Wondering what Mommy Homework is??? Each week you will have an “assignment” here to share in our comments here on this site. You will love this-both sharing AND enjoying answers by others. Some of them, I compile into an ebook (contributors can resell as a product of their own–be sure to submit your email and full name when you register so I can credit you appropriately!).
The result is AWESOME!
We get to know each other…we are encouraged in our journey…and we glean super ideas from other great moms!
Ready for this week’s MH? This is a good one!
Our topic this week is “What are Your Secrets to Productivity???”
Your Assignment This Week…
New Year. Check
New Vision. Check
New Resolutions. Check
New Goals. Check
BUT! How do you get there? How do you get on course and stay there? How do you reach your goals, resolutions, vision? How do you reach for your dreams?
This week, your assignment for Mommy Homework is to share YOUR secrets to productivity. What are the things that help you to be productive? What are the things that help you reach for the things you are called to do?
I can’t wait to read these! Dig in! Share those great ideas!
Love ya!
Cindy
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PPS! You CAN just share and not participate in Mommy Homework, BUT I would LOVE for you to get some goodies along the way!
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Deadline–Friday at midnight CST.
I am great at setting the goals, making the schedules, planning….not so good at the implementing.
Since I homeschool my daughters, I get very little time to myself. I seem to get the most accompolished when they are at cottage school, at a friends or with their grandparents. This doesn’t happen often anymore, but I am trying to stay focused on my goals and schedules.
I am going to try really hard this new year to stay on schedule and implement routines. I have wriiten them on paper and hope that seeing it daily, it will begin to sink in and stick with me. The routines that I do currently have, stick with me.
I am looking for any help in this area. Implementation is not my strong suit. I look forward to the responses of other moms.
THanks
shannon depew
Okay. I am ready for everyone’s suggestions!! This is what I do to keep myself in check, on schedule, and away from chaos!
*as soon as I get up: coffee & God. My nose is in my Bible. I am praying. I NEED God in the morning. I am so thankful that I woke up!! LOL….
*I use Post It notes alot. I put them in my calendar, I use them for the kids in homeschooling. I write little love letters for my Sweetie! I post my daily lunch and dinner ideas on the cabinet sometimes even! That really helps my kids to see what is for dinner, or what they can help with.
*I set my timer. 15 minutes for cleaning up, 15 minutes ………(fill in the blank!) I do love my timer on the oven. It really helps me keep focused on my house, and not get bogged down with all that I want to do during the day.
Love this topic!!
Blessings! And Happy Happy New Year!!
Mrs. Kelly Martin
My secrets to productivity, hummmmmm.
Well if you speak generally, i use a day planner and to do lists a lot. I have a to do list that i keep on my desktop, a to do list on my igoogle page, and a to do list in my day planner as well as to do lists that i keep with my projects. I know that this sounds counterproductive and for most it is, but not for me. Each list has it’s own topic like school, home, computer and so forth. It works for me.
I also use scheduling heavily. I schedule everything i can from laundry to school to working on my personal goals. I may not always be successful in following the schedule but at least i know when i should have done something. I am a little OCD and schedules help me feel calmer and more relaxed about things.
As far as school goes, my girls are older now (13 and almost 11) so i am passing off quite a bit of the responsibility to them. I have taught each one how to use a planner, schedule and a to do list to keep things going smoothly. Amazingly, it works. They have a notebook that they keep their goals for the year and for the terms in. They have a schedule, which they help write up, in their planner. And they have daily to do sheets that they write up helping them to know what to do. I taught them early to follow a list of assignments when doing school rather than always coming to me to find out what to do next. Now they write up the list themselves and follow it themselves. I find if they are involved in the writing up of the lists they are more likely to follow through.
As far a New Years goes i am trying out something new this year that i am very excited about. I wrote out my list of goals that i want to accomplish this year. Then i got out a notebook and for each goal i put a divider in my notebook. After each divider i wrote up a sheet for the goal that goes there. I made check lists for those things i want to do a certain number of times, I made information sheets for those that are more general. Behind the information sheet will go the break down of the goals and any more information that i may need.
For example, one of my goals is to journal along the lines of Project 365. (The idea behind Project 365 is to do something each day for 365 days. Like take photos. My idea is to journal with images to leave behind a capsule of who i am for future generations.) So in that divider i placed a checklist with 365 check boxes, and information about the Project as well as anything else i might need to help me accomplish this goal.
I keep this notebook on my coffee table or close by where i spend most of my time so that it is visible to me. This helps keep me accountable to it.
That about sums up my productivity tools. Sounds like i am well organized and very productive. I am not, or at least not as much as this post makes it sound. I have several goals on my yearly goals list that have been there for years. I may never get to them, but i try. That is the most important tool for getting things done, trying. When i fail to do what i need to do in that personal goal, i just keep trying the next time. Never give up.
Angela Martinez
I have to have a new list daily. I may have it in my mind what I would like to accomplish, but having it committed to paper makes it more likely. I try to have two things more fun & quick so I see results & can cross them off the list–motivation to keep going. I try to have only one or two ‘big’ items/projects. I usually plan only about 2 hours worth towards my bigger picture goal for each day. I homeschool five little ones, 8 & under, so most everything takes longer than it should 🙂
Can’t wait to see more great ideas!
Blessings!
Hillary in Indiana
Secrets to productivity? You mean the kids tugging on me telling me how hungry they are and how they need dinner or the “everything needs to be finished by tomorrow morning and I am just getting started”? Oh if only I had some wonderful words of wisdom to share with everyone on this one!
I guess I can say that if I don’t make a list the night before then we don’t get things done as easily. Its also important for me to limit my computer time/book reading time if i am to get anywhere. I also have learned not to sleep in cause even with dh home they end up playing all morning till I get up.
But then again, I am less then a month away from baby’s birth and can only do so much, so we are back to the question of productivity? What productivity? LOL! I will be looking forward to hearing everyone else share their wisdom on this one!
Kate
My first “secret” is to ask the Lord for His help.
Second – tell someone else what I hope to get done (or write out a list) so it as though I am accountable to someone besides myself.
Third – surround myself with positive attitudes, limiting contact with people or distractions (internet, TV, that good book I want to read) that hinder productivity.
Fourth – reward myself when I accomplish my goal (that good book that kept staring at me – usually a Stephen Bly book)
Fifth – be organized so I don’t get down and depressed. I major clean one room a day, minor pickup in the morning before breakfast (required help by boys or they don’t eat – 5 minutes is a small price to pay for breakfast.) and seasonal big time cleaning twice a year. I do a halfway big clean during Advent and a MAJOR big clean during Lent.
And lastly, if it doesn’t get done I don’t worry. There is always tomorrow or next week. There is nothing that is so important I can’t put it off to play with the kids, take care of my husband or answer that phone call from a friend in need of a listening ear. SOoo…I try to get ahead if possible so there is extra time for the NEEDED things in life.
Karen Gebes
I would love to see everyone else’s secrets. I have so much to learn in this area in particular. Here are a few things that help me with productivity:
1) Waking up early enough to get quiet time before the kids wake up. This sets the tone for my whole day.
2) Praying about my to-do list for the day.
3) Listing daily and weekly tasks in a checklist. I’m still working on the scheduling part of things.
4) Dressing to shoes right after getting up. Yes, this is from flylady and I’m surprised at how much it helps.
5) Never skip breakfast. I find I lack energy if I skip it.
6) Timers: I use timers throughout the day to keep me on task.
Julia
avonleajules on Your comment is awaiting moderation. January 10th, 2009 4:40 pm
I would love to see everyone else’s secrets. I have so much to learn in this area in particular. Here are a few things that help me with productivity:
1) Waking up early enough to get quiet time before the kids wake up. This sets the tone for my whole day.
2) Praying about my to-do list for the day.
3) Listing daily and weekly tasks in a checklist. I’m still working on the scheduling part of things.
4) Dressing to shoes right after getting up. Yes, this is from flylady and I’m surprised at how much it helps.
5) Never skip breakfast. I find I lack energy if I skip it.
6) Timers: I use timers throughout the day to keep me on task.
Julia Reffner
I have to day my real secret to productivity is…………..
Having a daily Quiet Time with The Lord!!!
Lori Duncan
I am really working on being productive so I am no expert in this area, but what I can tell you is what I don’t do.
During the day I do not turn the TV on. I don’t even let the kids watch it. They are allowed to watch it at night. If the TV is on I get sidetracked. I also try not to use the computer. It seems if I just go on do something I get lost in computer world and am forever lost. If I chose not to do these things it helps me to stay more productive.
I also am trying the habit of writing down 5 things that I want to accomplish that day. There is something so gratifying about crossing something off of a list.
Jenni Schafran
I don’t know if I have any “secrets” to productivity. In fact, some would say I am not very productive at all :> However, when I want to get things done, it’s through lists. I make a list of ‘things to do’, I make lists of my bills & due dates at the first of the month so I’m not late on payments. I use the computer. I pay all bills online. I receive paperless statements via email so I do not have as much paper to file.
I am slowly learning to organize my life a little better (it’s about time since I turn 40 this week!), so I am looking forward to hear others’ secrets – thank you!
I write To-Dos on a magnetic white board on the fridge. I have a notebook listing all my goals, broken down into various areas: spiritual, physical, financial, family, marriage, homeschool, each child, photography biz, and writing biz. I make my goals measurable and break them down into a plan of what needs to be done to accomplish them. I also set them high, knowing I will achieve something. If you aim for the bushes, you’ll hit them, but you won’t have stretched much. Aim for the moon, and even if you only hit the mountains, you will have grown more than you can imagine!
I keep a planner handy (currently reworking that – as some friends and I were discussing recently, it is hard to find JUST the right one!) to keep track of everything. I always notate dh’s off-days, so we can plan our schooling around them.
Perhaps the biggest, besides making sure I do all things to God’s glory and not man’s, is getting up early. For me, that means between 5am-6am. I am not a morning person. At all. Just look at the time stamp on this comment. I am a night-owl. But I have given this to God and have told Him I will get up when He wakes me up. Know what? That’s much easier – not to mention more motivating – than waking to an alarm clock!
I think it’s also extremely important not to beat ourselves up if we don’t succeed at ALL those goals – notice the progress you DID make! If you didn’t reorganize and redecorate the entire living room, did you at least purge unnecessary items and spring clean? If you didn’t lose 50 pounds, did you begin walking each day and cut out the cokes and opt for water instead, to go with your grilled chicken salad? If your daughter hasn’t yet mastered multiplication, didn’t she at least get her addition, subtraction, and fraction facts down, and isn’t she amazing in art?
This is where I have a hard time – I aim for perfection and when I miss, I am disappointed. Trying to take a closer look at what DID get done and accomplished. It’s often MUCH more than I originally thought.
God bless, all!
Toni McDonald
Don’t know if I have any truly new ideas to add, but I can share what’s been working for me:
1) Pray – in the morning, as I’m making my lists, when I start feeling scattered because I’ve been interrupted for the fourth time on my way to where I was going (that would be once from hubby, once from 10yo, 8yo, 3yo — or maybe 3 times by the 3you ;0)
2) Lists (in notebooks – Thanks Cindy!) Seriously, I have one for general house and finance, one for school planning, one for supplements and answer sheets for what the girls are working on, my day planner . Everything goes right into one of these notebooks so I can always find it without wasting time looking for it.
3) Break down everything on the lists into baby steps. This way even the big jobs become a series of small tasks. I can easily find a bit to work on in my little bits of time. I have lots of things to cross off so I can see I’m making progress, I don’t have to keep re-thinking the parts of a task or trying to remember where I was in a big task because I’ve already crossed it all off. I try to do this each evening as I do a bed-time brain dump.
And Toni, I absolutely agree DON’T waste time beating ourselves up for what didn’t get done and perfectly to boot. Celebrate what did get done and pick up where you left off. (and that really shouldn’t be at 3am unless you’re a true night owl and don’t have to get up for a morning bird ;o)
Bobbi Beeson
Hmmmm, like everyone else, I am still a work in progress in this area.
I don’t have a T.V.
My computer is in a back room.
I try not to get started reading too often, other than to the kids. I tend to get lost in a book.
Stay out of my recliner.
All of these are negatives, aren’t they??
Positives, let me think………………Get up and keep moving in the morning. When I am up and working, the kids seem to do much better.
Keep my focus on Jesus Christ through bible study, prayer. This is the most important and should have been at the top of the list. 🙂
I have a large calendar hanging in the kitchen and write everything on it.
I also have a journal laying open on the end of the kitchen counter so that I can make notes throughout the day.
Linda Sprague
I have a very young baby in my house so to me being productive can just mean having everyone happy, clean and fed at the end of the day.
One thing that I am finding helpful is to keep my focus. I set a timer for 15 minutes and work as fast as I can on a job like dishes, or folding laundry. Another thing is to be willing to stop and restart the timer as often as needed to take care of my children’s needs, as they come first during the day.
I used to get sidetracked a lot and no one task seemed to ever get finished. Now I know I have a timer waiting for me I remember to go back to the task I was doing and finish the 15 minutes before I move on to new task. Sometimes it takes me reciting over and over in my head the task I was on so my mummy brain doesn’t forget! I don’t mind! I am still getting more done even if it is in little bits.
Best wishes
Jen in Oz
I’m really not a very productive person. lol But I have found that having a planner of some type helps me keep everything coordinated. Right now I’m on my second Palm Pilot. I loved my paper planner, but couldn’t lug it everywhere with me. My Palm enables me to carry my calendar, to do list, an e-book or audio book, and my price book (for checking grocery store prices) all with me in one small package. This way I have the info with me when I need it, and I can use down time more productively.
Secondly, I pray for God to change my heart in the areas where I’m not accomplishing what I need to accomplish. Since for me, this usually means housework, I find that visiting “godly women” websites and and reading similar literature helps me stay focused and reminds me that I need to do these things to glorify my husband and the Lord.
Hugs!
Heather Bice
This is an area of life that I think we all struggle with at times.
Here are some things that help me to be productive:
*Getting up and dressed before my kids. This one is difficult since some days the 2 little ones are up by dawn.
*Meal planning is huge for me. I try to make a list for 2 weeks for dinner (meat, sides, and dessert if there will be one). I may not make everything in the order listed but I have 2 weeks worth of things to choose from. I cross off a meal after it is made.
*List–we love them and make them for everything.
*Our timer is huge for us also.
I’m looking forward to some new ideas.
I have learned, like so many others, to start my day with God. Doing this just makes the day seem easier and more productive.
I have a daily planner that I rely on alot. I open it up each morning to see what needs to happen for today. (pay bills, doctor appointments, etc). I homeschool my two boys so that is my priority during the week. I spend the morning with them doing “school” and give them all of me. I try not to answer the phone, or let myself get distracted. This is their time. Then, in the afternoon, while they are reading, etc. and I’m not in high demand, I run a load of laundry, dust, or whatever needs done.
I’m learning that there is nothing more important for today than my family.
This is an area that God is working with me on. The house is just a house. You can clean it tomorrow. But today is filled with joy and love if you look around and join in. You can’t enjoy today again. Enjoy it today. Tomorrow will come soon enough!
Blessings –
Katy Horn
Hey this is a great topic!
Here is what I do to maintain productivity –
1- I am a listmaker, notebooker, and general all around paper person. I have a calender on the wall in the breakfast room – ALL our family’s appointments go onto it. I have a personal planner(Mommy notebook, what every you want to call it) It goes with me everywhere, Everything is in this noteboook, and I do mean everything. At the beginning of each year (starting Aug) I transfer my information.
It has monthly and weekly calendars, prayer pages, fitness pages, lesson plan pages, menu plan pages and grocery lists pages. Addresses, websites, to do’s, project pages and more. I use it religiously. I also jot down important notes for who did what milestones. This way I have it in print and can transfer it later. I keep ideas, project lists, and so forth in here.
I check my planner daily in the morning. I wake up, have my prayer time, write, then check my planner and lay out my day. This takes place early, early in the morning – then I start my day.
2- I have a written list of my goals (plans, to-do’s and projects are all on this list)
I review my list weekly (or so) cross off what I have completed, check to see my progress in other area’s (like exercising 3x a week or more kind of stuff) and evaluate where I am . I regularly check my list for priorities, choose what to do next and what just isn’t really a priority. Somethings that make it to my list are good ideas whose time just hasn’t come yet.
3- My most important actions is this: JUST DO IT, get up and go!
I love to research, plan, learn, organize………………………….
Sometimes I get stuck in the cycle of planning, reading etc.
This is so not doing.
So what do I do to overcome this.
Get up and go! Like the shoe slogan – just do it.
I throw myself off the sofa and move!
Not very exciting or spiritually moving, but often the only thing that works for me.
Hugs to all!
Trish Bevill
Know God – with out this first step you may think and feel you are being productive – but it will only be as filthy rags!!
Know yourself – evaluate your strengths and weaknesses – then you can use them or deal with them.
Know your situation – don’t try to do things the way someone else does remember that your family and situation are unique. Make what you do to fit. You can indeed get ideas from others and put them into practice but remember to customize them to fit.
After getting to grips with these three steps this is what I came up with –
I took (and continue to take) it all to God in prayer. I realised that if something is not on a time table I tend not to get it done.
So I built a timetable which includes all of the things our family needs to get done and fits in round my husbands working hours. This includes quiet times, shopping, house keeping, homeschooling, meals, bath times, times to get up and go to bed, church and outside meetings. There are also times blocked off just for family time and time with my husband. This is not so much a minute by minute timetable – but there are certain things which will happen at a certain time – such as my husband leaving for work so I started with these and then filled in the blocks of time in between. Also I have not filled in every space to allow margin for the unexpected.
The other thing I use is note books which I have designed for different purposes. I have:-
A Virtuous Woman One with sections for A) Calendars and schedules. B)Housekeeping – chores lists and zones the house is divided up into C) Meal making – Menus, shopping lists, inventories and weekly meal plan with clip off shopping list. D) Child training with details of what we are currently working on. E) Devotions – at the moment this is Create in me a clean heart ( a devotion available on the internet) F) Bible – Life verse and ones for the year and Lists of verses such as once which show “who I am in Christ” – also bible reading plans and a list of all the studies I have available to do – I have a space to fill in start and finish dates. A list of the symbols I use for marking my bible and a list of study tapes I have available to use. G) Inspiration – 30 day husband encouragement challenge and inspiring quotes and stories. H) Goals – long and short term. I) Plans – for ideas I want to try out. J) Fellowship – with contact details and notes on anything people need help with. I also keep a couple of plastic wallets in there to hold my colour coding pens and some prayer cards.
A Homeschooling One – This is where I keep my lesson plans for future use as well as scope and sequence details and notes of how to teach and lists of recourses.
I have one for prayer with the details of all the things I feel lead to pray about and one to make notes in about different kinds of prayer and methods of prayer.
I usually keep diary pages in the Virtuous Woman one but have found it was getting to fat to use so this year I am having a separate diary instead I opted for 2009 Stormie Omartian Daily Planner for Women. I have put it in a floral needlepoint bible cover together with my ESV Compact wild rose floral design bible which I think is the prettiest bible I have ever seen and for me that adds a little something extra to my bible reading moments.
I have my mobile phone in the bible cover’s outside pocket so that I can set the alarm to ring to remind me to do the things.
But most of all what helps me is knowing that I don’t have to do it alone – I always have Jesus to lean on.
Love and Blessings
Angela Marchington
Loving My Husband – One Kiss at a Time
Nurturing My Children – One Smile at a Time
Making the World a Prettier Place – One Stitch at a Time
Reading the Best Books First – One Page at a Time
Walking with the Lord – One Step at a Time
I wish I had some secrets to productivity. With 6 kids, it seems like any lists I try to make and follow are null and void very soon into the day. I do know that the computer can be very distracting, so it can only be used for schoolwork during school time. I limit myself, too, on computer time. I would be on there all day if I didn’t watch myself! My kids seem to be much more organized and productive when I am organized and productive, so I really have to make an effort to stay organized.
Well, this is really tough for me. I am not productive unless I have a list written out each day. What I really need is a fairly set schedule that at this time I do this etc. or I’m just jumping from one thing to another and everything gets started and nothing gets finished.
My life is not normal right now and having a schedule will be almost impossible because my 9 yr old son is going through chemo and each day and week is different on when he has to be at the hospital. Homeschooling has been almost nonexistent because I’m trying to adjust to so much that if my son wants to play I let him. I’m trying to get something going on the days we’re not at the clinic but that only works once in awhile. If anyone has gone through this I would love to hear from you and get some much needed help and organization back into my life.
Hopefully someday I’ll be better at this all and can really contribute something worthwhile here. Thanks for reading.
Barb Kronback
The key to being productive for me is sticking to the routine! We have routines for everything- morning routines, school routines, mealtime routines, routines for going out. I am a planner. If I can stick to my plans and routines, I can be much more productive.
Another key is priorities. I need to start my day with time with the Lord. Sometimes I am tempted to let it slide because I am “behind.” But things always go more smoothly when I keep that focus FIRST.
I have a household notebook I keep on my desk. I use it to organize calendars, school plans, financial information, etc. So it is right there for easy access. Being able to access all that information quickly certainly helps productivity!
Setting a timer also helps. Timers are great for short clean ups, to keep us on track for school work, and to make sure I don’t spend too much time on the computer. :-0
This is a great topic and something we all need to reevaluate at times.
Leah Courtney
It’s been mentioned by others, but to-do lists work best for me … I love crossing off stuff LOL!
Jennifer Neuman
Well, sad to say, I don’t consider myself very productive. 🙁 I’ve actually skipped on a resolution this year because I feel so overwhelmed, I don’t even know where to start. (I’m focusing on a word though, this year, which is “trust.”)
I have noticed though, that the days that are more productive are when I don’t go to the computer first thing in the day.
Getting dressed right when I wake up is key for me.
Making sure I’ve done all the dishes at night. I get so backed up in the morning just to clean some, which leads to all, just to wash a pan for breakfast cooking.
But maybe the biggest thing for me is coffee. LOTS of it!
I have to keep my blinders on. Several times a day I ask myself if what I am doing will get me closer to my goal. I too like the 15 minute timer and the 5 minute room rescue. Sometimes when I am tired or need a break, but things still need to get done, I will do what I call commercial boogies. I will watch a movie, relaxing during the show, and during the commercial break we will rush to do a few hot spots or odd jobs. It might not sound relaxing, but getting things done and truly relaxing in between jobs does help.
I have a planner to keep track of things too, I do not use it as often as most of you do, but it is there waiting on me when I need it. I also have broken down my weekly chores into smaller daily chores. If I don’t have dusting writen down, I will forget until company comes, or I sit down to relax and it screams at me until I get up and take care of it. I also have a day of the week to pick a seasonal chore; filters, outside windows, or mabe clean a drawer.
Valerie Neal
My productivity secrets, LOTS of Planning! (and lots of coffee!)
Before I start any project (esp those big ones like cleaning the kids rooms) I plan everything out from the amount of time I need to what we will have for dinner to how schedule our day for homeschool. I write down each step in my planner/journal and then I FOLLOW the steps, my kids are 4 and 7 so they are just learning the ropes to cleaning the their rooms (the 7yr old does ok but the 4 yr old gets what we call barracuda syndrome, she finds something she hasn’t seen in awhile and gets sidetracked.
I also use a weekly to do list I write it out at the beginning of the week based on what days have other things outside the home going on (not much in the winter but in the spring, summer and fall I have tons of outside stuff from gardening to trips to the zoo and park to schedule in there too). Then I spread things out over the week and cross them out as we get them done.
Another thing I do is NOT overschedule the kids or myself with tons of activities that will really cut into your productivity! We tend to be homebodies anyway but we do a fe outside activities with our local homeschool group and with church but we generally stay home and enjoy being together. We try to be sure that we have time to play and work in our HUGE garden!
Oh man, this is tough! this is SO not my forte right now!!! I have gotten OUT of the Word, my house is a MESS, my homeschool is a DISASTER, ugg… things are not going well…
However, i DO have a few tips i’ve accumulated throughout the last 14 years that i have successfully implemented that work well for me.
1. multitask! NEVER EVER talk on the phone without doing something productive. Its great because you can clean the bathroom and not even notice, you’re so distracted by the phone!!
2. process things you bring into the house immediately whenever possible… don’t set stuff down, unless its its permanent location.
3. Cooking- buy ground beef in bulk, cook it all up and freeze in appx. 1 lb bags. then when you need gr. beef its already cooked and ready to toss into whatever you are making. You can also add onions and pepers if you like.
4. Watch television while doing other things… never just sit in front of the tube and NOT do anything. I’d really like to buy a stationary bicycle to exercise while i watch.
5. TRAIN your children!!! if you have children you are NOT doing them any kind of favor by not assigning chores! They need to learn this stuff, and YOU need the help around the house!
This is all that comes to mind right now, but i’ll keep thinking… so much of what i tend to do is subconscious.
Ok, I am not as productive as I would like to be and definitely not as productive as some of the ladies here, but here are the tools in my toolbox so far.
PRAY! Pray about the goals you are setting for the year. . .pray that you will hear God and will be doing His goals. But don’t stop there, whenever you happen to be looking over your goals pray over them again, pray for wisdom and guidance to succeed in the goals God has given you. God gave Moses very detailed directions on how to build the Tent of Meeting, He will tell you how to achieve everything that He has for you to achieve.
Setting goals and writing them down: 2008 Cindy encouraged me to just do this one thing and I am AMAZED at how much I accomplished. I know I accomplished more last year than I have accomplished in the 10 years before. Big, small, medium sized. . .don’t worry about how or when, just WRITE IT DOWN! No, I didn’t get everything that I wrote down for 2008 accomplished, but I DID accomplish so much more than in 2007.
My daily to do list: This can’t be a list that is longer than my arm of more than anyone could accomplish in a day. What does God want me to do today? What needs to be done (meals/ appointments/ etc.)? What can I accomplish toward my goals? What can I do today to make sweet memories with my dh or dks? My to do list is a place to celebrate. It is good to look back and see all of the tasks that I was able to mark off and to think about the fun things we did. Every time I mark something off it is a small victory to celebrate. It also keeps me on task.
My timer: FlyLady is right you really can do anything for 15 minutes (or even 2 minutes). My timer helps me to stay focused and balanced as well as keeping me from exhausting myself.
My iPod/ Bribery: Me whines,”I don’t want to do the dishes.” Myself, “Oh, but you can listen to Cindy Rushton / Dave Ramsey / Lucia Claborn / etc. while you are doing the dishes.” Me, “that sounds fair enough.”
Rest and Fun: It is good and balanced to take time to rest and/or have fun. I am still learning this. After some rest and some fun I come back with a renewed energy for life. I am learning that I see things differently after some rest even after the forced rest of being sick. When I am in the middle of a project all I can see is what I am working on and what still needs to be done, but after a little break for some rest and fun I can come back with a fresh perspective.
I think being productive is also a state of mind. You are sometimes productive just by making your children happy and keeping them safe and healthy for the day. I think I struggle with being productive because I set myself up to be unproductive or less productive than I would like to have been In a particular area. I am also struggling in this area. I was excited to read all the other posts. They are very helpful. Its sometimes nice to realize your not the only mom that gets sidetracked and lost in a busy day. I agree with the list prospective. I am just breaking down and doing the dreded list. It is very helpful I have skirted around it for so long and found no other way that is as productive and helps my day instead of making it crazier. I’m so glad to be a part of Mommy Homework. thank you all. Tracey
I do not seem to myself to be very productive…but as I keep a to do list and mark
things off each day it is an encouragement to me that I am getting some things
done each day.
This past year I wanted to loose weight so I kept a monthly log…weighed at the
beginning of the month, then at the end of each month. Some months I might
loose a pound or two, other months five or six pounds. None of it seemed like
very much, but at the end of the year I was 40 pounds lighter than the beginning
of the year. That way I could see that I was more productive than it seemed like
I was along the way. On to another 40 pounds loss this year!!
Seeing on paper that progress HAS been made encourages me to keep on
keeping on and your project WILL be completed. Carolyn Griggs
still working on this one. My biggest keys to productivity (for now at least):
1) keep focused on the good, lovely, noble, etc (yep, right from Phil 4) ~ otherwise, I’m sunk!!!
2) keep breathing (yes, I have to keep telling myself to BREATHE! Is important for mommies to breathe, or they won’t be able to take care of the little ones!)
3) keep doing what I know needs to be done… putting one foot in front of the other. Helps me know I’m still making progress!
4) write down *every little thing* that I do that is making an impact & write down some things that others did which showed that they appreciate me. helps me stay productive b/c I see the value & that it’s worth all the hard work!!!
5) I give my day to God before I get out of bed & talk to Him constantly ~ CONSTANTLY! He’s my ultimate help & strength. And I ask Him for help with everything I need to do. I stink at home organization & am so perfectionistic that I beat myself for everything I’m not good at.
So, for now (as odd as it seems) I’m also taking a break from “to-do lists” (I do not recommended for anyone else. lol!). Realized late last year that those types of lists are becoming clutter b/c I haven’t found the right way to utilize them. So, I’m concentrating on being transformed more by God’s Word & getting into habits of just doing what needs to be done. Thankfully, we have next to no “social” things & being in-between FT ministries, I can focus on homeschooling & managing our home.
Keep going, ladies! WE CAN DO IT!!! With God’s help & thru strength that comes from Jesus alone, we can do all things!!!
oh! And coffee!!! lol… a must!
A few things that help me be productive are…
Making lists
Keeping a calendar
Meal planning (one week at a time)
Teaching my kids to do things to help out around the house as they are able
Putting on a song or two and see how much we can get done while it plays
Not turning on the tv
Do things right away- discard junk mail, junk email, pick up after myself when I’m done with something rather than leave it until later
Write it down!!! I can’t say this one enough. I love Cindy’s expression “brain dump” because that’s exactly what I’ve started to do… take a few minutes of down time to just write down all the things that pop into my mind.
I have a planner that really makes a BIG difference when I commit to using it. I write down everything that I need to do, even if it seems like it’s too obvious. Mine has a page a day so I write things on the day I need to do them — or a few days before if there’s a deadline. If I rent a dvd today, I will write down “return dvd” on the appropriate day. (Of course, an added bonus is the days I turn to the page and see that I’ve already DONE several things on the list and get to check things off before I’ve even had my coffee!)
Timers help me stay focused and not get LOST in a task (or the internet!!) My cell phone is also a PDA and I can put calendar items on there so that it warns me when it’s time to do something. That’s saved a kid from waiting too long for pick up after sports practice many a day!
Routines. Things like I run a load of laundry before I go to bed & pop it in the dryer on my way downstairs in the morning (in a household of six, there’s always enough for a load!!). Emptying the dishwasher while my coffee percs. Stuff like that. The less I have to think, the better.
Taking care of myself — a biggie especially when my husband is traveling and I find myself single-parenting four busy kids. If I don’t eat right, get enough rest, etc. it isn’t long before my efficiency goes way done the tubes!
And finally, one of the things I am learning — the hard way — is that when I put the Lord first on my schedule, the rest goes SO much smoother. It’s hard to make myself sit and be still when the to-do list hits the second page, but it makes a difference. My priorities for the day are much more on track when I bring them to the Lord and pray over what needs to be done — and some days He shows me just how much doesn’t really need to be done after all!
Cari
Well, I took the advice of a Christian lady who is older than myself…my mother-in-law! My goals are mostly about being a better mom and wife…keeping my house on a good cleaning schedule is part of that….but with three small children, hard to do during the day. So, she advised me to do all of my house work before they wake up in the morning and after they are asleep at night. When I stick to that rule, I get everything done that I need to. She said that sometimes she was even up until midnight cleaning… I have rarely had to stay up that late, but if i do, it still feels so good to get up in the morning to a clean house… So, my biggest secret is to work at it when the kids are not disrupting…you can get a lot more done in a lot less time that way!!! 🙂
—Hillary G.—
Well I love the idea of being productive and I sometimes have great success…..and then sometimes not, ha.
I do have a planner. I love my planner everything gets placed down in there to keep me on track. In my planner is also a weelky to-do section and there is longer term goal section as well. Also in my planner is a place to write out my weekly menu and a grocery list area. These both can be torn out of the book and posted or take the grocery list and throw it in your purse. I always post my menu on the fridge to remind me and it keeps everyone from asking me what’s for B/L/D. Also we have a family calender posted in the kitchen that appointment are placed for the whole family. Each family member is assigned a highlighter color and I highlight the activities so we can quickly look at who has to be where when. Also I have a schedule or flow of our day posted on the fridge. On there we have things that would get skipped out on…like washing cutains and changing the air filter…I do these things on certain dates each month. Also for cleaning, I do a room a day. These keeps me doing a little each day, instead of everything at once.
I am a natural planner….although I do have trouble making it happen at times. I have little tricks that I have just incorpated through the years like going to the garbage outside before coming into the house with the mail and getting rid of any junk mail. Having things where I use them. Everything having a place and the same place ALWAYS so we do not lose time looking for things. I love bins and containers to keep things organized. Keeping to the same routine so we know the flow as second nature, so the day runs smoothly if something unexpected comes up. I sit down with my hubby every month to get his schedule, so we can wrap our schedule around him.
Well I guess that is about it…..and none of this works with out God. He must be in EVERYTHING we do or we don’t succeed!!!
Our family has increased productivity (though small steps!) by implementing the following simple helps:
Lists (everywhere & about almost everything)–Example, in the bathroom, I have a checklist for the children, so I do not need to ask each one every morning or night, “Have you brushed your teeth? ” I still need to double check with them sometimes, but this does save me a little time!
Sticky notes (all around the house)– Example, I am trying to re-organize many areas of our home, so until everyone is familiar with these new homes for our items, I have sticky notes everywhere, like the children’s clothing drawers!
Early to Rise (prepare myself in all areas and get all calls, etc. taken care of before time for school)
At first I thought these little “helps” were useless, but when you list or make notes, you release that thought and there is one less thing on your mind!
Tina Ketchens
Hmmm, I’m not sure I stay on track all the time! 🙁 I run between the hospital for therapy for ds, to where my husband works to pick up our dd, home to get dd started on homeschool, get lunch prepared for dh and then I start working with all the questions dh has on her school work, work with ds, etc. I haven’t figured by 10:00 at night where my day has gone.
I do keep a calendar on my computer with all the important things that I HAVE to get done each day or my aging brain won’t remember. I ask God to help me accomplish the things that I HAVE to get done each day and for at least one or two more things that need to be done. If I make my list to long, I get very discouraged and frustrated at myself and start worrying over how I’m going to get it all accomplished. So I have a HAVE to list and then my NEED TO/WANT TO list.
My motto in life right now is “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be…” I’m so glad that “God isn’t finished with me yet!” I’m so glad the Lord asks us to take it one step at a time because I doubt I would make it otherwise.
I’m looking forward to reading how others do it.
Blessings,
Orilla Crider
Productivity! Well I use to be very productive. Then last year something went boom. Mostly me. I use to write a list every night before going to bed of what needed to be done the next day. School work was laid out and organized. Meals pre-laid out meat thawing in the fridge and everything. It was lovely. I remember being productive. I remember not having only a certain number of hours to get things done.
Money became an issue so I took on more tutoring students. Something has to give. I took 5 hours out of my week to tutor 5 more students. I also took on 12 extra hours a week with a company that I work for on weekends and from home at night during the week. I lost 17 hrs. A week last year due to working to make extra money to cover cost of gas, insurance, and food.
How do I plan to change that this year. Well, I started by being in bed by 1 am instead of 3 am. (My husband works nights and doesn’t get home until 12am. I fix dinner for him and clean up again.) What ever lands on my desk has to be dealt with that day. I can’t leave it till the weekend. Sewing projects, I have 6 costumes to make for the Rennaissance Festival starting in Feb. and going until April. Children grow and new costumes are essential. Those will be done by next weekend. I am sewing 3 nights this weekend and next week 2 nights. Cleaning – Everyone must make thier beds and straighten thier rooms before breakfast no more I will do it later. Bathrooms must be cleaned daily as I have students coming in every day. So those get a wipe down in the morning and one at night. Sweeping the floors everyday ,Mopping every other day, Vacuum every other day. Dusting once a week. Daily chores like trash, dinner, lunch, school and other stuff must be completed in a 4.5 hour time frame. Will it work? I don’t know, but that is what I am doing as of this Jan.1. Feb – April We will only have 4 days a week for school due to Festival, so that will be a stresser.
Oh the most important one Don’t get out of bed until you have prayed and given the day to God. Then your feet hit the floor you have given them over to God. He orders your steps from the start.
Be Blessed
Lisa
After being someone who was super productive and organised it has been a challenge after being ill for some time to get back to it. The ladies here have put in so many wonderful things that have reminded me of ways I can be more productive.
I am a list user…all over the place. This year I made myself a little spiral bound notebook and everything goes in that now. This helps me know where to find my lists. 🙂
I have also reestablished my time first thing in the morning with the Lord. Even if I crash later in the day I find myself so much more focused on making sure God is number one in the day.
The other main thing I can add would be something I have done for years – called “Little Minutes”. These are those two or three moments when you are waiting for something to happen. Like when you put the kettle on to boil – do you stand against the bench (yes some days I need the rest 🙂 ) or do something. In those little moments I find something to do. Re arrange a shelf in the fridge or pantry. Wipe down the wall behind the stove. You get the idea…things that you would have to make time for can be done along the way.
HTH 🙂
Sharyn
OK I need to confess that I am really struggling in this area.
One thing i have tried this week and i think is a keeper is using my crockpot! we have had some of the best meals and easy dinners this week. I found a blog where a lady used her crockpot every day for a year, and i thought how much easier things would be if i did that!
I really need to work on scheduling our school days more. Things are getting missed that should not be. We are going to get a computer to designate entirely to school work from a friend and i think that will help a lot! With 6 kids it seems they all need to use the computer at once.
Speaking of the computer, what a productivity thief! I should be doing six other things right now! I have to get away from the pc and get busy!
My dh needs me to be on top of the home so he can feel like it is his refuge instead a place of chaos. I have really been convicted about this lately. It is important for me to think about his needs too.
I need a planning day at least once a week to feel like i am ready to get things done, the problem is when i fall of my plan i get all out of whack, i have to learn to roll with things and change the plan as i go instead of getting sidetracked and never finishing things!
Most of all this year the one thing i need to increase and improve my productivity is to spend more time with GOD! In my bible, in prayer, and just putting him first!
Okay…I’ll sound like a copycat, I know, and it will sound simplistic. But when I write EVERYTHING down and use that list to check things off….I get things done. I think it’s a ‘mental’ thing with me, but just having a list in front of my eyes motivates me! I try to make a new to-do list everyday, although I don’t always accomplish everything I want to do. But it least it gives me something to shoot for.. Also, Cindy’s audios on this kind of thing motivate me BIG TIME. I think to myself…if she can be this productive, maybe I can do a fraction of what she does and still get TONS done! LOL
Blessings,
Amy O.
Hello Gretchen Morrison here. I hate to say this, but it’s true! I am a slacker and with a 17 month old I have become worse. Because of this I have this minor annoyance of procrastinating with most things, I blame it on my ADHD at times. I have never changed this because I seem to work the best under the pressure of getting things done 5 mins before they are needed. Unfortunately I hate this method of doing things, but in school it was the only thing that worked so it’s stuck. Again because of the time restrictions I put upon myself I really have no choice but to focus, make a list and go down and get it done. In all reality I have never made any goals, resolutions, or have a clear vision. As for dreams, again I am a last min person and decide in short time periods for what I want so I ask God for what I want if I am supposed to have it at this time and He decides. I’m sorry this is hard to understand even for me, because even though I procrastinate I am a really organized and ordered person, I know it sounds like they go against each other but it works. That is how it was decided to have our little boy. I was in my last year and doing student teaching when we decided to have a baby if God so chooses along with starting my Masters. Well God decided Westley was a much better stress then Masters school for the time being and He worked it out for him to not have been in day care yet. So I can honestly say trusting God is how I get things done on the big scale I just need to work on the praying about every and all things. If anyone has any ideas for help I’d love to hear it.
My productivity tips sound a lot like everyone else’s!
1. Spend time with God first thing. Turn my thoughts to Him when I open my eyes. Read the Word, do some study, pray, journal, lay out my day before Him.
2. Daily calendar. This used to be in a 3-ring but I’m trying out my own comb-bound version and like it. On Sunday afternoons I sit down and make dinner menus and a grocery list and check over appointments and activities for the week.
3. Journal. Everything from goals to daily to-do’s and checklists go in here, along the lines of Cindy’s recent article. I set goals in all areas of life and constantly review them to keep them before me, work on them, and to make sure I’m not letting negative thoughts or actions put the brakes on reaching them.
4. Notebooks. Teacher notebook, home management notebook, exercise/fitness records, fashion notebook with printouts from MissusSmartyPants, and the list goes on…
5. Just do it. Dreading and procrastinating take up more time than just getting it done.
Blessings to all,
Charlotte Siems
In 2008 I began a journey of learning how to put God first.
I started a daily Bible reading, continued Bible studies and began a Prayer Journal. Plus reading a daily devotional. I really like `Days of Praise` from ICR. I also began a weekly Biblical word study on my blog. This helps me stay centered on God. I noticed I start getting depressed if I don’t keep my eyes focused on God.
Because of a recent health issue & having to rely on my family, instead of myself, I have learned it’s really OK if my teen boys help out with dishes or do more chores. Don’t know how long that will last, tho. Hubby still expects me to do it all.
My boys don’t ask to do much outside activities. Even so, I still limit it to 2-3 a week. That includes Youth Church on Wednesday nights.
Reading, blogging, crocheting, book studies are my outlets. They relax me. Unless I allow myself to feel behind, then I get stressed. I am learning I have to do what I can do & I’ll get to the rest later. Like right now, there are several things I need to do to help me be more organized. If I look at the whole picture I get overwhelmed. I have to take it a bit at a time.
Michelle Fitzgerald
I really NEED a routine to stay on track. If I have a routine, I do much better at really getting things done. I have to hold myself accountable.
I really keep trying to simplify. The more I simplify, the more I am able to stay on track and keep things organized.
When I am unorganized, it makes it much harder to do ANYTHING.
I also, personally, have to really limit my time on the computer or phone. it can really eat into my time with the family or my getting other things done.
So, I guess it boils down to prioritizing. I really need to sit down and think about what needs to come first and then prioritize those things.
I have to keep things in perspective and try to keep those most important things forefront.
I do let a lot of things get in front of the more important things, like talking on the phone or getting online. LOL But it does eat into the time.
So, My secret is to try to make sure that I am keeping the less important things in the background and the most important things first.
Rodna James
I am excited to read your ideas! I am always looking for ways to be more productive.
I am a homeschooling stay at home Mom and have 2 children ages 6 and 8.
As far as goals go…I plan to set tangible mini goals for each of my resolutions…for example…I want to lose weight and eat healthy….1 week I will plan to implement not eating after 7pm and the next week my goal will be to add eating breakfast daily and the following week I want to eat oatmeal daily…I may do these for 1 week or longer if I need longer to make it a habit. I also have a checklist for myself to keep myself on target. I plan to do the same with some of my other goals.But 1 goal at a time!
Helpful productivity tips have been: have a weekly schedule…Mondays are my FREE DAYS, Tues OFFICE & QUIET DAY; WED: Errand Day; THURS: KITCHEN DAY ; FRIDAY: Home Blessing Day; SAT: Family Day; SUN: Church Day…ideas from FLY LADY…I also try have daily routines as Cindy mentioned in one of her seminars instead of a rigid schedule but do have to give a time frame for some activities like waking up and meals…it helps me to stay on track.
I also use OUTLOOK on my laptop to plan it all…I set up TASKS and Calendar appnts in outlook so I know what I have to do when.
I also recently decided I wanted an actual paper to work with as a daily to do list so I printed a page that has my daily tasks and schedule and each morning I plug in meals and extra things like appnts and errands so I know when I will do them…
My kids also have Chore Cards on the wall so they know what to do…they include fun things like Computer Time; School Work and Also Chores…they have been a big help.
Here are some ideas and hope they help!
I enjoy making a plan, but seem to fail in the implementation. So I started off the month right. I made a goal for the month and posted it all over the place on HOT PINK paper with black marker. My family finds this weird, but they can’t ingore it.
I put one next to my computer to remind me to get up and do something toward my goal. I put one in the kitchen to remind me to clean up after meals so my kitchen stays clean. I put one right next to the television to annoy me and prevent me from sitting down and watching too much television. Finally I put one in the bathroom to remind me first thing in the morning that I have a goal.
This seems to be working for me as I am feeling great about what has happened so far. Along with a hot cup of Yerba Mate, my days seem to be going so much better.
The final thing that has helped me though is praying before I even get out of bed. This seems to be my o nly time with God and I refuse to give it up, even if my kids are up before me. The day may still be crazy, but I set myself on the right course, by placing God where he belongs, FIRST.
I make sure to use my Calendar & Homemaking Notebook to plan our weekly activities and goals. I have a list of chores I need to do each day, a list of chores for the kids, and for our homeschooling. I also try to plan out the fun activities, meals, and errands.