How to Put Housework on Autopilot!

My husband and I recently returned from a trip to Austin, Texas. It was beautiful and refreshing. We also left the kids at home.

The reason I was able to leave the kids behind is because they have ROUTINES and a regular schedule.

Therefore, my close family members could read the 5 page printout of instructions I had prepared because the routines were easy to follow and continue.

You can incorporate routines into your schedule. When I say regularity, I do not mean rigid tight schedules.

Here is an example that may or may not work for you.

1. Go grocery shopping on the same day each week. I recommend going Tuesdays because the beginning and end of the week are usually busy.

2. Designate 2 days a week for laundry. I do not worry about the piles of laundry on any other day except Sunday and Wednesday. That way I don't stress out about it until the regularly scheduled days.

3. I like to grocery shop Tuesday morning and then come home and cook it all Tuesday afternoon. I buy loads of fresh foods and then I freeze it after my cooking fest!

You can create a time map for yourself by listing all of your responsibilities and then plugging them into hour increments. So for me, a list would include- laundry, cooking, shopping, website editing, exercise, newsletter writing, etc.

Then, I plug all of these responsibilities into some hour of my weekly schedule. I try to make that hour the same every week. It's easy to remember.

Think of what your responsibilities are-they probably do not change much from week to week- and create routines. You can even call it a "ritual" or "event". Those words are more celebratory and make it fun.

So my "laundry day parade" on Sundays and Wednesdays is somewhat fun. (I try to spice up my life as much as possible)

What are your ideas?

Rebekah Slatkin is a professional organizer with a website full of information dedicated to getting you organized. Check it out at http://www.best-organizing-products-supers tore.com The organizing product reviews and ezine are very helpful!

---

Im Too Busy - Oh Really!

If I had a dollar or even better a pound... Read More

Effective Use of Your Online Time

The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More

5 Tips To Get More Out Of Your Work Day

It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More

Procrastination - Understanding & Overcoming it

Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More

Organization Tips That Add More Hours To Your Day

One of the most common complaints that small business owners... Read More

5 Days to A Simpler Life!

Of all the Attraction Principles, the most popular class I... Read More

Mercury Retrograde and Time Management

The concept of Mercury Retrograde is very well known even... Read More

Four Simple Ways To Take Control Of Your Time And Your Life

It's been said, "That no one has enough time yet,... Read More

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life

Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More

Where Do Your Priorities Fit?

An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More

Time Management - Working Smarter at Work

Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More

Coping with the Time Crunch

"There is never enough time, unless you're serving it." -Malcolm... Read More

Time: Do You Spend it or Invest it?

Time is our greatest and most precious asset. Time is... Read More

Prioritize with Two Questions

"Because there will always be something more to do, we... Read More

Keeping Time

What keeping time really means is...being on time!You know, there... Read More

7 Tips for Being Your Best Time Master

It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More

Time Is Everything

Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More

Organize Your Time

Most people want to start a home-based business to make... Read More

Boost Your Productivity with Sixty Minutes A Day

How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More

Everythings Blurry Except For You

Riding the subway home yesterday, my typically silent car was... Read More

Use Your Time Wisely!

When I was small, I have never considered the importance... Read More

What Are You Thinking?

What would be your reaction if someone said to you... Read More

Webmaster or Web Slave? Time Saving Tips for Cyberpreneurs

Time is money in your online business, just as in... Read More

Time Management: How To Get More Done

If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and... Read More

Desktop Management Boosts Productivity

Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To... Read More

Time Management: Which Advice to Follow?

There are so many books on Time Management published every... Read More

Procrastination. Id love to but...

When a good friend asked me to contribute a little... Read More

Time Management is Cause Control

Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More

Beyond Time Management ? Seven Ways to Leverage Your Time for Greater Results

Most of us have a to-do list ? some of... Read More

Get More Done at Your Office: Focus on These Eight Areas for Increased Productivity

Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and... Read More

Time Management? NO!

Many people want to be coached to manage their time... Read More

Time Management - The Ultimate Oxymoron

Get a grip. Is it possible to manage time? Can... Read More

How To Better Handle Your Mail

Letters, magazines, bills, flyers, what to do with them all.... Read More