Routine: Boring or Blessing?

I have been planning to post this blog for a week now- ironically enough, our daily schedule has been way off the past week due to Amy and Emily not sleeping well at night, missing their afternoon naps, etc. It just serves to remind me how important a daily schedule is in keeping things running smoothly!

I haven't always maintained a daily schedule, a routine bedtime, etc. But after nearly 6 years of marriage and 4 years of motherhood, I've learned that organizing and scheduling your time goes a long way in simplifying your life!

I am an individual who loves to check off lists, keep a routine, consult a calendar, and adhere to fine details. Obviously marriage and motherhood have also taught me that life isn't' about perfectionism. Life is full of interruptions, delays and distractions, and our routines and expectations require a good dose of flexibility every now and again!

So why is a daily schedule important? First of all I believe it is a wonderful tool in using your time wisely and helping you achieve your goals for the day or week. Even those who are not as "goal oriented" or as motivated by "lists" as the rest of us will benefit from the discipline a daily schedule requires. It sets a boundary, if you will, around your day and lets you know what to expect from yourself.

Secondly, it benefits your family by keeping the "gears" in your home running smoothly. A few examples: Instead of grocery shopping being scattered over an entire week of running to the store to grab a few ingredients, setting a particular day to go to the supermarket eliminates unnecessary shopping and spending. Planning your weekly menu ahead of time makes meal time much more simple and eliminates a lot of frustration over what to cook for the next meal. Keeping your children's naps and bedtime on a schedule not only lets them know what is expected of them and when, but also enables them to develop healthy sleeping habits and discipline.

For those who have never kept a daily schedule before, I recommend that you start out simple. Decide what things need to be accomplished on a daily and weekly basis and write those down. For example, laundry must be done regularly, so decide if you want this to be a daily task (wash and put away a load or two every day), or if you want to set aside a single day of the week to wash, dry and fold all your laundry. I don't recommend penciling in every detail of your day or planning ahead of time what you'll be doing on the hour, every hour. Interruptions are bound to pop up and put a snag in your schedule, so keep it open and flexible. A routine should be a tool to set perimeters around your day and organize your time, not a restricting schedule that causes frustration!

Along with my daily schedule, I keep a "to do" list of things I want to accomplish for the day or during the week. This may include projects, household duties, errands to run, phone calls or make or cards to send, etc. These lists not only keep me from forgetting important things, but I get a great deal of satisfaction from marking off items as I accomplish them! ~smile~

Remember, a daily schedule must work for you and your family. If your routine causes stress and frustration, throw it out and start over.

For those who are interested, here is our daily schedule. It's a printable document, so please feel free to change it according to your family's needs, print it, and place it on your fridge to use for your family!

Summary of a daily schedule:

Keep it do-able and simple- it must work for you not against you!

Remember the purpose is to relieve stress and unnecessary confusion, not create more. Tweak your routine until it is fine-tuned enough to benefit your family.

Don't over-schedule and don't panic if you get off track for a day (or a week). Start again fresh tomorrow!

Keep a flexible attitude and a joyful spirit. Focus on your family, not on what you and they need to be doing at that hour!

A few words to young women. If you're a young lady still living at home, or a young married woman with no children, now is the perfect time for you to begin keeping a daily schedule! You likely do not have as many responsibilities or interruptions as a woman with a houseful of children, so make the best of this season of your life and learn the discipline of adhering to a routine. You do not need to be a mama with six children to learn to shop frugally, plan a menu, or run a household smoothly! Develop good habits now and you'll have a wonderful foundation to build on in the future.