Time Managment- A must for anyone, especially helpful for those with PMDD

Time management isn’t something I struggle with during my great 1 week of the month. Unfortunately, one week isn’t good enough, LOL, especially when you have 4 kids and a husband.

I have found over the past few months that keeping my time management skills tweaked, though not even close to their top potential, during my tough 2 wk time, helps keep my stress level down tremendously.

My medication helps keep me from raging, it allows me to take everything in, think before reacting, but as we all know, it isn’t a miracle drug. SO… to work with the meds, organization is helping, and helping a lot.

Now, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I have a set day for sweeping, laundry, etc… that doesn’t work for me, though it may help you. What does work for me is when I see the laundry in the basket, I start the load. I don’t care what day, what time~ if I see it, I throw it in.

Dinner time… I have started using the Menu’s and Grocery Lists. I used to just go up and down each aisle in the store and even then go back and forth. I can’t stand grocery shopping anyway and this really put me over the edge. I would come home and just be in the worst mood. Again, this is even worse during that time.

These sort of things work for me and you will need to decide what works for you. I do suggest though, do something.

You will see a difference in all the areas of your life, especially in how you treat and react to your family, and that’s a positive we all want.

I hope you find this useful. Please comment so that I know if you guys would like to see more stuff like this.

Enjoy!

Day 1 – Introduction To Time Management

In our society the term “time management” is very common.
When a child receives their report card, the teacher usually notes
whether they have good or poor time management skills. When you scan through the classified ads, many employers say these skills are a requirement for the job.

Have you ever thought about what these skills actually are? What makes up “good time management?” People with good time management skills can differentiate between good and poor uses of time. They know which activities to spend their time on, and which activities to postpone. While these skills do come naturally to some people, they can also be learned.

There are many benefits to knowing how to manage your time effectively. When you are able to get your tasks completed in the time you allowed, you will feel less stressed and be able to lead a more balanced life.

Many people think that managing time is about flow charts and time graphs. There is a lot more to it than that. Actually, a lot of your time management skills have to deal with inner confidence! However, creating a schedule is a fundamental step, and we will go over that tomorrow.

Day 2 – How To Create A Schedule

Having a schedule is a fundamental part of time management. Learning good time management skills is a lot like building a house. It happens piece by piece. Learning to schedule your time is the “foundation” of your “house.” If you don’t understand how to do that, everything else will crumble.

To create your schedule, write down all the things you have to do on a regular basis. Now, estimate the time it takes to get each one done. You may want to time yourself on a few tasks to see if your estimates are correct. You may be surprised at how long it takes to accomplish some things.

Once you know how long it takes to get things done, you can start planning your schedule. Giving yourself ample time to get your work done is very important. If you try to cram too many things into a short amount of time, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Instead, schedule yourself accordingly. You’ll be doing yourself a big favor.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss how to choose a planner.

For more in depth instruction on managing your time Click here!

Day 3 – How To Choose A Planner

Instead of adapting your personality to someone else’s idea of the “perfect planner,” find a planner that fits your unique personality. You can choose from a paper planner, a digital organizer, or even a customized system made out of bulletin boards!

Paper planners come in a variety of sizes. Choose one that fits your needs. For example, are you going to carry it around with you or do you plan to keep it out on your desk? Do you want to see the whole week spread out on two pages or do you prefer to have one day per page so you can write down a bunch of notes?

Smart phones that combine a cell phone with a PDA and Mp3 player are very popular, but they are also very expensive. If you aren’t sure if you are going to like this type of organizer, try using a free digital planning system such as Google Calendar before you make a big investment into a smart phone.

Tomorrow we’ll talk about the importance of a children’s schedule.

For more in depth instruction on managing your time Click here!

Day 4 – Do Your Children Need A Schedule

While your children may not need a rigid schedule, putting them on a routine is a great idea. This is especially true for younger children, as toddlers need routines in order to feel secure in their environment.

Begin with something simple, such as a bedtime routine. Once they get used to that, you can begin teaching them a morning routine and so on. A sample morning routine may include waking up, getting dressed, eating breakfast, brushing teeth, reading a story, and getting into the car to run errands.

Helping your middle school or high school children establish schedules in order to balance their school work with their social lives can help them prepare for college.

The earlier they learn these skills, the less chance they have of developing academic stress and procrastination. Tomorrow we’ll discuss learning how to say “no” and how to ask for help.

For more in depth instruction on managing your time Click here!

Day 5 – Learning How To Ask For Help & Say “No”

It’s very common for a mom to take on all the needs of her family. Moms definitely have trouble saying “no” and the last thing they want to do is ask someone for help.

Have you ever thought of the affect that could have on your family? When your children see you and your spouse sharing the household responsibilities, they will have a better understanding of what a 50/50 marriage is all about. And if your children don’t learn to cook and clean for themselves now, what are they going to do when it is time to go to college?

A big part of learning time management skills is learning when your schedule is full. No matter how thin you stretch yourself, you will never be able to accomplish everything all by yourself. Let someone else vacuum the living room while you take a break. You deserve it!

For more in depth instruction on managing your time Click here!