Getting Things Done & Being Realistic

If you are like me, you have a huge list of things you want to get done and then are discouraged when you find few if any get checked off. You feel tired from all the work you did but don't feel like you have anything to show for it.

I have decided to do something that I used to do back in College and at work when I was feeling overwhelmed. I have decided to start planning out my day by the minute. I often find there isn't enough time in the day to do it all. This helps me be realistic in what I can get done, thus I feel less discouraged when I get into bed. Here is today's list for example:

• 5:30 - 6:30 Get up, shower, Dress (I actually didn't make it out of bed until 5:45 but was able to make myself presentable)
• 6:30 - 7 Check Email, Weather, calendar, wake family
• 7 - 8 Breakfast and Laundry
• 8 - 9 Clean Bathrooms
• 9 - 10:30 Play and get daughter ready for day
• 10:30 - 11 Drive to Storytime (I was able to pick up gas for 3.61 a gallon on the way)
• 11-12 Storytime
• 12 - 12:30 CVS run and drive home
• 12:30 - 1:30 Eat and play (lost electricity, daughter not hungry for lunch)
• 1:30 - 2 Put Elena down for nap
• 2 - 3 Work on Websites
• 3 -4 Pay bills / Ebay
• 4 - 4:30 Pre dinner prep
• 4:30 - 5 House rescue
• 5 - 6:30 Cook and eat dinner
• 6:30 -7 Clean Kitchen
• 7 - 7:30 Laundry
• 7:30 - 8:30 Play
• 8:30 - 9 Put Elena to bed
• 9 - 10 Watch TV (computer time too)
• 10 - Shower, Write out tomorrow's tasks, Read, Bed

So far I can stay pretty much on task. Everything takes longer than it would without a child running around. But, that only makes things more interesting!

Here are a couple of tips from Women's Day Magazine that I liked. http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Shelter/Lifestyle-Tip-Time-Management.html