Balancing your time

[trainlady]

Well, I made a schedule this weekend and so far...I shouldn't be bragging it's only Tuesday...but I have stuck to it!!
I have to admit I feel very embarrased admitting I have trouble keeping with a schedule when I don't even have children and this should not be a problem in the first place!! I don't know HOW you moms and grandma's keep up. ( Now I wanted children, don't take me wrong. It wasn't in God's plan for me to be able to have them though. )

I am going to get better at this though.....am slowly getting out of this rut and getting back to a good sleeping pattern.
Thanks for letting me jibberjabber on.............

hugs,train

[Gardners5]

Oh Train congratulations on getting through Tuesday!! You go girl! its baby steps honey baby steps!!! God only gives us one minute at a time so that is how we should travel life.

Blessings Sweetie!
SueG

[megrayau]

Trainlady, don't stress! Pre ids my house always looked like a disaster and i struggled to get anything done. With one baby things improved because I stayed home when she slept, which was a lot. Then she became a toddler and we didn't need to be home as much, but there was now extyra mess, too. Then number two came along and the mess grew. Now they are 10 and 12 and I KNOW I will catch up one day soon!!
Seriously though, kids or not, schedules are tricky for some of us. Love who you are and try to change, one habit at a time!

Keep going with the schedule.

Megray

[megrayau]

Bump!!

[ajrsmom]

Donna, Can I ask why you want to get on a so-called "normal" schedule? Do you feel as though you are fighting your natural body clock when trying to adjust to a morning schedule? Some people, like my DH, are naturally night owls. Thank goodness he has always worked 3rd shift. When he is off, things are always off kilter for us. If we didn't have kids, I could easily change my lifestyle to fit into his schedule.

Yes, it takes some getting used to. Our world certainly doesn't recognize 3rd shift workers. But with some changes, we have managed to work things out quite well.


I hope that you are able to get settled and get going on a schedule that you like--if not, just let me know and I will send you some bon-bons right away!

[ajrsmom]

Originally Posted by ajrsmom

Donna, Can I ask why you want to get on a so-called "normal" schedule? Do you feel as though you are fighting your natural body clock when trying to adjust to a morning schedule? Some people, like my DH, are naturally night owls. Thank goodness he has always worked 3rd shift. When he is off, things are always off kilter for us. If we didn't have kids, I could easily change my lifestyle to fit into his schedule.

Yes, it takes some getting used to. Our world certainly doesn't recognize 3rd shift workers. But with some changes, we have managed to work things out quite well.


I hope that you are able to get settled and get going on a schedule that you like--if not, just let me know and I will send you some bon-bons right away!

Oh, I didn't check out the dates on this one!

Ok, Donna, have you come around to the "normal" people? LOL!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Does anyone else struggle with this or am I the only one? Do you use your time well?

I just noticed this thread. I want you to know that naturally, I am the most disorganized person ever! I learned a few tips that may help you out.

One thing I do is buy a small spiral notebook. It can fit in your purse, bed side table, glove box, or anywhere. Then, when things encounter my mind, I write them down in my little book. I run out of eggs, I write them down in a "grocery" page that I start in my little book. Then, if I discover that I need to send a birthday card or something, I write that down on a "to do" page that I start. I add to this pages until I go to the store or whatever. I have found that writing down goals helps a person to achieve them. You can also write down a "rewards" page for yourself when you accomplish some of the goals you have set for yourself, like sweets!

It may sound like a lot of work, but it actually buys you a lot more time because you won't be making extra trips to the store, forgetting to do things, or even dealing with stress and anxiety at bedtime because you didn't get things done.

Another thing that I do is color coding. I use colored folders or notebooks for information. You can put insurance and automobile things in one color, vacation information in another color, and so on. I use this for school. When I tool lower-level classes, I put English in orange, math in purple, and so on. Every semester I did all math type classes in purple so that at a glance, I knew which notebook went with which class. It saved time since I did not have to read the front to find out what to pack for school that day. I lay things out the night before with my to-do list since it gives me an extra boost when I wake up. I day is ready and waiting for me. It won't matter whether or not you are a morning person or an evening person. You can plan your next day any time.

One more thing, I have also discovered that the less responsibilities that I have, the less I get done. Does that make sense? For example, between semesters when I have so much time, I keep thinking that I will do the dishes later or do the laundry later because I have so much "later" available. During school, when I have maybe an hour or two to cook, eat, and take a shower, I know I have NO choice but to do things as I have time and to plan a day and time to do them! A friend once told me that she tells herself that company is coming in 2 hours to get herself to get going! lol

I hope some of these suggestions were of some help.

[trainlady]

You know, it was really interestingto read this old thread. I am in such a different place now!
Oh Goodness, this brought back memories of working that overnight shift three years ago!
It's interesting to go back and read these old threads!

Anyway, yea, I'm "normal" now! LOL!!

I do a lot of what you suggested DeBora, as far as writing things down and keeping files. I am pretty organized that way. I have gotten myself pretty organized over the past couple years. I had to or else I would spend ALL my time on the computer and get nothing else done! LOL!!

Nowadys I have me prayertime, do all my chores , cooking and any errands I need to get done before I get on the computer. Family Corner is my relaxation/ treat time when everything else is done. I allow myself one day a week, typically Thuirsday, to have an all day computer day!

I've become pretty organized, even with the computer. I have birthday lists, addresses, etc in notebooks.

Compared to a few years ago, I feel my time is balanced much better now.

hugs, train

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Donna, did you start this thread when you were working at Denny's?

[trainlady]

Hey DeBora, looks like we posted at the same time!

No, this was nearly four years ago when I was working an overnight shift taking care of a woman who was disabled.

hugs, train