Can we talk time?

[3lilmonsters]

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I know I'm not the busiest mama in the world, but sometimes I feel as though I should be nominated for the worst at time management award!

I'm a mostly single but partnered, home/un-schooling, student mom. I do child care for an infant M-F 7:30am to 5ishpm, and for two school agers about the same in the summer, and then 3pmish to between 5 and 6 M-TH during the school year. For this fall I'm looking to hopefully take on two children to homeschool 3 days a week, and/or pick up some tutoring. I also started as in independent consultant for Brown Bag Parties a couple of months ago.

Ideally I would have parties scheduled on all Thursdays and Saturdays - those are the two days my x is available to take the kids overnight. The reality is though that I just have a really hard time with scheduling time during the week to work on getting those parties.

Who else out there is trying to balance 1 or more jobs, college and homeschooling? Any brilliant tips?

[nursingmom]

I try to write down what must be done today. That way, if that little to-do list is checked off, i feel like I've accomplished something and whatever extra work i do is just a bonus.

I try to get work done while my baby is taking a nap and during late at night... like right now is 12:22 a.m.

I don't homeschool. I'm always amazed at mothers who homeschool + manage other work.

[inchwormz]

I THRIVE on routines. I have them posted all over my house - the bedroom, kitchen and office. I follow them as closely as I can because I find myself very overwhelmed and behind if I waver from them.

[camprunner]

I make my to do list from 8-9am, home school from 9am-Noon, eat and relax until 1 PM, kids are having quiet time from 1 PM-3 PM, Kids watch PBS from 3 PM to 4 PM,DH arrives home between 3PM and 4 PM and takes over if necessary. I realize that the last part doesn't help your situation. The truth is that I get more work done when DH is NOT home.

Do the kids have nap/quiet time that you can use to make contacts? What about when they are happily eating a meal or snack? Not sure how that would work with lots of little ones.

I do REFUSE to work while I home school. I will check e-mail somedays when things are slow but have ask all work related calls to be delayed until after 1 PM.

[yitlan]

I love love love my Planner Pad. I am not affiliated with them in any way. Their product just works perfectly for me:
http://www.plannerpads.com
It's great for listmakers and I make categories of lists. Then you funnel those tasks down to what needs to happen each day. For instance, my categories are: Work, homeschool, house/garden, home, and there's usually some project that gets its own column.

I'm also a big meal planner, so I always know what tasks need to be done for meal prep and how long it will take. I plan around my week so I know which days require a crockpot meal, quick prep meal, which days I have time to do a more involved meal.

Hope that helps some!