Do you feel like your night’s are full of chaos? Does it drive you nuts trying to get everyone in bed? Do you panic on Sunday night when you realize you have to face another crazy week? This video has tips and ideas on how to organize your time and put everything into perspective. Good luck with your new routine!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHT5kgoHf8E[/youtube]
If you find yourself in a mad rush every morning, or even feel a little bit frustrated after everyone is gone then you probably need to re-look at your morning routine. Everybody has one. It can be productive, unproductive, or maybe even a little bit of both. Sit down and write out what your routine in the morning is now. Be realistic and right it as it really happens. Then on a separate sheet of paper, rework that routine into what would be the best use of your time and the most productive. Watch our video to find a few more helps and techniques. We have also included a sheet for you to write your routine on. The draft is for what your current routine is, the final is what you want it to be. Remember be realistic. Good luck!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnrMo0X6ooA[/youtube]
Valerie talked about getting back into a routine after school begins. Sometimes that can be a challenge. I believe routines really work but it may take some time to figure out what works best for you! Don’t be afraid to keep working on it until you find what works for your family. We all have different kids, different activities and different priorities. You need to find what works with you and go with it!
Morning, evening and weekly routines can really help your family know what to expect. Evening routines become even more important during the school year. Your evening routine now includes bath time, homework time, reading time, family time, and possibly time for a chore or two! Kid’s will resist less if they know what is coming next. We all have busy lives and some consistency is important with your kids. Decide now when homework will be completed, where they will do it and where they will keep their supplies. Make sure they understand what is expected and when. Sit down and discuss what will work with your schedule. If they know that right after dinner they need to start homework, then baths, then reading time, family prayer and lights out, your job will be a lot easier!
There are a few things that you can do before you go to bed to make your life a little easier in the morning. To start with, do a quick clean in the evening. Have your family get in on the action too! Set a timer and pick up for 10 minutes each night. If you need to, you can use the clutter bug once this time is up. The clutter bug eats all the clutter that remains after 10 minutes and your kids will have to do chores in order to get their clutter back. A few nights of the clutter bug coming out and your kids will be sure to make their 10 minutes of pick up count every night! 
The next thing you can do is prepare for the morning by packing back packs, checking the lunch calendar so you are prepared to either make a lunch or send money, check the calendar so you know what is happening the next day. A get ready shelf, basket or bin of some kind can also be helpful here. Everything you need for the morning can be put on this shelf so that it is ready to go out the door when you do! For some reason time seems to run out quickly in the morning. A little preparation the night before can make things go a little smoother, not to mention a little happier!
Are you exited your child or children are back in school? Or is it a stressful time for you? Do you find that you don’t quite have it together yet and are wondering when you will? I wanted to give everyone a few reminders that we have talked about in the past that are very relevant to this time of year. Remember that as your children’s schedules change, so does yours. Routines are a vital part of having your household running smooth and stress free. However, many people forget to adjust their routine as a new part of life happens. Whether that’s because of school time, having a baby, a new job, a new place to live, or a combination of all of them, you are always having to look at your routine and decided if it is still effective. You may have to change your routine all together, or maybe you might have to just tweak it a little. Remembering to address this can take a lot of stress out of your life and your children’s lives too.
My oldest son is in Jr. High now and has a hard time adjusting when it comes to time management. With more homework loaded on, practice time with his instrument, and his chores at home, it has been a struggle this last week. He did not realize that his play time has been significantly reduced if he leaves all of this to do after school. By adjusting what he does in the morning, he can then produce more free time for himself later on. This is not something that most children think about all on their own.
Challenge: Take some one on one time to sit down with your child and talk about their daily routine. Let them write down what they do everyday. Help them to see where they can move items around to produce more free time for themselves. Ultimately, this is what every child wants more of, yet has a hard time figuring out how to do it without their grades suffering in the process.
Most of all remember to have fun, at least once a day, with your child. School time doesn’t have to be crazy and out of control. You can do it and have fun in the process!
Now that summer is officially in the swing of things, I am sure your children are “bored” already! No matter if it’s school’s in or school’s out everybody still needs a routine for your family to run smoothly. Enjoy our Summer Time Chart for your children to help everyone stay happy!
Everyone has a routine they do every single day. It can be productive, unproductive, or even a little of both. In order to have structure and balance set in your life you need to find out exactly what your routine is. This includes your morning, evening, and weekly routines. Setting your routines is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Everyone is always happier when they know what to expect. You may have to really think about the process at first. You may have to try a few different ways before you finally come up with the one that works for you and is the most time effficient. Before you know it, the work will be done and you will have been on AUTO PILOT! Watch our video to hear further instructions when it comes to your routines.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsmj7hmvn5I[/youtube]