How do you manage your time when you wah?

[beadmama]

You would think after working from home for the last 12 months that I would have it down but I do really well one week and then the next week goes to poop
I work 20 hours at home and 5 hours at my sisters store along with everything else in the house. Dd is a busy bee and usually plays by herself really well and I of course play with her but I can't play all day. I just get really overwhelmed with all that needs to be done. I know that I can't do it all and I don't strive for that but I try to get as much done as possible.
I like a neat picked up house. It does not have to be dusted and vacuumed but I don't like messy clutter. I come up with these plans and they work really well at first then they just get pushed to the way side. I have tried Flylady but it is really annoying I do menu plan and that really helps with that so that is not a problem. I am also going to try monthly planning and shopping so we shall see how that goes.

So what is your "schedule" like and have you found a workable plan for yourself without driving yourself nuts. I know it is not a one size fits all plan but maybe I can learn some tips or tricks from other mamas in the same position.

[dogmom327]

What is this "time management" you speak of????

[yitlan]

It's gotten easier now that my youngest is 2. Before that I could not do it without regular babysitting. I traded sitting with a friend who worked very part time and worked in the evenings after bedtime.

The house is messy. I have come to accept what is enough for us. Even when I'm not working much, I'd rather be doing things with my kids. As they get older, though, they can help clean. So teaching how to help around the house and having regular chores is very valuable. When my youngest was 1, my mom got me monthly house cleaning for christmas. That was NICE. But by the time she was 2, I didn't really need it. Well, it would be nice, but I can now keep up a little better!

I live by my planner. I'm a list maker. If it gets written down I'll get it done. I love my planner pad (http://www.plannerpad.com). I use my palm/phone for long range planning, general scheduling, contacts, etc. But my lists and paper planner are how I get things actually done.

Menu planning is invaluable to me. I cannot stop myself at 4 and wonder what's for dinner. Esp. with really little babes, making dinner is an all day journey. Chop here, make the sauce there, brown the meat here, grind the wheat there.

It's always very hard for me to be present with my kids when there are things to do. That took awhile for me to really get. Now b/c my kids are older, they are more independent and can play together for awhile, so I can fit things in here and there. I do occasionally pay for sitting when I'm feeling behind or have a pressing project. I rarely work at night any more and try to spend time with dh. Now that my youngest is sleeping better, I can get up very early to work out and sometimes get a few hours in before everyone else wakes up.

It has all just naturally developed over time. Unless you can either get regular help it's very hard with little babes. I worked at nap times and late nights. And by help, I mean anything regular where your baby is entertained by someone other than you! Could be a mother's helper. You're home but so is someone else. Could be a babysitting trade. Could mean dropping baby off with a family member or sitter. And again, a messy house is what I paid. Keeping my house clean is a part time job and one I don't enjoy much.

OK, guess I should get back to other productive projects!

[melanienader]

It's a daily struggle, make a schedule from day to day, figure out your to do list, estimate how much time each one will take. Put the most important tasks first, and leave the rest for another day. Set realistic goals, and work toward them. I manage 5 kids, a business and homeschool (during the school year), and sometimes I only have 2 hours a day to work...it can feel very unproductive. Just remember your priority is your kids, not the business, that's why you work from home. And give yourself the understanding to know that you are doing your best.
Good luck.

[mistymama]

Ds is 6.5, so fully capable of playing by himself, outside with friends, etc - and I STILL struggle with wah and getting everything done!

To be honest, most weeks that he is in school I work from my office. During the summer I put him in half day camps some weeks. I just get more done when he is not home.

I need to work 4-5 hours a day from home. The weeks he is home with me, I find it's easiest to wake up early, like 5am - and try to work as much as I can before he wakes up. Then I can set him up with breakfast and a little activity and get the rest of my work done by 10-11am. Then the rest of the day is ours.

As far as picking up - I'm like you. And I can't stand fly lady! I usually set aside about an hour around 4pm each afternoon to do a quick run through of the house and maybe deep clean one area each day. It works for us and keeps the house decent.

I shop on Mondays for the entire week. I menu plan which helps a ton, and unless it's a weekend day, I keep our dinners very simple.

I don't know that any of us WAHM's ever find the perfect balance! I do the best I can, and figure it's all worth it to have so much time to devote to ds.

[Galatea]

I work about 6 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was getting really b$%^&y with everyone until I put the boys (3 and 5) in a summer camp from 9-1 every weekday - it has helped my mood immensely and allows me to work for 3 hours without interruption (well, the baby is here but she isn't as demanding and is content to just get boob.) Without the camp, and school in the fall, I might go crazy. So my answer is childcare, lots of it.