Developing a Workable Schedule - 31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae ~ Day 22

Schedules are really excellent tools.

If you don't have one or don't follow one,         
you really should.                                                      

 Having and following a schedule helps us to order our lives in a way that allows us to stay focused, helps us to develop self discipline, helps us to realize where our priorities lie, helps us to see where we can improve and also helps us to manage our time wisely.

However, I'm the type of person who loves to write out a schedule and while I have grand plans for it, when it comes to actually carrying it out I have terrible follow through.

If you find yourself in the same boat it could be that we are not creating schedules that are actually workable for where we are in our lives.

Right now, my main priorities are to serve the Lord as best as I can, really "be there" for my husband and children, try to keep a clean, relaxing and inviting home, prepare healthy meals so we will all grow up big and strong and be a friend and blessing to those in need.

To some of you, that may not seem like a lot, but it does take up a LOT of time and I do not even have an outside of the home job schedule to contend with. I've been really blessed there, but I tell you, I don't know how you mamas do it! Hats off to you!

I believe the key to following a workable schedule is flexibility. If one area of your schedule isn't working for you then tweak it or toss it out altogether.

The reading today suggests to not schedule every minute or hour of your day because for most of us that won't work or we just won't follow through with it. Sarah Mae offers these tips for creating a workable schedule.

1. Review your list of priorities
2. Make sure to schedule time for your hobbies - even if its only 15 minutes!
3. Do what comes naturally - We naturally have dinner at 4 pm. It's what works for us...
4. Write it down and put it somewhere you will see it every day

Remember, the key here is flexibility. Expect your schedule to change as you see what actually works and what doesn't. 

I also like to make out a general cleaning schedule for the week. My weekly cleaning schedule looks like this:

Monday - Laundry
Tuesday - Dust/Wipe down Kitchen and water the plants
Wednesday - Grocery Shopping
Thursday - Bathrooms
Friday - Laundry (Sheets and hand towels)
Saturday - Vacuum and Mop/ Clean outside deck or yard

This is a flexible list and I try to follow it. Of course, general cleaning happens every day, but this list allows me to focus on a specific task and helps me to stay focused when I'm feeling groggy and don't really know what to do with myself. And yes, we have to do laundry twice a week...I shudder to think how much laundry I'll have to do when they are older!!!

Cleaning assignment is to wash windows, window treatments, walls and dust ceiling in your home office if you have one.