Using Time Wisely

Organized to save money, energy, and time

You are here: Home / Archives for To Do list

To Do List: Starting the Week with a Manageable Plan

by

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Whew! What a busy Father’s Day. After a quick morning celebration, worshipping with our church family, and lunch with Paul’s parents, we came home for the afternoon.

Usually, I spend time blogging while the toddler naps and my older kids play. But today, Paul and I enjoyed an afternoon nap.

Making Notes

Awaking feeling rested and thinking clearly, I found myself making a mental list of this week’s activities. Realizing this list kept going, I grabbed my notebook and started writing everything down. At the end of my brain dump, I had a to do list of 48 items to carry out this week.

Assigning Tasks

In organizing the list, I assigned each task to a day of the week. With about 7 items to complete each day, I have a plan for the week.

By breaking down the big picture into manageable sections, the to do list did not overwhelm me. In fact, the list was freeing.

The best part, I felt motivated and knocked off 5 items already. Some of the errands will combine with our activities, so I’m on my way to a smooth-sailing week.

Executing the Plan

Don’t misunderstand. This week is full of activities, errands, appointments, and cleaning. With a plan in place, I can take a break and enjoy my children, rise early to get a start on the day, or move tasks when our plans change.

In using time wisely to schedule your week, try creating your own to do list. You can always add or subtract projects, but getting them off your mental list and on paper (or phone, computer, tablet, etc.) frees your mind to focus on the task at hand. Happy planning!

Question: How do you prepare for the start of the week?   

Time Management: Expecting the Unexpected

by

Last week I shared my strategy for planning each day. Lest you believe that at the end of each day I have accomplished all I set out to do, I give you a glimpse into my life. Last Sunday night before heading to bed, I planned a general idea of what I wanted to accomplish on Monday. I was planning to do laundry, menu planning, and blogging in the morning. My children and I headed off to school. After dropping off my son, we headed home. About 3-5 miles from home, I hit a pot hole and popped my front passenger-side tire. After moving to safety onto the shoulder, I examined the damage. Yep, the tire was flat.

After calling my husband, I used a temporary AAA membership, which came in the mail as a promotion, to get the tire changed. There were a number of gracious folk who stopped to make sure the girls and I were not hurt. One lady passed us and sent her husband and son to come help us. When they arrived, I informed them that AAA had been notified and was sending someone to help. The husband/son team offered to wait in their vehicle behind our car to be sure we stayed safe. This dad has 3 children of his own and would not want his wife to be stranded without some protection. How kind of this family to spend their time ensuring the safety of myself and the girls while we waited for AAA to arrive!

Many offered to change the tire for me, but I did not want them to get dirty. Some of them were wearing their business attire or white shirts. Their offers were kind, but I’m thankful we waited for AAA. About 1 hour and 15 minutes after calling, the employee arrived. He noticed that our spare tire was flat, so he pumped it up. He also had a really sturdy jack, unlike the one included with our spare tire. Since the car was in the dirt/sand, the girls and I stayed behind the car as he worked. He quickly finished, and we were on our way.

My morning was then spent at Discount Tire to repair the damage. After inspecting the tire and wheel, the employee informed me that I would need a new wheel/rim and a new tire. Remember how I opted to pay for insurance on the new tires I purchased? Having that insurance saved our family about $130 for a new tire. Discount Tire replaced the gashed tire for free, and I added the insurance on the new tire for $16. In the event that I hit another pot hole, this new tire will be covered as well.

The wheel is another story. A refurbished wheel for the year and make of our car is $180. Yikes! Learning that the car is drivable with the current bent wheel, I opted to look around. After speaking to our mechanic, I called a store in a nearby city and found a refurbished wheel for $125 plus tax. Our mechanic suggested having ours fixed, so I called another local establishment. They will fix our wheel for $125. Since our mechanic likes the local business that repairs bent wheels, I now need to find a day that works in my schedule. Working around church, soccer, school, and family obligations is quite tricky.

Though I had a plan for my day, the unexpected occurred. I did not plan to hit a pot hole, be in the car with my girls for over an hour, and then wait at Discount Tire for the repair work to be completed. I’m not sure I know of anyone who would have this on their To Do list for the day. On the list or not, it happened. I just used my time to play with my girls. The baby enjoyed “driving” the car. She loves pushing all the buttons. My oldest daughter enjoyed changing seats. She kept moving from the front seat to the back seat. We read books, stacked rocks in the sand, and watched the passing cars. They both were worn out as they fell asleep on the way back to school to pick up their brother.

We were safe, the car is almost repaired, bonding time was achieved during the morning, and the planned items were pushed off to the afternoon and the next day. As all the items on my list for the day were “need to be done” items, I did not have a pressing need to be home. I’m thankful that the Lord protected us from harm, provided the resources to repair our vehicle, and allowed us time to spend with each other. When life throws me an unexpected delay, I attempt to seize that time and spend it wisely.

Using a To Do List to Keep Organized – Step 3 of 3

by

How is your To Do list looking? I have added a few items and crossed off others. I’m making progress, and I hope you are doing the same. Having completed STEP ONE and STEP TWO, here are my thoughts on getting those items crossed off one project at a time.

STEP THREE: Executing my To Do list.

Sometimes I need to revise my list. When I first write down an item, I list the broad category (i.e. clean upstairs). As I work through my list, I may get 20 minutes to start cleaning. When I have completed what I could in that time (i.e. the sink and toilet in my kids’ bathroom), I will update my To Do list by adding KIDS’ BATHROOM – CLEAN TUB AND FLOORS. I still keep CLEAN UPSTAIRS, but now I know what I still need to clean.

Most of my projects are done in sections. When my kids need me, I take time to spend with them. As they find something to play alone or with each other, then I can get a few minutes to tackle 1 or 2 items on my To Do list. By updating my list, I am better able to keep track of what I have done and what I still need to complete.

SIDE BENEFIT: With additional items on the list, you get to cross-off more items. Do you enjoy having items to cross-off your list? My husband loves to add items to his To Do list after completing tasks, just so he can cross off the item. He can quickly fill a legal-size sheet of paper. Silly guy! I’m just thankful he stays motivated as he crosses off the substantial items on his To Do list.

My To Do list saves me time since I do not stop to think about what needs to be done. Remember, I am task-oriented, and I need my To Do list to remind and guide me in using my time wisely. For those of you who are goal-oriented, how do you organize? Do you use a To Do list, calendar, or just handle things as they come? I’m interested to hear how you keep it together. Please leave a comment with your tips for staying-on-top  of your responsibilities. In reading the comments, someone else may benefit from your suggestion.

Using a To Do List to Keep Organized – Step 2 of 3

by

Like using a hammer to insert a nail makes the process easier, so using a To Do list makes using my time more productive. Last week, I shared how I create my To Do list. The list might look overwhelming when you think of everything that needs to be done. With the list created, we can now plan a course of action.

STEP TWO:    Prioritizing my To Do list.

During the afternoon and/or evening when I am working at my desk, I will review my To Do list. As I scan the list, I look for items that have an up-coming deadline since these items need to be completed before tasks that “just make my life easier.” By keeping myself reminded of my projects, I am better able to meet deadlines and stay-on-top of my responsibilities. When I finish one task, I have a plan for the next item to complete. My To Do list helps me to see all my projects at once, so I can prioritize which item needs to be completed next.

I usually prioritize by due date. For me, PAYING THE BILLS will be completed before PURGING 2010 ACCOUNT FILES. The account files have no deadline. They can sit for a long time without any penalty. But if I miss the due date of my utility bill, then I will probably get a late fee, possibly lose service, and end up paying more than necessary.

For another example, MAKING HISTORY FAIR PROJECT would be completed, started, or delegated before WRITING ADDITIONAL BLOG PAGES. Having the pages on the website would be nice, but my son needs his project by the end of April. (I don’t usually put the date beside the items on my To Do list because I can remember time frames. But if you need that extra reminder, then a month/day beside each item might help as you prioritize.) Just knowing the deadlines and the time frames needed for each item, I can prioritize and schedule my time wisely to complete the needed tasks.

Having my To Do list created and prioritize helps me to save time as I prepare to execute. Next week, we will conclude this 3-part series with executing our To Do list.

Using a To Do List to Keep Organized – Step 1 of 3

by

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with all the projects you need to complete? I get overwhelmed when I try to remember everything. If I am depending on my memory, I am bound to forget something. To alleviate the strain of recalling the projects I have committed to accomplish or deem necessary to complete, I keep a running To Do list on the right-hand side of my desk. In this 3-part series, I will share how I create, prioritize, and execute my To Do list.

STEP ONE:     Creating my To Do list.

My list is written on a pad of paper (3.5” x 6.5”). When I think of items I need to do, I jot them down on my list. The order of the items is based on when I remembered or decided to add that item to the list. As I complete an item, I cross it off the list. I continue to use the same list until I need more space for other items. At that time, I will transfer the remaining unfinished list items to the next sheet on the pad of paper to create a new list.

I re-created my list last night. Here is what it currently holds:

  • Research baseball ideas for son’s birthday
  • Switch out kid’s winter clothes for summer outfits
  • Write blog pages
  • Write blog posts for April
  • Pay bills
  • Clean upstairs
  • Respond to insurance appeal
  • Contact representatives for school’s Fall Festival
  • Make house for son’s history fair project

Try writing out your To Do list and keeping it in a visible location to review often. As you find items you need to address, phone calls to make, errands to run, and any other responsibility you need to complete, write it down. Now you don’t have to remember all your projects. You can just refer to your To Do list.

Next week, I will explain how I prioritize my To Do list and decide which item to complete next. How about you? Do you use a To Do list? Do you keep it on your phone, your computer, or on paper?