An Easy Way To Schedule Your Days

There is something so rhythmical about planning our days.  Knowing what is going to happen, and when.  It can give a peace to you, your husband and children.  

I remember talking to my Grandma about the way things were when she was young.  The routines were always the same.  She knew that Saturday, for example, was baking day for them.  They would be baking for the week to come, and also getting ready for Sunday.  This was a day of rest for them, and they didn't cook on this day.

Just the word 'schedule' can make many people nervous.  As soon as we put something in writing to follow...well, it seems that we go backwards.  Things get worse than they were before.  

But, if we can implement a simple plan.  Nothing overwhelming.  Having a plan, no matter how simple, can bring blessings to our home.  By having a day of the week devoted to our various tasks, we can gain some much needed peace.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  Psalm 90:12

For a few years now my weekly schedule has looked like this:

Monday- Laundry

With 9 people in our house the laundry piles can add up fast.  After the weekend the piles are really large.  I use Monday to tame the beast.  I still do laundry the rest of the week, but only about 3 loads a day.

Tuesday- Ironing, Clothes Put Away

Wednesday- Office Day: bills, paperwork, homeschool filing, homeschool meeting with each school age child

Thursday- Errands, Music Lessons, Outdoor Nature Study

Friday- General House Cleaning,  Family Movie Night

Saturday- Outside Day, Extra Projects, Prepare for Sunday

Sunday- Church Day

This is not a hard and fast schedule.  There are days when I have to run errands on Tuesday, too.   Or music lessons were rescheduled for a different day.  But, generally our weeks keep the same rhythm.  I know that if I don't get the homeschooling filing done on Wednesday, I can do it next Wednesday.  No stress.  I know that it will get done, and I am not trying to add something to the next days work. And I don't go to bed at night feeling like a failure.

Simple.  Easy to follow.  Room for adjustments.  This is doable.

Sit down with a piece of paper and a pen.  (yes, they still make those)  Write down all the tasks that need to be done in any given week.  For you, your husband, your children, and anything else you are responsible for.  

Can you group those tasks?  List them under the day of the week that works best for you.  Put like, with like.  If possible, reschedule meetings or practices for the same day.  If our days are always spent away from home running here and there, we won't find that rhythm.  If you work outside the home, than that's a different matter.  But, the basic principles can still apply.

We all have about a million things to do in any given week.  Let's make sure that we are the ones in charge, not our To Do List!  As moms we need to run our castle, like the Queens that we are.  We are the CEO of our homes.  I'm not talking about the spiritual leader, but as moms and wives we keep the wheels spinning.

Embrace it.  Make it work for you.  Get your kids involved.  Summer is a great time to try out new routines.  Give each child a weekly schedule, too.  Add in chores, free time, practices, etc.  When Fall rolls around your home will be humming along.

A day of the week for everything.  We only get one life to live, let's live it to the fullest.  We only get so many days with our children at home.  Let's not waste them on stress and disorganization.

It's not about winning the battle, but successfully, and purposefully winning the war.

----------

This is a repost from a year or so ago.  As I read it I realize that even though our music lesson days have changed, everything has mostly stayed the same.  It is not always about the hard and fast rules, but making things work for you and your family.  Have a great week!