Keeping Track of Your Schedule

The first thing to remember when deciding on a scheduling technique is that you need to find one that will fit not only your needs but also your personality.  Trying to adapt to someone else’ techniques may just make you avoid the schedule all together and that’s not the goal.

Some people prefer electronic planners such as a PDA or via their email program such as Outlook or Google Calendar while others may be more comfortable with paper planners, which are available in daily, weekly or monthly formats and in a variety of sizes.  Another option though not portable, is a large dry-erase board or bulletin board hung in your home or office.

Make sure the size of your planner will fit your lifestyle.  If you are going to carry the planner with you a lot, find one that will fit inside your purse or bag comfortably or briefcase.  If it doesn’t fit well, or is very heavy, it is going to be more of a hassle to carry it with you.

On the other hand, if you are going to keep the planner on your desk, consider opting for a large 8 ½” by 11” size.  This will provide you with plenty of room to write notes on.  An additional plus, it that this size is often divided into fifteen minute increments, which can serve as a very helpful tool.

If you decide on a paper planner,you can give yourself a visual image by color coding your tasks with highlighters.  For instance, assign the color blue to all of your personal and family obligations, such as doctor’s appointments, soccer games, family reunions, etc. and your business activities another color.  This way you’ll be able to see what you should be doing at a quick glance.

Choose various color for various activities or part of your life.  Choose categories that suit your needs best. If you have a day job and a home business, you may want to assign a specific color to each.

Once you’ve decided on your color and corresponding categories begin highlighting activities in your planner.  If one particular color seems to be dominating your week, you may want to consider re-evaluating how your time is being spent.

With the improvement in technology, digital planners can perform similar highlighting functions.  Smartphones combine a cell phone, planner, and even an Mp3 player all in one little package.

If you like the idea of keeping track of your schedule electronically, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a PDA or smartphone, use a program such as Outlook or Google Calendar.  One of the features of Google Calendar is that you can share your calendar with other users.  This can be helpful if you plan a lot of events (such as pot-luck dinners, game nights, etc) and want to let all of your family and friends know about them easily.

The dry-erase board/bulletin board option is great for those that are very visual or those who like to have a lot of space to make notes.  One board can be hung in the kitchen as a reminder to all to keep track of everyone’s appointments, games, and so forth.

Another board can be kept in your home office to keep track of your work, bill payment schedules, and the like.  If you work on multiple projects, you may want to have several boards, so you can easily see what needs to be done for each project.

Time Management Tips For Moms That Work Outside The Home

Moms that work outside the home can use many time management techniques to blend a better harmony between their working life and personal life.

* If you find yourself working long hours in order to complete the amount of work that is piled up on your desk, talk to your manager about distributing the work between the people in your department.

* Another option is to hire an intern, such as a local high school or college student to help out with the easier work while you concentrate on the more technical parts.  In many cases, interns work for free, so your manager won’t have to worry about additional salary expenses.

* When possible, collaborate with a team of co-workers.  By sharing the responsibility and work load, you will free up some time for yourself.

* Try to think of your commute as more than “a hassle.” Find some ways to use your commute productively, or at least enjoy it. Listen to books on tape, play your favorite music, or use a digital voice recorder to record an audible to-do list.

* Likewise, try to use your lunch hour in a productive manner. Consider this your “me time” and read a novel, paint your nails, or mediate.

* In many cases, a working mom’s biggest cause of stress is child care issues.  If your hours conflict with your daycare provider’s and you have a hard time getting to the daycare at pick-up time, ask your spouse or another family member to pick your child up.