Common Sense Living

Archive for the ‘Time Management’ Category

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I’m finding that its really hard to work 50+ hours a week, make dinner, do the dishes, keep the house clean, keep Rebel With a Fork filled with new stuff, blog, write a new ebook, and get enough sleep. Imagine that!

And if they ever get around to fixing my house and putting in the new windows, I’ll have to repaint the entire inside.

Now, something has to take a backseat for a while, and its been the ebook.

But the goal is still to have it done by September 1.

How will I do that?

One paragraph at a time.

Just like I teach at RebelWithaFork.com, small daily actions get the job done.

If I write just one or two paragraphs a day, I’ll get it done. If I have time to write a whole chapter, I’ll get it done faster, but since I can’t count on that, I just keep plugging away.

Whether its keeping the house clean, eating healthier, losing weight, exercising, learning a new skill, or just finding time to relax – take it in small chunks.

If you try waiting until you have a couple of hours available, well… when does that happen? But 10 minutes a day adds up to an hour a week.

Anyone can find 10 minutes a day. I’ll bet you can find a few 10 minutes a day.

• 10 minutes to make and eat a salad.
• 10 minutes to clean the kitchen.
• 10 minutes to take a walk.
• 10 minutes to read something to help you reach your goals.

How much impact would those little things have on your life?

Don’t waste your minutes waiting for hours to show up. Create hours worth of results – minutes at a time.

Image by Lin Pernille Photography via Flickr

 Going crazy yet?

 It’s that time of year when living a balanced life becomes an even bigger challenge. You have work, housework, family responsibilities, and you want to get out and enjoy the summer.

 The key is to plan your day. Allow a certain amount of time everyday for each thing that needs tending to. Use spare minutes wisely.

 Here are some tips to help you manage your time so you have more time to play!

 Get up a few minutes earlier if you have to so you have time to plan your day. Write down everything you want to, or need to accomplish.  Plan dinner and make sure to take the meat out of the freezer!

 Don’t plan elaborate dinners. Simple dinners made with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are perfect for summer, keep your energy levels up, and keep dishwashing down! If you are short on ideas, take a look inside Rebel With a Fork. It’s full of great fast healthy dinner ideas.

 Write down all the errands you need to do today. Can you get one done on the way to work? On your lunch hour? Can you order online? On the next rainy day – how about getting the school supplies out of the way? I always ordered from Office Max. You will be so happy you got this out of the way! Major stress relief

 While dinner is cooking, check your email, or do an online order, or pay bills online. You can accomplish a lot in little ten minutes chunks of time.

 Allow up to half an hour a day for housecleaning. If you do this faithfully, your house can be really clean. No more spending your Saturday cleaning house! You’ve got better things to do. If you need to find out how to clean your home quickly and easily, check out Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak.

 Buy clothes that are wash and wear. You don’t want to have to spend time running to the cleaners or ironing, do you? Make sure you get the clothes out of the dry and hung up and/or put away right way so you don’t have to worry about wrinkles.

 Get a wash and wear haircut. Or at least one that takes less than 10 minutes to style in the morning and that will hold up all day. Use products that will cut down frizz and hold your hair in place. I have naturally curly (unruly, rebellious) hair. I’ve been lazy lately and just let it go natural. I use L.A. Looks frizz control gel, shape it, and go. If I actually take hte time to style it, I use  Pantene Flexible Hold Hairspray after to keep my hair looking good all day.

 Girls, use waterproof mascara and eyeliner to keep from running.

 Make it a point to get outside every day. I take a walk on nice evenings if I haven’t gotten home too late. We get out, enjoy the weather, get some exercise, and talk – away from the distractions of TV, radio, telephone, or computers. Sometimes we’ll swim or go to a friends house for a barbeque. 

 You really want a drastic way to increase your time? Not many of you will do this one- Disconnect your cable TV. You’d be amazed at how much time the television takes away from your life. While not many of you would be brave enough to not have TV in the house at all, at least turn it off once in a while and go do something! Don’t watch life on TV – go live it!

 If you’re working at home – don’t forget you have a life too. Find ways to be more efficient. Don’t read junk emails. Don’t wander around the net checking out this and that. While you’re working, be working. When it’s time to spend time with your family and tend to your life – get away from the computer and do it.  

Plan time off. Time that you will not work. Time that’s just for fun. Yes, work is important. Yes, your goals are important. But time off is also important. When you take time to play- you’ll actually come back refreshed, full of new ideas, and more productive.  

Use these tips to manage your time, and have a great summer!

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So, here it is – almost midnight. I’m just now eating my salad.

Did I feel like making a salad at this time of night? No. But I flet like eating it, so I forced myself through the grueling 5 minutes it took to make it. And it’s really yummy.

Is it rude to write with your mouth full?

Its green leaf lettuce, broccoli, green onions, homegrown tomatoes, and some left-over chicken with an olive oil vinaigrette. Oh, and black pepper. Gotta have fresh ground black pepper!

The shake-ups at the spa have left me working every night, and weekends. It’s been a little harder than I had expected to work all these nights. The biggest challenge for me is not having dinner-time. And that’s typically when I eat my big salad for the day, with whatever else I’m having.

I’ve tried eating my salad before I go to work. That worked a couple of days, but not today. And since there are colds and flu going around already, I sure don’t want to fall into bad eating habits.

Really, it’s about your priorities. Mine is to stay healthy.

Another priority I had was to get the pumpkins cooked before they went bad. I really wanted to make pumpkin bread, but getting the pumpkin puree into the freezer was a big enough accomplishment. And we demolished the pumpkin seeds.

Oh, and I wanted to get the windows done before the cold weather set in. We had frost the day after I did them.

And this wind thing! Holy cow. We had a freak accident where a mature tree snapped and flew into 2 cars on a main road. A limb actually went through one of the drivers. How weird is that? I hear she is going to be OK.

And I’ve been working on getting the new November recipes up at Rebel With a Fork. I love Thanksgiving dinner!

So, my daughter was talking about some people she knows. She says that they come home from work and they have their list of TV shows to watch. They are too tired to clean the house. They can’t cook because there is no room in the kitchen. Its covered with dirty dishes, and just stuff left everywhere. The kids can’t talked to them during their shows.

I said, “Emma, you have to realized that is the typical American family. We are the odd balls.”

She says, “I’m so used to you. You do everything.”

See, we all have the same 24 hours. No one is granted extra hours. The secrets are planning, and working smart – not hard.

The holiday season is fast approaching. You need to start planning now. Start getting the house clean now. Start planning your menus and guests lists now. Start picking up gifts now.

If you need help with an easy house cleaning system, there’s Secret Confessions of a Clean Freak.

If you need help with fast healthy cooking, there’s Rebel With a Fork.

I’ll be re-releasing the Thanksgiving Planner in a couple of days.

I’ll be giving you as much help as I can in the weeks to come

Related articles

• You’re A Farmer — But Can You COOK?: A Recipe for Pumpkin Seeds (chicagonow.com)

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This time of year, many companies are winding down and employees can have extra time to enjoy the holidays. But for many, not only do the holidays make everything crazy, business is crazy too.

I just got my schedule for the month at the spa – and lets say, it was a few more hours than I was prepared for. Mixed blessing, since we all can use some extra money this month – but how the heck will I manage to fit it all in?

Systems.

You have systems at work to keep things flowing, right? So why not at home?

You already know that I have my housecleaning system at HowToCleanHouseFast.com You probably already own it. Are you using it? Dig it up on your hard drive and start using it. It will save your butt this month. People stop in unannounced this month than any other.

And I for sure will be implementing my fast dinner plans. I will be doing things like a big pot of chili, and stuffed cabbage made in the crock pot, and my 4 dinner plan. With a little planning, you can stay out of the fast food lanes, stay healthier, have more energy, and maybe even lose some weight this holiday season. If you want my fast dinner planning resources, you can find them at RebelWithaFork.com

Take the same prinicples that you use at work to get your job done faster and more efficiently and apply that thinking to running your home, and you’ll find a lot more time and energy.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

There’s one person who brings home the bacon, fries it up in the pan- and manages it all without the help of a man. She’s a baker, a banker, a nurse, a mechanic, a handyman, and whatever else life calls for – everyday. Here’s some tips from a single mom – the ultimate time-management professional on how to get through it all, with your sanity in tact;

 

Tip #1 – there are 24 hours in a day. Use them wisely. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it. The last thing you need is a list of unfinished things to do to drive you over the edge.

 

 Tip #2 – It doesn’t have to be perfect – it just has to be done. In later years, you can return to perfectionism if you choose, but for now – don’t take time away from what’s really important to stress over things that aren’t that important.

 

Tip #3 – Learn how to do things efficiently. Learn the tricks to keeping your house clean. Learn how to cook fast healthy dinners. Plan your trips in a logical sequence. Use lists. Shop online. Minutes are precious – save as many as you can.

 

Tip #4 – swallow your pride and ask for help if you need it. As much as you may want to prove to the world that you are capable of everything, we can’t do everything all by ourselves. If you’re running late or tied up in traffic and don’t think you’ll make it in time to get your kid out of daycare, call a friend or neighbor. Offer to feed them. You’ll have a nice visit and relax a little. Everyone wins.

You can share responsibilities with another parent. One of you can drop the kids off and the other can pick them up. Or you can do one day, and the other parent another day. Just ask!Tip #5 – give help as much as you can, without taking away from your own family. If a friend or neighbor doesn’t have a car, offer to take them to the store when you go. If they’re not feeling well, offer to pick up something when you go to the store. Make an extra serving of your dinner to take over. You can do a lot of little things for people with hardly any effort. Leading by example is a great way to mold your kids into giving people. It should be a natural response for them to offer a helping hand. Always remember, what goes around comes around.

Tip #5 – Learn to get along with difficult people – there are many people in your life that you would rather not deal with, but have to. Ex-spouses usually hold the #1 position on that list. But the long-term benefits of not having to argue all the time, less stress on your kid, not having to take everything to court to settle, really do outweigh the discomfort of having to deal with this person and remain civil. If you are newly divorced, take comfort, it gets better after a couple of years in most cases. That is until your child turns 13, but that’s a whole nother story! Other people on your hate to deal with list may include bosses, family members, and some customers. There are benefits to being able to deal with these people. Always remember that point, tough as it is sometimes.

 

 

 

Tip #6 – Choose your battles. Only yell, argue, or stress over things that really make a difference. Let little things slide. That being said, don’t be a doormat either. If it’s important, speak up!

 

Tip #7 – Make health and fitness a priority. You need every ounce of energy. Fruits, vegetables, vitamins, exercise and water need to be on the top of the list for you and your kids so you all can operate at peak performance and get sick less often. Nothing throws a wrench in the works like once of you getting sick. And fresh fruits and vegetables make for really fast dinners and fewer dishes!

 

Tip #8 – Make Dinner! It may seem that you’re saving time by picking up fast food, or preparing instant foods, but it’s really not true. The time you spend picking up fast food could be spent talking with your kids while they do homework. That time is priceless. Homework gets done, and you all get to connect.

Instant foods really don’t save you any measurable time. As an added benefit, eating fresh real foods not only tastes better – but will keep you all healthier, and thinking better too.

 

Tip #9 – Plan ahead for those nights when you need to be somewhere – girl scouts, practice, etc. There are plenty of fast meals you can make in about 15 minutes.  One of my favorites is steak or chicken breast, tossed salad, and (micro)baked potato. You can pick up some great fast dinner ideas here >>>

Again, you’re leading by example – managing your time, and eating healthy. Make it clear that they have to hustle and get as much homework done as quickly as possible.

Don’t look at me like that. I did it for years! Girl scouts, band concerts, talent shows, conferences, art club, youth group…

 

Tip #10 – Don’t over-schedule. You can’t live on a hectic schedule every night. You need a couple nights a week without additional commitments so you’re not all burning out. 

 

Tip #11 – Get enough sleep. You know how much sleep you need to function through the next day. Make sure you get it. For most adults, 6 hours is the minimum. 7 is optimal for me. How about you? It will take some experimentation and observation with your kids to determine just how much sleep they need. My daughter’s performance falls considerably if she doesn’t get enough sleep.

If you are practicing the other tips, such as living efficiently, and getting enough nutrition and exercise, and getting help when you need it, getting enough sleep probably won’t be difficult.

 

Tip #12 – Make time for fun. All work and no play make Jane a dull girl with high blood pressure, depression, and no one left to play with. Seriously, down time and recreation is just as important as working hard. Even if it’s just a quick game of hide and seek, or a 15-minute bike ride – you’ll give your brain a rest and get some exercise

My daughter is almost 18, and we still take walks together, or jump in the lake for a few minutes. We make an effort to spend quality time together. But that doesn’t just happen. You have to start when they’re young. If they’ve grown up that way, it will be natural for them to continue.

Everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and we wonder why everyone is psychotic, depressed, fatigued, and overweight. You’ve got to lighten up!

 

Tip #13 – turn off the cell phone. I don’t care if it’s the president calling. You don’t have to jump and answer that phone every time it rings or vibrates (unless it’s your kid calling – then you do have to.) Focus on the relationship happening in front of you.

Have you tried helping a customer who’s constantly answering the phone while you’re trying to conduct business?

Have you tried having a conversation with your teen when they’re constantly texting while you’re talking to them?

Are you always putting the people in front of you on hold? How do you think it makes them feel? Pretty unimportant?

Is it any wonder that people feel like they have to act crazy to get any attention?

I almost fell over when my daughter started leaving her phone at home when we take a walk. She’s getting the message. We can break this crazy cycle!

 

Tip #14 – turn off the TV. Better yet – get rid of it all together. That’s what we did. We live where you can’t get reception without cable or satellite. I just refuse to pay that much for mind numbing, time stealing, so called “entertainment”.

Can you imagine actually having a conversation with your kids after dinner? It’s amazing. We spend a lot of time at the table. You will have to learn to put up with their music though. Tough, but it’s worth it. 

 

Tip #15 – Live life on your terms. Your beliefs, dreams, and moral fiber are different from everyone else’s. Do not comprise who you are to make someone else happy. It never works. And certainly don’t compromise yourself to make money. Be rich in spirit. You’ll be a lot happier when you look at your reflection in the morning. 

We’ve lost the health and happiness that comes with living a balanced life. It doesn’t have to be that way. Try life on the other side. It’s really much more enjoyable.

And remember that your kids learn by seeing what you do. Show them the way to live a balanced life. We just might change the world.

Sometimes you have to put your foot down. That takes courage. Do it. Stick to your priorities. People will get used to it

 

Are you a woman who lives by these values? Or wants to but needs a little help? Join the Club. No seriously – join this club >>>