in cities. Some are country based. Some have big homes, small homes, new homes, old homes.

We all have the same 24 hours in a day.

It's what we do with them, and how we use them that makes the difference.

Next time you see something that needs to be done, just do it.

And you'll find you get more done in a day than you realised too.

It's time to spring forward for 2017!

Don't forget to put your clocks FORWARD one hour before you go to bed tonight.

Daylight Saving starts at 2am, with clocks being put forward one hour to 3am.

5 Tips for a Stress Free Monday (or any day) Morning

It’s Monday morning (again).  You glance at the kitchen clock and gulp down a cup of coffee while attempting to put on your clothes at the same time and realise that you only have 5 minutes to get your 5 year old dressed and ready for school, not to mention you still need to pack her lunch.  Not soon enough do you remember that you were warned the previous Thursday by your easy-going boss (not!) for being late the third day in a row.

Sound all-too familiar? No one said being a working mum would be easy, but here are 5 steps to help you achieve that delicate Monday (or any) morning balance:

1. First and foremost, be prepared.  

If need be, pack your child’s lunch the night before.  Give your child a bath the night before as well.  Do your washing and ironing on the weekend so that all clothes are hung and ready to go; prepare at least 5 outfits for each member of the family over the weekend and have your husband and children assist you in the process.

When our children were small every Sunday afternoon we'd put out the school and sports uniforms for the week, complete with underwear, socks and shoes. They each had a five cubby hanging organiser in their wardrobes and their uniforms would go into them, one day per cubby. It took all of five minutes every Sunday afternoon and saved so much time in the mornings. Hannah still uses hers to organise her clothes for the week.

2. Set your alarm clock 30 minutes earlier to allow yourself more time in the morning.  

If need be, go to bed 30 minutes earlier to make up for the time difference. Wake up before your kids to shower and dress and get your day started peacefully.

Even when we only had one baby I'd get up at 6am to have some quiet time. I'd make a cup of coffee and sit and read for a few minutes before starting my day.

3. Keep breakfast simple and healthy.  

Set the table before bed, fill the kettle, put out the toaster, take the bread from the freezer to thaw. If you feel that you just don’t have the time for breakfast, try keeping bananas and other easy to eat fruit or hard boiled eggs handy and ready to grab and go.

It takes five minutes before bed to get breakfast organised and saves half an hour in the morning chaos. I put the oats in the saucepan and cover them with water to soak, put out the Weet-bix and bran, add coffee to mugs so that when it's time for breakfast most of the work is done.

4. Set a routine for you and your family and stick with it.  

Our bodies crave routine and that’s a fact.  Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning.  Sticking with a schedule will make it easier to effectively manage that morning balancing act.

5. Divide your morning into phases.  

For example, phase 1:  eat breakfast, phase 2:  get dressed, etc.  Set the phases in 15-30 minute time increments (phasing increments can vary, depending on the overall time you give yourself).  Attempting to accomplish everything at once will only lead to chaos and confusion.  Help your family stay within the proper phase and ask them to also pitch in and help.  Encourage your family to stick to the morning phases to keep things running smoothly.

Even the youngest of toddlers can help to get ready in the mornings.

We had a "no play" rule for first thing. It avoided distractions and really helped keep everyone on task. When the kids were in school we had a 20 - 25 minute drive, depending on traffic, and had to leave on time if they were to be at school before the bell went.

The key to achieving any balance, especially that morning balance, is being prepared.  My mother used to say I was always getting ready for tomorrow today and in a way she's right. Doing what I can ahead of time, when I have the time, saves rushing and getting stressed.

Try a more organised approach to your mornings and you will find that they turn out to be a lot smoother and less stressful for everyone

To Do

I've been updating the list throughout the day as I've finished tasks. Didn't get them all done, but didn't really expect to. What's left have been moved to other days.

I love "to do" lists and use them every day, otherwise I'm sure I'd always be wondering what was coming next.

I have one for our home/garden/family and one for my blog/website.

I use One Note (it came with the lap top) for both lists as it auto saves and easily turns a list into a to do list.

During December each year I create a new notebook for the next year, then add one folder per month with a new page for each day.  It's a simple filing system and I can go back and check what I was doing in the garden this time last year or what sewing or baking I did in November for Christmas etc.

I write tomorrow's home list just before I turn the laptop off for the night, so it's ready for the next day and I know what I would like to do first thing. Life in our house can be chaotic so a list of tasks, even simple tasks, helps me stay calm and organised.

For the blog and website the lists are fairly static - I do the same tasks regularly, although they do vary from day-to-day.

Here's my to do list for today:

To do (House): 

Change our bed
Clean bedroom - dust and vacuum
Clean ensuite
Tidy linen cupboard
Spend one hour on my wardrobe
Make Christmas lists: gifts, food, cards
Tidy laundry cupboard
Tidy under kitchen sink
Tidy under bathroom sink
Op shop run
Dry bread crusts and process into crumbs
Make cards - 10 for swap - Christmas
Dinner - make patties and chill
Trim roses in driveway - cut back shoots
Prune suckers off bottlebrush
Prune suckers off apple tree
Mending - two things

To do (Blog):

Write TOTD posts (Wed, Thu, Fri)              
Write Stockpile posts for next two weeks              
Write Living off stockpile post              
Write up Week that Was post              
Write up mint tin post              
Take photos of mint tin post
Upload mint tin post            

To do (Website):

MORF - check for change of address forms:
Check Members MORF for change of details
Send TOTD Newsletter
MORF - Check for answers to question
MORF - check for tip of week: - format and add to Latest Tips and Tip Store
Update Tip Store page (first section) with new total for Tip Store
Check Member's MORF for new recipes, add to Recipe File
Check members renewals:
Check expired memberships
Check bank account for direct deposit registrations, activate and email new members.
Format newsletter
Work on November Journal
Create printables for December Journal
Check renewals
Process and send book orders
Post Office

It looks like a long list but most of those things only take a few minutes to do. I'll have plenty of time for a cup of tea and lunch and most of them are fun and enjoyable.  And in amongst all that I'll call Mum and chat to the kids about their days. And by 7.30pm I'll be finished - what isn't done will wait. The evenings are for spending time with my husband (and the kids if they're around) and relaxing until bed time.
To do lists don't need to be complicated, they don't need to be fancy, they just need to guide you through your day or week. My to do list gives me peace, I know if it's on the list it will get done, sometimes not always on the day it's listed, but it will get done.

Do you write a to do list? 

Tip of the Day 18 July, 2009

Get out the door on time

Put an inexpensive battery operated wall clock in the kitchen, bath, bedroom and family room. Now when you stop to do 'one more thing' while you are trying to stay on schedule you will be able to see if you can afford the time. Time yourself to see how long it takes to walk out your door and get to work on 3 different mornings. Then set aside the longest time over the three days for getting ready, out the door and to work on time. You will feel so powerful knowing that you will not be late.