Getting the Little Things Done

I can’t stand when my list is long. I usually start with the small stuff…it makes me feel better being able to cross them off my list…with a big X in permanent marker too

Britt’s last blog post…My Purse

Mandi, we sound very similar because I love to write huge long to do lists only to then be completely overwhelmed by them. First, I have to limit myself to a more manageable to do list daily, with a maximum of 10 items written on it, preferably 7.

For all the other things I think of but realistically won’t be able to get to today I have a running to do list, which can be quite overwhelming if I look at it, but it gets it out of my brain so I can stop worrying that I will forget it.

I also have lots of little things to do daily, but I will write them as a larger item on my to do list, so it is not so overwhelming. Such as, instead of writing put away clean dishes in dishwasher, reload dishwasher, wipe off table and counters in kitchen, and sweep floor in kitchen, I write “clean up kitchen.” I know the four things that need to be done, but I don’t write it all down in such detail because even though I want to (so I can check more things off my list) if I did this for everything my list would be so long I would be paralyzed.

Taylor at Household Management 101’s last blog post…Feb 27, Does A Messy House Make It Harder For Your Kids To Learn To Read?

I find that when the to do list is a challenge, I pick 3-6 things that I absolutely must do that day and put them with numbered priority. This definately gets me going and then I, more often than not, end up getting the whole list done; and if not that’s okay too.

Elizabeth’s last blog post…Finance Friday

Such a timely post! I also read Tsh’s frog eating post and have started to live by it. It has really helped me get through some things that I know would still be hanging around! I also took this philosophy into account at work, where I am actually using it more. I also read a few other posts over at MomAdvice and Organized Mommy which I’ve morphed with the frog eating into a system that seems to be working for me at work. I’m trying to apply it at home but haven’t quite gotten it smooth yet.

I hope to write a post about how I’ve put these three ladies’ tips into play but haven’t gotten around to it yet…maybe that needs to be my frog one day.

Lori’s last blog post…Get $5 from Lysol

I have a routine in the mornings that is still being fine-tuned, but it’s working well for me. I get up around 6:00 to work out, then shower and get dressed before my boys even wake up! Then I get breakfast for my two oldest, and while they’re eating, I put laundry away from the night before, make beds, and swipe over the bathrooms with Clorox wipes. By the time I’m done with that, the boys are done eating and I help them get ready for the day and off to school. Then I get my baby out of bed, feed him, feed myself, and then clean the kitchen. After the kitchen is in tip-top shape, I vacuum my hard floors and my carpet, and whalaa! A clean home. By 10:30 in the morning, everything is perfect and the time is left for my kids! By that time, my kids are usually anxious for mom’s attention anyway! I love my routine, even though it has taken almost the entire 7 years I’ve been married to perfect it!

Very nice article on time management. Thanks for the great tips!

Great topic! I’m so up in the air about the best way to get it “all” done. I too love to check things off my list, so getting lots of little things done can feel good. However, I get the most relief from “eating the frog”. I think I must do the “little” things often, because what is stressing me out is lots and lots of very important big things… *sigh*

It’s a tough balance, especially when the big things are things you’re
dreading!

It’s a tough balance, especially when the big things are things you’re
dreading!

As a Mom blog I feel it is only fair not to mention my kids by name… I am thinking potential suitor or employer googling them… not that I ever publish anything untoward. When I started blogging I thought I would blog anything and everything and I know my readers would probably love a whole lot more of the inside scoop. But once or twice a year my mother in law does read my blog and I can’t wrap my head around writing something I wouldn’t want her to read… So my motherinlaw is my gatekeeper she virtually sits on my shoulder as I type and keeps most posts clean and wholesome… oh the mother in law post I could write!!!! Needless to say my mom is a big fan and I would never want to offend her with my grumpiness. That being said we live in quite a small town and quite a few people recognize us… kind of not many moms around trailing eight kids (!!!), most folk are lovely… “love your blog and all that” but once or twice we have had some say: “We know exactly where you live…” and it can be a bit creepy… So I am glad for the name free…though I love my kids names I would love everyone to know them!!!

So family keeps our blog wholesome, and the rest of the world keeps us name free… a small price to pay for the love of blogging!!!

 great question…  I rarely show photos of me or J… and never of friends (using initials for their names). If I had children I think they’d not really be featured much either. my dachshund is QUITE popular, though.  

I like what Se7en said about mother in law on shoulder – SO true! I have many readers that are family or professional contacts, so… I keep it lighthearted. no big drama (not what I’m about anyway) and nothing personal.  when the conversations are extended offline then I can be more myself

I use nicknames for my kids and keep my blog family friendly by not talking about topics that will bring in lots of opinions as I do know my family members- MIL, mum and sometimes grandaunts do read my blog.

Do you worry at all about people getting upset, now or in the future?

I talked it over with my husband before I started blogging and I use our first names in posts and I include pictures.  I try not to share the name of my step-son’s school, where he plays sports, and exact locations of where we live.  My parents and in-laws read my blog and knowing they read everything is a good way to keep my tone and stories from getting out of line.  For myself and my audience, pictures and stories are what they want to read about and see.

I have really struggled with this one since I started blogging last fall.  On the one hand, I think including personal stories and information makes my blog more real and relatable.  But then the cautious side of me wants to protect myself and my family by keeping everything private.  It’s so tough!  I don’t use my kids names (or my husband’s name), although I do tell their genders, ages, and grades if it comes up.  I share the town we live in, but not the name of the schools my children attend or where my husband works.  I try not to post pictures of my family either (although I have posted one that was just too funny not to share!).  My view towards privacy has definitely changed.  When I started I didn’t even want to share MY name!  But, I got used to the idea and now share it all over the place!  LOL!  Great question, thanks for keeping us thinking about this important part of mom blogging!

Polly

I’m working hard to balance this issue.  I blog about single motherhood and try to tell MY story.  I try to respect the boundaries of my ex husband and protect his role as father to my children and their privacy.  I do not reveal anything I wouldn’t think they will one day know. I do not share any last names and have fairly generic names for our children.  My blog does not have a large readership at this time. 

I really have stopped sharing stories that are not my own. In other words, if it’s about something my son said or did, I ask his permission first. Lately, he’s been saying, “No,” because he’s 7 and he claims it’s too embarrassing for me to be sharing things about him online.

I want to respect my family’s privacy and have really had to stop myself from blogging about things that relate to them specifically. My sons (and husband) will have the opportunity to share their stories when and if they want, but for now, their stories are not mine to tell.

Hardly ever have I posted pictures of any of them and never have I used their real names. Thinking ahead, my son won’t want childhood pictures of him to pop up when future employers (or his friends) search for him online.

I usually let my husband read my posts before they go up, especially if they mention him in any way. It’s so beneficial to have another reader scan through your writings because sometimes you can have things taken the wrong way and you wouldn’t have known it otherwise!

Great question. I blog about homeschooling. Lately I check with my kids if it’s OK to blog about a particular ‘story’. I use pseudonyms because it is my decision to blog, not theirs. DH is mentioned infrequently. 

I try not put in too much detail that could lead to someone (yanno, those big, bad people out there) tracking down my kids identities. 

But I blog the good and the bad; the trials and the tribulations. If you couldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t blog it, don’t Facebook it….

Great question. I blog about homeschooling. Lately I check with my kids if it’s OK to blog about a particular ‘story’. I use pseudonyms because it is my decision to blog, not theirs. DH is mentioned infrequently. 

I try not put in too much detail that could lead to someone (yanno, those big, bad people out there) tracking down my kids identities. 

But I blog the good and the bad; the trials and the tribulations. If you couldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t blog it, don’t Facebook it….

 I think that there is a balance.  I have referred to my kids by number since the inception of my blog.  I do share photos, but my kids have been involved in community service campaigns where their photos were inclusive to that campaign.  To be relatable, I think you also need to be real.  I have asked my kids before I have posted certain things, but to be honest at the risk of sounding like I’m on a soap box…I don’t think “blogging” has anything to do with a standard of communication per se.  I have 5 boys in a rather large age range, and to be honest, the things that I have heard people within their social circles who are parents, standing around openly discussing about their own children and others has been really eye opening! A proper communication filter needs to be considered whether in the flesh or virtual world. It hasn’t ever really been a major issue in our family, because integrity and character begin when know one is watching.  If you show yourself to be trustworthy in anonymity, then I don’t necessarily think those close to you will wonder about what you’re choosing to share publicly with others. ;0)

On the days I’m at home, the most important routine is lunch by 11:30 and then nap / quiet time for about 2 hours.  My kids are up very early and I need a break as much as they do by that time.

Work days have a pretty strict morning routine, which is necessary because we all leave the house at 7 a.m, and we have a routine of having a snack and relaxing when we get home. 

Routine just makes life easier for us!

I have been a night owl for much of my life, but I’ve recently realized that my most productive time is actually in the earlier part of the day.  Not morning exactly, but mid-day at least.  I still like to stay up late, but I’m not very creatively productive after dinner.  Better for answering emails and organizing stuff, but not writing, for example.

I have a small baby, so right now I’m just making do.  By next month I’m going to be working out a child-care schedule with my mom to get regular blocks of uninterrupted time for work.  I can’t wait!

The only part of the day that has a routine is bed time.  I’d really like a better morning routine as I find that I feel a lot more on top of things when I have a shower and eat breakfast before I start in on the events of the day.  But again, I have a small baby.  This will improve with time. 

I’m totally dependent on a Mac application called Things.  I have it installed on my laptop, my iPhone and my iPad and they all sync to each other. I tend to write down every little thing, and this app allows me to schedule things, set auto-repeats, due dates, and associate tasks with projects.  But when I’m feeling really overwhelmed I break out a note pad and pen.  I don’t know why that helps but it does.

The internet is my big one.  I am procrastinating right now!  I also do a lot of tidying, but I’ve recently realized that I do that while I’m thinking and I work best in a clean environment, so it isn’t exactly wasting time.  When I’m really on deadline I have to close my email and browsers and reward myself with time online.

I’ve tried all those things and what works depends a lot on why I’m stuck or avoiding the task.  If I’m just scared I try to power through.  If I’m not clear I try to back up and regroup and sometimes that means taking a walk or cleaning the kitchen to let my brain work on the problem while I’m not really paying attention.  I find that taking a walk outside or spending a few minutes working int he garden really works wonders no matter what is going on.

I think have I am most productive at night, but that’s only because I haven’t worked hard enough to try doing work in the morning. Noise level and who is around me affects my productivity. My brain is much slower to process things when I have had less sleep.

No, I haven’t tried to carve out time. I should. My in-laws pop in from time-to-time, and I am super lazy when they are around…I think it’s contagious. =p You’d think I’d be more productive when there’s extra “help” around…When we get back from vacation, we will try to work on some kind of schedule.

No, I haven’t tried to carve out time. I should. My in-laws pop in from time-to-time, and I am super lazy when they are around…I think it’s contagious. =p You’d think I’d be more productive when there’s extra “help” around…When we get back from vacation, we will try to work on some kind of schedule.

We have routines for all parts of the day except for after the kids go to bed…we just end up surfing the net or working on what project, but with many disrruptions from each other.

We have routines for all parts of the day except for after the kids go to bed…we just end up surfing the net or working on what project, but with many disrruptions from each other.

I do a mix of digi and paper. It works for me. I write everything down.

I do a mix of digi and paper. It works for me. I write everything down.

We don’t have a TV, and I hate talking on the phone (when my friends need to reach me, they usually call my hubby’s cell). My distractions are the Internet (love/hate relationship) and my hubby. We just love to talk to each other. =p

We don’t have a TV, and I hate talking on the phone (when my friends need to reach me, they usually call my hubby’s cell). My distractions are the Internet (love/hate relationship) and my hubby. We just love to talk to each other. =p

I’m definitely a night owl. It’s pretty typical for me to be up past 11 or 12 at night. And, unfortunately, I have to get up at 5am for work, so I usually don’t get much sleep. I totally realize that’s not a sustainable sleep schedule and usually by the weekend, I’m zonked out. I’m working on getting to sleep earlier.

I usually don’t get to do stuff (like blogging or projects around the house) until the weekends or during the week after 9pm when the kids go to sleep. I work full-time and get home between 4:45-5p. I’m going to start doing better about completing errands during my lunch time and in between the time I get home and my husband and kids get home (usually around 6p).

I just started the Maximize Your Mornings challenge so I’m trying to do better about having a set morning routine (time alone where I can pray, read the Bible, plan for the day and just listen). Other than that, the only routine is the night routine that we have with the kids.

I’m constantly trying new to-do list systems. I really like the idea of a paperless system and have tried several, but I tend to do better at checking my list when it’s on a piece of paper that I can carry around in my purse. I like to write everything down so I don’t forget it.

The internet is a big one. There’s always one more blog or one more email or just a quick hop on Twitter or Pinterest (and then 30 minutes later) that gets me. I’m also just a big procrastinator in general. 

I’d have to second Dona’s comments. Once I realize I’m not doing something out of fear, then I make myself just do it. Taking a break also helps.

Kacey, Good for you! I’m so glad to have my MYM group.

Good point … I find myself just wandering outside to go pull a few weeds and then come back inside, not sure why I felt the need to go outside and pull weeds but I think having read your comment, you’ve explained it perfectly. I must need that time to clear my head for a few minutes!

I’m jealous that you’re able to be productive on less sleep. I’ve always wished that was my superpower, LOL!

My goal this week is to sleep when I’m tired to see if I can get out of this crazy late night-early morning cycle I seem to be stuck on, which leaves me somewhat comatose by mid-afternoon!

I think recognizing those things about yourself is half the battle because you can then work with your natural rhythms!

I have a ton of respect for you, Kacey — I can only imagine how hard it is to juggle both!

Hehe, I always make plans for when my parents will be around too, and then I don’t wanna do NOTHIN’!

Those sound like lovely routines! I definitely think it can be a challenge to be disciplined during set chunks of time because so many things vie for our attention, and sometimes we just want a break!

Yep, everything’s up in the air with a small baby in the house. Just enjoy this time!

So true. I like the term “perfection paralysis”, where we know we can’t do it perfect all the time, or exactly the way it’s recommended, so we just give up altogether.