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Welcome, Blogelina Commentathon participants! Glad you are joining us on this journey of Using Time Wisely. Jump right on in as we learn from each other.
Last week was a big hiccup from our family’s typical week. With light snow falling early Tuesday morning through the development of black ice on Friday morning, our family stayed home.
Of course, we ventured out to play in the snow once it accumulated, but we also enjoyed sleeping later and staying up past normal bedtime.
Don’t get me wrong, we loved it! However, all good things must come to an end.
As we moved bedtime back over the weekend, we are starting to find our momentum. If you are out of sync due to illness, snow, or other unusual circumstances, you might feel sluggish and unmotivated.
Recognize that a change is needed and that you can make that change. In finding your momentum, start with your routines, plan simple meals, and get your rest.
Start with your Routines
Routines are patterns of activities performed in a sequential order. For example, in our family’s evening routine, my children prepare for bed. These activities include:
- Fill drink containers and take upstairs
- Bath/shower
- Put on pajamas
- Brush teeth
- Go potty
- Lay out clothes for tomorrow
This routine is automatic for our 3 children. When Paul and I ask them to go upstairs, they fall into this routine and prepare for bed.
By starting with the routine, our family gets back into a rhythm. For resetting, I find the evening routine the most important because it sets us up for a great morning. At which time, we can implement our morning routine and then fall into our afternoon routine.
Once the routines start flowing, we find our momentum and get back on track.
FREE printable
Plan Simple Meals
During this time of transition, I find simple meals the best use of my time. I know I will need to help Mr. 8, Miss 6, and Miss 3 with extra homework, more reminders, and time to adjust as we find our groove.
By falling back on our list of 15 Quick Meals for Busy Nights, I create margin (extra time in our schedule) while feeding our family.
My other favorite dinner strategies include crock pot options and freezer cooking which I place on our monthly menu planner. (You are welcome to download my FREE printable menu planner).
This menu planning tool helps our family get to the table while using time wisely since we don’t have to wonder what’s for dinner at 5:00 p.m. Whether you use a menu planner or another tool, experiment to discover what works best for you in finding your momentum.
Get your Rest
As you get back into your routines with your well-fed family, take time to get your rest. As you are working diligently and exerting more energy to get back into your normal pattern, you will need rest.
Think of it as the first day of school. Do you remember how exhausted you or your kids are after that first day. Whew! It’s a whirlwind. My daughter did not even make it to her bed. She fell asleep out of exhaustion on the ride home.
You are tired. It is normal as you are gaining speed and finding your momentum. Realize that getting back to normal is going to cost you some sleep. Take it. The better rested you are, the more energy, more patience, and more stamina you will have to tackle the tasks at hand.
With a plan in place, are you ready to press forward? Begin with a mindset of “I can do it,” and then start with your routines, plan simple meals, and get your rest. Before you know it, you’ll be back into your groove and plugging along.
Hiccups will happen, so creating a plan for those bumps in the road will help you in finding your momentum while using time wisely. Happy momentum building!
Question: How do you find momentum when life happens?
I’m not a very consistent person but I find routine to be important anytime you have children involved. Without routine there is only chaos. I really need to be better about setting up a good night time routine. We homeschool and the kids don’t have a real need for preparing for the next morning but I can see the value in it for days we do have to leave the house. And I can ALWAYS use more rest. We have all been sick around here and rest has been my mantra.
Sorry to hear your family has been battling illness. That’s no fun! Yay for for routines! Schedules change and life happens, but having a sequential routine helps get everyone back on the same page. Keep investing in your children’s education as you continue using time wisely. Thanks for the comment, Angela. Keep getting your rest. 🙂
Thanks for the reminders! I needed them as time for the new baby’s arrival approaches.
Congratulations, Audrey! My daughter’s teacher is 7-months pregnant. I keep reminding her to put her feet up and to rest. You are in the homestretch. Just rest when the baby does. Let the non-essentials go, and invest in your family. Thanks for the comment as you are busy preparing for baby.
I have to bookmark this post so I can read over it again. I need to absorb the information in depth lol. I love these ideas. Thanks for sharing!
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Tracy,
I so needed to hear this. We too had the snow and winter break from school. I’ve been trying to get us back on track. Being off our schedule has made me feel all out of sorts and our week has felt off. Tomorrow, both girls will finally be back in school and pre-k and mom is getting some much needed rest while they are out!
Sabrina, I’m with you. I was feeling slow, sluggish, and unmotivated. Once I change my mindset, I started to make progress. I’m glad you will get some time to rest. Take it! It’s amazing how easy some tasks seem after a good nap when those same tasks appeared impossible before the rest.
Thanks for sharing how you always are working through these hiccups. I appreciate your comment and know you will soon be back to your normal. Keep on track!
I have sleep issues and one thing the doctor told me is that I need to have a sleep routine that stays consistent as well. It helps a lot but is not always the easiest thing to follow.
Like Angela above posted, I’m not a structured person. But nighttime was the one thing I was always spot on. Hubby and I needed that time to decompress and be able to talk with no kids around about our day.
Thanks for sharing, Val! When I think about this, my children have a sleep routine, but my husband and I do not. Though we don’t have sleep issues, yet, this is good information should we venture into new territory. Great tip!
It’s a cruel irony that my kids were born to a mother who is the least organized person on the planet. However, when they were younger, I did have routines in place especially around bedtime and meal times. My husband used to travel quite a lot for his job. He would be gone for weeks at a time and I used to joke that he would come home long enough to mess up the boys’ routine and then take off again LOL. Planning ahead certainly does help the boys to anticipate what is coming each day and it does make it easier on Mom.
Hats off to you,Tamara! I have a special place in my heart for moms who “hold down the fort” while her husband is on the road. I know much we depend on routines. I can only imagine more and tighter routines if I were parenting alone for a portion or all of the time. Keep up the great work, and give yourself some slack. There are more important things than routines. Love on those boys – no matter how old they are. 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
Routine is my mantra! My husband calls me a nap-and-meal-and-bedtime-nazi because I am so consistent with the routine for my two toddlers, but I swear that little people thrive on routine! I could not cope with no schedule. I’m going to take a look at your meal-planning resources. I already do this, but I feel like it’s an area that could be improved in my life! Thanks!
I’m a little people, too. Besides my 5’4″ statue next to my 6’2″ hubby, I also thrive on routine. 😀 Focusing more on the sequence than the timing is schedule enough for our family.
Menu planning is great. I have learned to keep it flexible as plans change. For me, the plan is more to let me know which meals I can make with the ingredients I have on hand than another schedule to follow. Find what works for you, go with it. Thanks for the comment, Amy!
Getting enough rest is SO something that I need to be far more purposeful about incorporating into my routine. When I get enough rest, the rest of it (coincidentally) just seems to fall into place or at least be so much easier.
You are not alone, Bernadette! I need more rest in my routine as well. But in getting more rest, I’ve got to let some things go. It is definitely a balance that I am still learning. Thanks for the comment!
Thank you for all the great information! I’ve been a bit of a rebel to routine in my past, but since becoming a mother, I’ve found that it really is the best for all of us (with some flexibility) in this stage of our lives. Thank you for the meal planning printable, too!
I understand, Renae! I definitely prefer a routine to a schedule. With a schedule, I get off track since some tasks take longer than others. The routine is just the sequential order of doing the tasks. Thank you for the comment, and enjoy the meal planner. 😉
Good morning, Tracy! I loved what you shared today. I, too, am on a journey of finding beautiful rhythms of life for our family. I endured two serious surgeries a year ago that I am STILL (ack) recovering from. It has been a long and slow process. However, I’m stronger each month and have added two crucial elements to my daily routines that are making an enormous difference. I’ve started riding my stationary bike daily and I’m testing a virtual homekeeping app that has been truly amazing. Both of these are bringing strength and order to our home. Woo hoo!
Thanks again for a wonderful post.
Thankfully, you are on this side of surgery and gaining your strength. Thanks for the comment, and your post about exercising. I enjoyed reading and commenting on your post. Wishing you well as you continue to improve day after day.
I love this! I actually chose momentum as my word for 2014. When life gets in the way, I usually take a day or two to regain my footing and then I focus on my goals. Plan out everything in my planner and make sure I’m comfortable with everything I have going on.
Great plan, Cindy! As you learn what works best for you, you do find your momentum. Thanks for the comment and sharing how you refocus on your goals.
Those are great tips! I will have to remember them this week, as we are going to try to get back into more of our normal schedule. 2 weeks ago I had surgery and everything has been crazy since then. It’s going to be tough getting back to normal!
Give yourself grace, Heather. Take it one step at time. Concentrate on one thing at time, and let your family find their way. It will take time, but you are recovering and healing. Thanks for the comment, and take it slow this week. 🙂
I have 3 little ones between ages 0-3 and routine is SO IMPORTANT! The thing is though that I’m good with routine when it comes to the kids, but I’m terrible at it when it comes to self-care. Any tips? I’ve been sleep deprived for about 3.5 yrs… =P
Bless your heart! With 3 littles, home life, and a blog, you are a very busy lady. I can only tell you it gets easier as they get older and out of diapers. At the ages of your little ones, you’ve got a couple of years, but enjoy these days. They really do go fast. Hugs! <3
As I get older, I realize more and more how important it is to get my rest. Also setting myself up for success by preparing for tomorrow morning, tonight has been a life saver!
Agreed, Corinna! I used to run on 5-6 hours of sleep, but I can no longer handle that schedule. Discovering that my body now needs 7-8 hours of sleep, I had to make adjustments and let things go to concentrate on my health. Happy choosing what is best for you!
Great routine ideas! I am starting to learn to embrace the hiccups but It’s nice to have some guidelines to help keep them to a minimum.
It’s a learning process, Yolanda. I’m still adjusting as well. Thanks for the comment.
I’m definitely not good at finding momentum when “life” happens to get super busy. However, I like your tips–especially getting rest!
Sometimes it is easier said than done, Becky. However, getting rest always produces better results than just plugging along getting it all done. Thanks for comment, and keep on learning as you are not alone on this journey of life.
Prepping the night ahead has been helpful for me, as well as making sure I get to bed on time. Thanks for all the tips!
Thanks, Lori, for the comment. Wow, you get to bed on time. I am still learning to just write down everything I cannot finish, and then go to bed. I probably should set a bedtime and then work toward winding down about half hour earlier. Your comment now has me thinking. Thank you!
The problem with momentum is that some people use it as a way to beat themselves up and then never get going again. But momentum is not a continuant. Stuff happens–any number of things can result in a loss of momentum. When people use momentum as justification for stopping, it simply means they are afraid of dealing with the discomfort of starting again. Getting started again is one of the most precious success skills that we can develop.
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Great perspective, Rachel! Thanks for sharing because many are afraid to restart. Appreciate your comment.
Finding momentum is quite challenging for me especially after a long vacation. During vacation, the kids can sleep past their normal bedtime. However, a week before the school starts I condition their minds and start with schooldays the bedtime routine. These are valuable tips!
Yes, vacations like summer and spring break are also anticipated in our house. We also have to adjust bedtime prior to going back to prevent meltdowns and pure exhaustion before the school day is over. Thanks for the comment and sharing how you adjust during these times.
This fall my four year old twins will start kindergarten full time. I know it will be a big transition for us in terms of getting up early, preparation, food planning etc. Your post will give me lots to think about and will help. (I’ve also just liked your page on FB.) Thanks for your post!
Yes, transitioning to school is a big jump, but doable. You will find what works for you and as you get into a routine, you will feel more comfortable and efficient. Thanks for your comment and for joining us on Facebook. 🙂
Oh, the fun of getting “back to normal” in a schedule! Even just a couple late nights can be so hard to break. After way too many late nights with the Olympics being on, I’m ready to get to bed earlier again. Thanks for sharing easy meal plans – I’m looking forward to checking those out more.
April, I’m with you. I was up watching what I missed in prime time after the late night edition more than once during the last 17 days. Although I am used to staying up late, I was up past my bedtime. Thanks for the comment, and enjoy getting your rest.
wow! You are sooo organized! we really need to get into routine with our toddler, it’s hard when he room shares with my step daughter who came to live with us. he’s also a night owl like mom and dad!
Paula, I have been blessed with the gift of organization, and I know it is a gift.
Regarding your night owl, I have one of those also. Miss 3 can sometimes keep up Miss 6 as they share a room with bunk beds. On those nights, we put Miss 3 in our bed to fall asleep. While in our room, there is no movie or Netflix. She is to play quietly with a few books until she falls asleep. Once she is out, we move her back to her bed.
Not sure if that type of arrangement would work for you, but we find it helpful to remove Miss 3 when she bouncing off the walls, so that Miss 6 can get rest for school the next day. Thanks for your comment, and good luck on discovering a routine that works for you. 🙂
When ‘life happens’ and our routines get disrupted I find that I need to take a little time to clear, and reorganise things to get back on track. So long as I take that little bit of time all is well!
Yay for finding your way through disruptions, Jill. Thanks for your comment and for sharing how you cope when your routine gets derailed.
I have definitely struggled with creating consistent routines for either myself or for my kids… we are working on it slowly. This week, my kids have worked on making sure that their rooms are clean every day before leaving for school. My husband and I have been working on making sure that the kitchen is clean every night before going to bed. While these were hard for us, at first, with almost a month in, they are actually starting to become routine… now I need to add something to the routines for next month!
Kudos, Julie! I love how you are starting with one task and getting a handle on it before adding more. Keep up the great work. Thanks for the comment and for sharing how a routine is working for you. 🙂
We don’t plan our meals for the week. I guess it’s time that we should because we tend to eat whatever we feel like eating. And it’s not healthy. As for bedtime, although we have a routine, I still find it a challenge for my daughter to get ready for bed. She always begs for “five minutes more” which often ends up as thirty minutes more. At times like those, I try to clean up whatever I can and by the time I’m done, my daughter’s already tired and ready for bed. It’s not the same every day, though.
Hang in there, Ces. Don’t feel like you need to menu plan for the week. If a daily plan is better for you, then decide tomorrow night’s dinner this evening or tomorrow morning. Find a system that works for you to help you in using your time wisely while feeding your family.
Never fear as you are not alone in the “five more minutes” saga. We have those nights as well, so you are in good company. Thanks for your comment and sharing your struggles. It is a journey and finding our way takes time, but is worth the effort. 🙂
I don’t have a family yet but even in my own life I find it easier when sticking to a routine. Sometimes its fun to veer off course but I get most accomplished making to-do lists doing my own night time routine to prepare for the day ahead. Great post!
Marty, I’ve operated on routine since childhood. My college roommates used to tease me because they knew what time it was by the activity I was doing. I like routines and schedules because I am more productive and efficient because I follow the same sequence. I don’t forget things, and everything gets done right the first time. Thanks for the comment, and for sharing how routines work for you.
Tracey,
What a great post! I am past the kids and family phase but find having routines incredibly important for managing my daily life. And, your advice, when you get out of sync, get back into your routine, genius!!! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Christine! Thank you for your comment. I appreciate your perspective and sharing how routines create stability even after children are out of the house. 🙂
I’m kind of all over, but I try desperately to keep a routine for my 2 year old. If we don’t eat at the same time, it’s like everything is thrown off track. These are great tips! Thank you for sharing. 😀
Bless your heart, Miranda. I remember the 2-year-old phases where the schedule could not change. As your child grows and matures, you will find more wiggle room in your routine. Hang in there! 🙂
I do feel I lack some momentum some days. This is really something I want to work on this year. To just get a better grip on being a SAHM especially as I have one on the way and one starting school in the fall. Thanks for sharing the routines!
You’re welcome, Leslie. Routines take time to develop as you find what works best for you. As your situation changes, give yourself grace as you adjust those routines to better fit your family’s needs. Congratulations on your growing family!
I’m definitely not the more organized person I know. When I had our first child things became so chaotic adjusting to this new little one in our lives. This may sound silly, but I found that as long as I made our bed in the morning I at least felt like I got something done that day. Eighteen years later I’m a little better at handling chaos with four kids, but I still find that one habit – besides my quite time in the morning – gives me a sense of order in my day.
It’s the little things that get us through the day, Marie! Thanks for sharing from your experience and how you find order in your day. I appreciate your comment and peek into your routine.
I like our routine! It gives me structure and consistency. Although, having teens require a bit more flexibility, I’m quite alright with that. This was a nice post. I could use the friendly reminder. Thanks, Tracy!
Thank you, Shelah, for sharing how your routine works in a home with teenagers. I can only imagine how crazy your schedule gets with kids going in every direction. Glad you found a method that works for you.
Having a routine, a to-do list and a set schedule is always key for me getting back my momentum!
Love that To Do list, Alyssa. I would be lost without mine. Thanks for sharing your tips.
Great post! I needed to be reminded of these little tips as we are just recovering from illness. I have maintained some sort of routine but the not the usual one. I appreciate your well laid out plans and many links. Will pin this for the future and go through the links now! Thank you!
I’m glad you are emerging from the illness and getting your energy back, Amanda. I’m glad you found the post helpful and worthy of pinning for the future. Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts. Come back as often as you can. 🙂
Getting back into my routines, 15 minutes at a time, definitely helps me get my equilibrium and momentum back 🙂
Interesting approach, Carol. Do you work for 15 minutes and then take a break, or do you setup your routines in to 15-minute segments? I am curious to know more about how your system works. Thanks for your comment as you have sparked my interest.
I have to have structure and consistency to a greater degree than most of my family. I felt this way before I became a single mom and now that I’m a single mom it’s an absolute MUST. I’ve also noticed that the more structure I provide for the children, the happier out home is in general. Thank you for sharing these tips! I love this topic. 🙂
I agree, Gina! My family thrives on structure and consistency. Knowing what comes next brings a comfort and certainty in the midst of changing schedules and unexpected surprises. Thanks for the comment and for sharing how your routines are working for you.
I love my to-do lists. But I agree, since the holidays it feels like everything has been out of order. We’ve had an abundance of snow and delays here in Maryland and that makes it hard to get back into a groove.
When I plan my meals, things seem to go much smoother. But there are times when school needs or other issues arise and I can’t execute the plan. It’s my hope that over the next few weeks I can stock the freezer with some go-to meals for those nights so I don’t feel so frazzled.
Great idea, Christina. Give yourself time to stock the freezer. Whether you choose to batch cook or just make double recipes when you are making meals, you will enjoy having meals at your fingertips on those busy nights. Thanks for the comment and sharing how you are planning as you gain your momentum.
I can’t claim that I have thought things through half as well as you have. I’m saving this post to my pocket so I can check out your routines and tweak *cough* create some of my own.
The main thing we focus on is re instating bed time so that our life can get back on track.
I really appreciate that you shared this.
You are welcome, Aishah! Give yourself grace. It takes trial and error to find routines that work for you. Start small with one routine at a time. Give yourself and your family time to adjust and make it their own. This way, they are more likely to follow the routine that they think they created. 🙂
Thanks for your comment, openly sharing your struggles, and mentioning POCKET. I love that extension and use it often to save time. I’m honored that you felt this post was worth keeping. Grateful for your encouragement!
Great post and I agree, when things get out of whack, you have to get them back in whack. I love your tools and the idea of routines. I try to make sure that I have my calendar and my To Do list set for the week and the following day as soon as possible so I have structure and some clue what’s coming each day as I prep for bed.
Sounds like your evening routine sets you up for a great morning, Jill. Thanks for the comment and sharing how you find your momentum.
It is so easy to get thrown off track, but you just have to roll with the punches & get back on. I like your idea of staying on routine, it keeps thing running smoothly especially when it comes to kids.
Thanks for your comment, Missy. I do find getting off track happening more often. But the quicker we adjust, the easier it is to get back on track.