Ever since becoming a part-time-working-mom or full-time-mom-who-sometimes-works or mom-who-wished-she-worked-more or person-who-doesn't-always-shower-first-thing-in-the-morning, or whatever you want to call it, I've become acquainted with the world of the unstructured day, something familiar to many, especially in this economy.
Unlike my previous professional life which revolved around an office and, therefore, required some key activities, like getting ready, getting in my car, driving to work and then sitting down at a desk, surrounded by other working individuals, now it's just me. Sometimes me and a baby, and let me tell you, he doesn't care much about my career goals.
Organizing myself has been a struggle, although it's one I've fought to overcome. Believe me, there are days when staying in my robe and drinking coffee all morning seems like suuuccchhhhhh a good idea and I know I'm fortunate because if I really wanted to, I could. But I've figured out through trial and error that come midday, being in pajamas feels, well, depressing.
One of the best methods for me in terms of getting things done on any given day is keeping up with a somewhat ambitious but always realistic to-do list. I make mine on my computer using a program called "Things," which essentially allows me to write down what I want to get done in an organized way, much like you could do with a simple pad and paper, but I paid like $40 so it must be really helpful.
And every morning around 9 a.m., after my husband and daughter have left for work and school and my son has gone down for his morning nap, I pour myself a little more coffee and head upstairs to our home office (which is also conveniently a guest room) and look at the list of items I'd like to get done that day, which run the gamut from very mundane ("schedule oil change") to more important ("update resume").
Lately I've been printing out the list of things I want to get done on that particular day (don't worry, we recycle) because having a hard copy in front of me makes me feel a little more ambitious.
I'm always interested in how others manage their time, whether in an office or at home, and whether they are working full or part time or not at all. Because, hey, I'm all about listening to other people's ideas. And then stealing them for myself. Or, perhaps I should phrase it, "listening to other people's ideas and then getting inspired."
With whatever you've got going on - kids and pets and commutes and housework and social lives and finances and so much more - how do you organize your life?
