Getting Scheduling Back On Track, and Why it Matters For Everyone
Ahhhh!! Where did the day go? With a husband that travels 300+ days a year, a rapidly growing business, and a family, I find myself asking this every day. Each day used to start off like a fire drill, until I adopted some of the tricks below. I still struggle with time management, but I’m slowly improving. One my biggest breakthroughs on scheduling came from becoming more “selfish” with my time. I put that in quotes because that’s how I thought of it until I took a que from my expert time-manager husband. Thanks to him I’ve learned that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish at all, it’s a relief for everyone around you.
Time is one of the most un-manageable aspects of being a caretaker. We are responsible for juggling multiple schedules (besides our own!), and making sure everyone’s needs are met. Try as we may, but as the saying goes- “you can’t give what you don’t have.” So, if your goal is to help raise healthy, balanced kids, you need to create a time-management system that works for you. This doesn’t mean you wont continue to sign up your daughter / nanny kid for every fencing class and baseball team, it just requires a little extra focus until you get the hang of it.
Luckily, we’ve seen some pretty empowering tools that help make it all work (for you, especially!)
Shared calendars – They have will save your sanity! Create one on Google today if you don’t have it yet. It’s free, easy to use, and all changes can be seen by everyone immediately. If you’re familiar with google calendars and are ready for an upgrade, download Tiny Calendar! Its brilliant and seamlessly links with your existing calendar. If digital is not your thing, use massive paper calendars and a collection of colored markers and stickers – old-school but so effective! Whatever you do, share a calendar.
Evernote is my favorite multiple-use app for managing EVERYTHING (I consider it my digital brain!) Use it to set reminders, make to-do lists, keep track of multiple calendars, share documents, photos, take audio notes, and more. There is a little bit of a learning curve in the beginning (there was for me!) but once you get the hang of it, its truly sanity-saving! We have clients that run their entire lives with it.
Sleep Cycle –hack your sleep cycle for optimal rest! This app works as a smart alarm clock that tracks your sleep via your phone’s sensors and wakes you up during the lightest sleep so that you don’t wake up groggy. It also offers nature sounds and binaural beats to help you fall asleep faster and deeper.
Along with the technology side, there are some basic changes you can make to the way your household runs that will save time in the long run, and help to get everyone on the same page. Here are a few of our favorites!
Household rules and parent hacks that protect your time. Read our BLOG on it!
Family meetings – find out what’s working and what’s not working. Allow everyone to express their needs and prioritize them as a group! Your example of making time for yourself will leave a lasting and important impression on your charges and children.
Carpooling – get to know your neighbors, make life easier for each other!
Setting expectations – with your entire family. Communicating your needs is one of the most basic and under-practiced skills for parents and caretakers. Read our next blog about how to do it with grace!
Contact us with any questions or comments! We love hearing from you.