Showing posts with label Time Management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time Management. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Time Management: My System {Part 2} Calendar

Check out Part One of my Time Management Series - Blog

I'm sharing how I keep up with my Calendar.

I am speaking to those of you who {like the past version of me} cannot seem to move past that
physical planner that you carry everywhere like it is your Bible.

I loved my planner, but the convenience of an electronic calendar cannot be beat!


Before the days of Google Calendar, my family would sit down in the living room about once a month and "sync" our calendars. We would share dates with each other that would be important for the family as a whole or good-to-know.

Now, we can all see each others' calendars simply by clicking the side bar of your list of calendars (after your link the calendars together)


Even better - I can have multiple calendars to keep things easily color coded.

I'm usually stalking Pinterest online planning our grocery lists and menu plans, I later move them to the refrigerator door, but for planning purposes, it was easiest for me to create a calendar to map them out.
(See Turquoise)

Jacob being away at college, it's great having access to his calendar (blue)
And, when my Dad bothers to update his... we sync with him too.

I do occasionally print out my calendars and post them on my office wall just to have it at a glace.



If you're like me, you may have more than one email address. Everything that belongs to both John & me goes to one email address {purple}, my personal stuff goes into another {pink} and of course John's personal goes to his {green}. Then, to keep things simplified (I know it sounds complicated, but makes life so much easier!), my Thirty One Business {orange} has it's own email address as does my blog {magenta}!

This calendar is composed by the linking of all those Google Account email addresses & their associated calendars. If you set your permissions up properly, you can edit and share each calendar from any Google Account.

Another bonus:
 This route to keeping up with your life is free - traditional calendars run anywhere from $13 to in the $100's.

A final point on calendars in our home...
It's a rule my mother started with us as kids and has worked well and we still use today.
What goes on the calendar first, is the commitment we stick with.
 Obviously, I'm not talking about extreme extenuating circumstances; sickness, doctor, etc. But when it comes to outings, volunteer projects, dinners with friends etc. Some times we just have to say "I'm sorry, we already have something on that night". Even when the alternative would have been more fun.

It seems like a basic concept, but it takes the grey area out. It becomes black and white, you do what you committed to first. Without that grey area, scheduling is a much easier process.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Desire to Inspire: Taking Time out of your Day




I stay pretty busy.
okay.. Very busy.

Sometimes I let my negativity get in the way of the bigger picture, in the way of what is really important. I really can be quite the hypocrite... or at least contradictory (don't believe me? Read this follow this link and look at what I said about my time right off the bat)

A couple of months ago I was asked and agreed to take a soon-to-be vacated spot on our counties Child Protective Services Board.
A couple of months ago, I wasn't quite as busy as I am now.

I had forgotten how much time being the Childrens Choir Director took up once school started

and I had forgotten how much time rehearsals for our church Christmas Production would take
(yes, they've already started!)

I was so resentful that I had said yes to such a wonderful cause.

My heart was an ugly place.


When I drug my grumbling butt down to the meeting I was rewarded and blessed beyond measure.
I saw first hand all the good that this group of people does.
I saw how they provide for these beautiful children who have done nothing wrong but have been given a terrible hand in life. 

No worries, I was set straight.
Some things are just a God thing.

I have the time to give to them.

I just need to stop thinking about me
I need to recognize the opportunities God is giving me and embrace them
rather than frown on them and check my watch or refer to my slightly abundant calendar.

My time is important to me, but I should recognize this blessing and offer my time as an Offering.

I want to encourage you to embrace the Blessings you are given,
make time for the things that matter.



{Come link up with us at Royal Daughter Designs every Thursday for Desire to Inspire!}

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Time Management: My System {Part 1} Blog

I enjoy having a very full and active lifestyle.
{I sound like I am a retired grandmother right now}

Part of that "full and active" lifestyle includes times that are crazy busy and I don't have time to go eat much less stay on top of other less demanding tasks.  

I want to share how I keep up with my blog.

Blogging seems like less of an overwhelming task when I schedule it and break it down into smaller chunks.  I enjoy it so much that I want to write and not let it become a chore - or worse, let it take over my life. Remember, I should not let the things that matter the LEAST influence things that matter MOST.

To keep myself sane, but to still write and post often I...
  • I schedule my posts.  Very rarely do I hit "Publish" and post "fresh off the press" content.
    It is usually something that I wrote two or three days ago (and in some cases even longer ago)
    How far ahead I write posts usually depends on what my personal & family calendar looks like.
  • I break writing (most) posts up into 2 or 3 sessions. For example, writing this post, I will do a rough draft - get my ideas out into a general breakdown of what I plan to say, then I will come in and flush out the ideas into complete thoughts. Only after that do I put in the final touches on the post like pictures etc.

  •  Task orientation vs. time allotment. I'm not very good at working in a certain time frame. I can't sit down and say "I have 30 minutes to complete this task". Plus, usually if I am online, I am multitasking between work, or other commitments and blogging. So I complete one task and then move to what else I need to do then. I'll have a goal for the day finish post xyz then I break it down into "finish this paragraph or thought, then move on abc".
  • I keep a file for {L&&L}.  This is the best thing I have done for myself and blogging!  I knew that somewhere out in the Pinterest world was a template for a printable calendar and other great blog resources.  (Sure I could make my own, but why reinvent the wheel?)

    I had been making lists - and putting notes about blogging on top of notes about Children's Choir, my volunteer activities and Thirty-One! - things were getting so jumbled. Now I have a home specifically for my Blogging notes and ideas!

  • I don't read everyones blog, every day.  I really struggled with this at first. I love reading my favorite blogs and keeping up with what is going on in everyone's lives - but it's just not realistic! When I was at Mamas Write, Mandy from {Biblical Homemaking} was discussing time management and this exact issue came up.

    She put it into perfect terms that make so much sense! Would my husband be okay with me catching up with my girl friends every day on the phone? No, of course not - he would be so aggravated if I spent 3+ hours talking to the girls daily.  He however doesn't mind when I catch up with them once a month or so. So why is blogging any different? Reading everyone's posts would take me more than 3 hours and I just can't sacrifice that time that belongs to my husband on a daily basis.    

I hope that my simple things can help you manage your time in blogging better!

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This is post one of a series of time management posts to come, so stay tuned!