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You are here: Home / Archives for planning

Finding Your Momentum

February 17, 2014 by Tracy

Finding Your Momentum
Finding Your Momentum

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

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.

Monthly Menu Planner

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?

Filed Under: Organization, Time Management, Miscellaneous Tagged With: planning

Scheduling: Due Dates, Payday Deposits, and Credit Report Schedule

January 5, 2014 by Tracy

Scheduling: Monthly Due Dates, Payday Deposits, and Credit Report Schedule
Scheduling: Due Dates, Payday Deposits, and Credit Report Schedule

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Knowledge is freeing. Knowing where items are located, the balance in our accounts, and the dates of time-sensitive materials, we can make informed decisions knowing we have used all the tools available to gain that information.

Having completed the Planning for Success series last year, I did not feel tied to my calendar. In fact, I loved seeing all the details as I could easily move items around without forgetting anything.

I find planning eases my mind from having to remember everything. I don’t need to lie in bed wracking my brain to remember what I forgot to do.

As I continue Scheduling 2014, I am adding more items to my list. I have not completed all 5 items from the prior scheduling post, but I have jotted down the items I still need to record. My list includes a magazine subscription, a newspaper subscription, and 2 home warranty dates.

In addition to my list, I am adding monthly due dates, payday deposits, and credit report schedule and using the FREE printable to stay organized while using time wisely.

6. Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills: Planning for Success – Day 5

Listing due dates a day or two prior to the actual date gives me a little leeway should I get behind on paying bills. Since I pay bills twice a month, I rarely get close to the due dates, but the buffer puts my mind at ease when crunch time comes.

In addition to our mortgage, utilities, tuition, and other monthly bills, I record paying my children an allowance. I discovered last year that we went 4 months without paying them simply because I forgot. From that point on, I have marked my calendar with the word “allowance” to remind me. It works as I haven’t forgotten since recording it on my calendar.

As I pay bills each month, I record the amounts on our bill pay record. Having included the FREE printable last year, I updated the record for you again this year. 😉

FREE PRINTABLE

Bill Pay Record – 2014 (.pdf version)

Bill Pay Record – 2014 Excel version (Microsoft Excel version)

Scheduling: Due Dates, Payday Deposits, and Credit Report Schedule

You are welcome to download, customize with the Excel version, and use this FREE printable. To share this resource with others, please forward the link to this post rather than sending the file directly.

Thank you for protecting Using Time Wisely’s copyright.

7. Post your Payday Schedule: Planning for Success – Day 19

Not only does posting the payday schedule let me know when money will arrive, but it also reminds me to check the pay stub. With Paul’s check getting automatically deposited and the pay stub available online, I must remember to check the online stub for accuracy.

Back in the day, the pay stub was sent via mail or interoffice envelope, but now the stubs are only available online. Mistakes happen. A co-worker of Paul’s learned the hard way when she discovered at the end of the year that her federal taxes had not been deducted. She never checked her stub and trusted that all was well. It was not, and she was left with a hefty tax bill.

To catch payroll errors, check your pay stub. Though I review after each pay period, you will want to scan your pay stub at a minimum of 3 times a year:

    • After the first paycheck of 2014
    • After the first paycheck of the start of your company’s fiscal year
    • After any salary changes

8. Insert Credit Report Schedule: Planning for Success – Day 6

With the rise of identity theft, one needs to stay alert to unusual activity. One way to do so is to request your FREE credit report from each of the three credit bureaus on a rotating basis. If you were to request all 3 at the same time, then you will need to wait an entire year before checking again.

To watch our credit throughout the year, I request our reports on this schedule. By seeing two different reports every 4 months, we will be able to identify any new or unauthorized accounts before any more damage is done.

Since I would forget without a reminder, I schedule to request this year’s reports a day later than the date on the current report. For example, if February 10, 2013 is the date on Paul’s Experian report, then I schedule to request his next Experian report on February 11, 2014. This way the report is FREE.

In scheduling 2014, the monthly due dates, payday deposits, and credit report schedule land on my calendar to free my mind from remembering these important tasks. As I seek using time wisely, I find a calendar with all the details a great tool.

If you live by your calendar, I hope these resources help you know what needs to be done to free you to using time wisely. Happy scheduling!

Question: How do you keep up with all the details of life? 

Filed Under: Organization, Time Management, Miscellaneous Tagged With: planning, scheduling

Scheduling: Holidays, Responsibilities, and Expiration Dates

January 2, 2014 by Tracy

Series Recap: Scheduling 2014
Scheduling: Holidays, Responsibilities, and Expiration Dates

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Starting out with a blank calendar for 2014, I am being intentional about adding items and activities this year. Seeing how easy it is to fill the space, I want only the best items to land on my calendar.

If I overextend our family, then we get cranky, tired, and less effective. Allowing time for spontaneous trips to the park or entertaining at home, I need to keep plenty of margin space in our schedule.

Using the Planning for Success series from January 2013, I am slowly adding items to my calendar. Knowing that everything is recorded in one place frees me from wondering if I am missing something. By writing and scheduling these items, I can consult our calendar knowing that the planning has been done.

Though I took the entire month of January last year and scheduled one theme on my calendar each day, I am grouping similar items together this year. With my calendar selected and printed, I am verifying or adding the following items to prepare for a successful 2014:

1. Include Holidays: Planning for Success – Day 15

My calendar of choice includes most holidays, but non-Federal holidays, like Groundhog Day, Daylight Savings Time, and Pearl Harbor Day, are not always listed. To add the holidays our family honors and celebrates, I use these two additional lists to record the holidays and special days on our calendar:

    • No Frills Calendar
    • Holiday Calendar

2. Set School and Work Activities: Planning for Success – Day 8

Since we have chosen a private school education for our older children, we are tied to the school activities listed on the school calendar. These activities include science fair, history fair, field day, field trips, special days, and volunteer opportunities.

Though my volunteer responsibilities have been limited, I choose to help my children’s teachers on a weekly basis. These activities are listed on my calendar to prevent over-committing or double booking.

As work activities arise for Paul, I add those to the calendar. These entries might include parties, travel, conferences, early meetings, or late evenings. Most of these types of activities come up throughout the year, but any that I know of at the start of the year get added to the calendar.

3. Record Membership Expiration Dates: Planning for Success – Day 4

Finding valuable benefits in having annual memberships, our family invests in these money-saving options. Currently, we only have one active membership. Our zoo, recreational district, and garden memberships expired this past summer. Our science membership is still active and will be renewed this year.

In seeking memberships, I keep watch on the daily deal sites (like Groupon, LivingSocial, etc.) for discounted memberships with reciprocal benefits. Reciprocal benefits means that members gain access into venues in addition to the membership location. I will share, in another post, how we chose our science membership and the benefits we receive.

4. Note Daily Deals Expiration Dates: Planning for Success – Day 11

For any daily deals I have purchased, I record the expiration dates on our calendar. I also add a note in the top right corner of each month on my calendar indicating available deals leading up to the expiration date. This way, when I am looking for a family activity, I can easily see the reminder to use any deals purchased.

Not only do we purchase family activities and memberships, but also restaurant and theatre deals for date nights. All these deals come with expiration dates which get noted on our calendar for use before they expire.

5. Highlight Contract and Subscription Expiration Dates: Planning for Success – Day 9

Our home is reaching the 10 year mark. As we had our home built, we still have some warranties that are in effect. With the expiration date of warranties closing in, I am scheduling inspections of those items prior to the warranty expiration dates.

Other items to include are cable, phone, insurance, medications, newspaper, and magazine expiration dates.

In planning for 2014, I plan to succeed by using time wisely recording holidays, responsibilities, and expiration dates. For more details of what items to include in each category, please refer to the Planning for Success links where I recorded detailed lists and suggestions.

Taking time to plan for success, I will continue to review and re-post the links from the 31 Days of Planning for Success series last year. Rather than listing all the posts, I will address these themes in groups of similar items throughout January to get our year off to a great start. Happy scheduling!

Question: How are you planning for a successful 2014? 

Filed Under: Organization, Time Management, Miscellaneous Tagged With: planning, scheduling

Errands: Adding Breaks to your Schedule

February 22, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Seenu)

After spending a few days last week sorting through the mound of paperwork that “appeared” on my desk, I had a day full of errands to run. With little ones in tow, adding breaks to my schedule is a must.

Errands

My list of errands included:

    • Bi-Lo – grocery store
    • CVS – drugstore
    • Credit Union
    • Publix – grocery store
    • Post office
    • Eye doctor appointments

Breaks

These errands are necessary, but boring for little ones. To keep the outing a fun adventure, I just added in breaks and treats along the way.

    • Bi-Lo – accepting the free cookies – yes, it was before lunch. 🙂
    • CVS – scanning extra care card, searching for sale items, and walking without the cart. (These activities are big deals for my little ones.)
    • Credit Union – choosing lollipops and a toy from the treasure box for making deposits into their accounts
    • Publix – receiving another free cookie for the girls
    • Post office – running around in the play area while waiting to send off a few packages
    • Lunch – purchasing $.79 cheeseburgers and $.49 hamburgers at our local McDonald’s. The girls loved the special lunch, and mom enjoyed the under $5 price.
    • School – climbing on the playground before brother’s class ended
    • Eye doctor appointments – playing with electronic toys (brought from home) while waiting for the doctor
    • Snack – redeeming coupons for free cookies at Zaxby’s. Yep, another free cookie before dinner.

Though our day was full of errands and sugar, we enjoyed the special time together by adding breaks to our schedule. If you have a long list of errands that include little ones in tow, then go for it. Schedule your day around the fun at your errand locations. (If you prefer, limit the cookies and include more errands with playground activities.)

Life is full of obstacles. Embrace them, plan extra time for breaks, and enjoy your little ones while using time wisely. Happy planning!

Question: What errand does your little one enjoy because of the fun?

Filed Under: Time Management, Miscellaneous Tagged With: planning

Event Planning: Changing my Focus

September 27, 2011 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Craig Jewell)

In My Upcoming 2011-2012 Events‘ post, I shared my involvement with the Kid’s Zone for our Fall Festival. Preparations are underway with the event occurring in about 3 weeks. Yikes!

As I continued working through the details, I got distracted. In making a list of all the vendors, I discovered that I also needed a supply list. As I began another list of the supplies, I realized that I needed a map to know how far away the vendors will be from the power source for extension cords, mats, etc.

By this time I had worked for about 10 minutes without finishing one list. I was no closer to a solution than when I began. Does this happen to you? My brain wanted to plan all the details, but I had no framework for those details.

I. had. to. STOP!

Before getting overwhelmed and quitting, I needed to be using time wisely by changing my focus.

Develop a Framework

Before mastering the details, I needed a framework. Therefore, I went back to my initial list of vendors and finished it. Knowing all the vendors that needed to fit in that space, I sketched an initial map. This rough draft helps me see the big picture when adjustments are needed.

Consider the Sections

With the big picture in place and a tentative map, I then considered which vendors needed power. Identifying where the power sources would be and pairing vendors together, I assigned vendors to sections of the framework.  Working through the different options within my framework keeps my momentum going with forward progress.

TIP: When I am brainstorming, I keep all my sketches. If a plan changes, I can go back to tweak a former sketch. Only when the plan is set will I discard my less-than-stellar sketches.

Work on the details

With a tentative map and sections determined, I concentrated on the details. Returning to the supply list, I then addressed where trash cans needed to be placed, the number of extension cords needed, etc.

By refocusing my scattered brain, that was working miles ahead of where I needed to start, I developed a framework, considered the sections, and worked on the details. In using time wisely, I accomplished the task at hand without frustration once I set a plan. As you can see from this example, I get overwhelmed. But by organizing my thoughts and writing down the ideas and options, I can accomplish much while using time wisely.

Question: What do you do to refocus when you get overwhelmed? Please let me know that I’m not the only one who struggles here. 🙂 Feel free to add your comments and suggestions.

Filed Under: Event Planning, Preparing Tagged With: planning

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