Finding Freedom Friday ~ Time Management

Phoebe is continuing her Friday series on Finding Freedom. Since I sometimes don't have much to say on Fridays, she gives me something to really think and blog about.  I have also learned some amazing tips on organization, frugal grocery shopping, etc., by following this series.  You should check it out.

In reading her post today, I have to definitely agree with one thing she said ... having a schedule! If I didn't have one, we'd be totally lost!  I'd like to add something to what she said. Every person is different!  Some are morning people, some get energized in the afternoon, some get their second wind at 9 p.m.  However you are, go with it!  Develop your schedule around your peak times of the day.

Me, I'm a morning person!  During the week I get up just before 5 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to go to the Y and just before 6 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday to go walk.  Both of these things get me back home by about 6:30-6:45 a.m.  I then grab my cup of coffee, my Bible and devotional, and sit down to spend some quiet time with the Lord.  If I did not get up and exercise at that time and do my quiet time first thing in the morning, I would never do it later in the day!  I typically want to cry when the alarm goes off, but it only takes me a second to realize how behind I will be if I don't GET UP!!

By 7 a.m. or so I am ready to plan my day, which leads me to my biggest Time Management Tool .... the index card!!

Oh, how I love my index cards! At the end of my quiet time, I take my index card and make a list of the tasks I would like to accomplish for the day, i.e. cleaning tasks, items I need at the grocery store, errands I need to run, etc. Then I really do take just a minute and commit my day (and my index card list) to God. This helps me keep balance. I have to remember that God has things He plans for me to do that day, so if I have my day scheduled to the minute, I have no wiggle room.  I figure the things I actually get accomplished are the things God really wanted me to get done that day, and the rest He didn't so it's not as big of a deal (or at least I try to convince myself of that).

I then carry that index card around with me the rest of the day.  I mark things off, take it with me when I run errands, etc.  I also use index cards to make notes to the kids to clip to their cubbies.  I make schedules for the family if I'm going to be away for the night.  Sometimes I write scriptures on them to tape to everyone's bathroom mirrors.  I write bus notes and other notes.  I should seriously buy stock in them to try to recoup some of the money I spend.  But that's the beauty of index cards.  They are tough, small and inexpensive.

Of course I could sit here and give you my other OCD suggestions for how I keep my day orderly (like how I always make the bed of the person who is currently eating breakfast, or how I clean my house by using Acronyms for the day of the week, or how I oftentimes do my bedtime routine at 5:00 or so in the evening so I don't have to do it at bedtime when I'm tired), but I think I'll spare you the gory details. Let's just say I have lots more I do to manage my time wisely than using index cards, but that really is the best tool I have.

Here's to hoping you have a well-managed day today.  Now, I'm off to do the things on my index card!  We're having company tonight!

** In response to a request, here is my Acronym Cleaning Schedule (I posted about it before, but can't find it.  I don't want to waste time today looking for it.)

Monday ~ Mounds of Laundry and Mop it Monday (6 loads of laundry and mop my concrete floors)

Tuesday ~ Toilets Tuesday (all bathrooms)

Wednesday ~ Wipe it Wednesday (dusting and all other surfaces)

Thursday ~ Tidy Up Thursday (put things back where they belong)

Friday ~ Finish Up Laundry and Floors Friday (about 5-6 more loads of laundry and vacuuming)