How many of us wish for 48 hours to accomplish what we must do in the 24 hours of a single day, marveling at our neighbour who accomplishes in a day that takes us a week to complete? What makes the difference in the way we manage our homes?
Effective home management requires constant organizing of time, energy, money, people and resources. Without organization we lose precious hours, make hurried decisions, neglect responsibilities, waste valuable resources and cheat ourselves of the peace of mind we need at the close of a day. We often excuse ourselves by saying that we have no time to sit and organize, but if we would take time, we would be able to make up over and over again the minutes it takes to organize!
Planning Saves Time :
Organization begins with a plan. A planner is an individual who thinks and then develops a workable plan. Some of us do a lot of the first - thinking about all the tasks that that lay ahead of us, but we fail to develop the plan that will enable us to get the essential things done before the day is gone.
We can clarify our thoughts by writing them down. Some people laugh at the idea of making lists, but a list makes certain that we finish our thinking before we start doing. Most unwritten plans are merely ideas, indefinite, incomplete and often forgotten amidst the endless interruptions and demands made on the time of each person. A written plan or schedule is an effective reminder of the tasks we have set out to accomplish and helps us keep score on ourselves.
A plan does not need to be complicated to be effective. The people who are able to accomplish and cross off the few tasks they have written on a simple list, are more likely to feel the success of planning than those who accomplish only half of a very detailed schedule, finding them frustrated and exhausted at the end of the day. Wise planning should make us the master, not the victim of our work.
Experts in the field of home management have devised all types of schedules, planning books, timetables for daily, weekly and monthly planning to help us to be more effective in home management needs. We need to organize items in order of importance, placing first things first. The needs of our family must be at the top of the list then our duties and responsibilities in the home and finally, our outside activities and interests.
A Plan Must Be Worked To Be Useful.
Although a good detailed plan is much to be admired, it's of no value unless it's workable and improving our success and happiness. We might have to try out an array of plans before we will find the key to our own home management. Then start working the plan. Ours will be unique to suit our circumstances. Many factors must be considered, including our temperament and energy level, our family's schedules, the size and age span of our children.
It is easy to be optimistic at the beginning of a new day, before anyone else is up, but few of us have days that are completely free of interruptions and unexpected emergencies. There is no need to get discouraged if the end of the day comes before the end of the list. Don't feel defeated. Our plan Must be flexible.
Lightening The Load.
Children need to be involved in the responsibilities of a home. They need to be taught the importance of sharing the work load, of being responsible for certain jobs around the house. This will develop in your children, good work habits, self - discipline, which will prove invaluable throughout their lives. As we teach our children these values, let us emphasize the principle of shared responsibility. Do not be confused by labeling a job as strictly male or female. Each child should learn general household skills.
Planning and working together can be fun. Eg. Round Robin planning. Everyone gets to do a different job every week. Create job charts where rewards can be earned. We need to be resourceful. Allow a child an occasional day off from an assigned task or to select evening meal or dessert. If we don't live in a family environment then work a plan to suit your life expectations.
Sources : RS. Courses of study. Pixabay.