Over the past month I have been wondering how I can organise my life more. I know I have my fingers in far too many pies, but I don't want to give anything up. The first idea was to have a Filofax, instead of a diary in my handbag, a larger one on my desk plus the kitchen calendar. This just led to problems with remembering to record everything in triplicate, and the obvious double booking myself. So I have purchased a new filofax, one week over two pages, plus I have also bought a year insert, to record all the exhibitions, and events relating to textiles, gardening and family events, that I would like to attend. I tried the calendar on my iPhone but found it too much of a chore to record events. So back to pen and paper for me.
Then this week after reading several blogs, I have been inspired to take a few steps forward to achieving my goals each week/month! Sue from the Quince Tree posted a blog on 23 May 2012 about a lovely present that she recived from another blogger. The present was a box file to hold and organise all of her recipes. I thought that one of these with monthly sections to organise jobs for the garden and hold packets of seeds ready to sow would be great. If I colour co-ordinated the cards I could also have monthly textile project deadlines and events in the same box. Next week I am going to show my sister-in-law how to make a fabric box, I now know the theme of my box.
The other useful piece of information I thought was posted by Kelly Rae Roberts, but unfortunately I cannot find the original post. Whoever it was spoke about organising your life into areas and focusing 100% in the timed slot. Most of us are mothers, wives and many also work. But if you are like me you are always trying to juggle to many balls in the air and nothing is really achieved to the level you want. So a timetable has been drawn out, to in theory make sure that all my jobs etc are tackled on a weekly basis. I have tried to sit on the computer less this week and to work in the garden (weather permitting) on my time slot and enjoy the time set aside for playing in my workroom. There was a slight improvement in the amount of work carried out and completed. But I was still thinking about dinner, washing, ironing etc when I was on another task. Still a along way to go, but I think it might work! If Monday afternoon is for playing, then play I will, knowing that the ironing has to wait until Wednesday afternoon.
Wow, hope it works Diane! I just seem to muddle through. I have trimmed down the groups that I belonged to,it wasn't attending the groups on the day it was the work that each group wants or expects you to do that gave me the biggest problem.
ReplyDeleteI use my iphone calender and that does seem to work for me.
By giving up these groups it means that I have time for our lunches :-)
I can waste just as much time organising as doing! AOL has a calendar facility so I add to that and it sends email reminders - but I also print out the entire month and pin it up, so its obvious. There is a thing about short bursts gets more done, so if you give yourself 15 minutes for a task you can do more than allowing the entire morning, there's a tendancy to drift and think oh I've time to do that. If anyone can train the cat to use the hoover, I'm listening. And if all else fails - lime green post-it notes, unmissable!! Right off to find space on my table, to write a list!!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why I've missed this post until now.
ReplyDeleteOh hang on I know why!
On Saturday I was gardening, on Sunday I was baking a birthday cake and cooking the dinner, on Monday I was working but managed a sneaky peppermint tea and a mooch round the shops with a friend AND today I've looked after Jessica, I've spent a pleasant hour chatting on the phone, I've hoovered under the spare bed, (well has to be done at some point or other), ironed and now about to cook yet again.
On the other hand my husband has come in early, changed, dropped his washing in the laundry basket and gone out to tinker with his new outboard engine!
We have it sooooo wrong Diane!!
I wish you well with your time management and when we next get together you can give me lessons on how I can manage my time and in return I'll give you a hand with the granny squares!
I can certainly identify with this post! I have so many projects I want to do, but not enough time or energy. If you find a system that works for you, please share. :-)
ReplyDelete