Think you don't have enough time during your busy day to organize and maintain your home on a regular basis? I recently came across a journal entry by a mom of 2 young children who realized the importance of what I call "double duty." She decided to make a list of all the things she accomplished during the 7 minutes it took to boil noodles for macaroni and cheese. These are her results:
-Put away clean dishes
-Assisted a potty-training toddler
-Cooked a grilled cheese sandwich
-Washed dirty dishes
-Sliced an apple
-Sent two emails
-Washed and dried two sippy cups
-Filled said sippy cups: one with milk, one with water
-Sock mopped the floor
-Assisted potty training toddler, again
-Planned dinner menu
-Mentally mapped out a scrapbook page
-Microwaved a cup of coffee
- All while carrying on a conversation with an over-talkative five-year-old, above the noise of a crying and whining toddler!
Holy cow! I think this mom travels faster than the speed of light in her home! I ALWAYS do something while cooking... other than just the cooking. But wow, this is a challenge that I am ready to try!
"Double duty" is something that I am constantly battling with my 11 yo. Almost every morning, he microwaves a bowl of oatmeal for himself - takes 1 minute to cook, another minute to cool. That's two minutes! Know what my son does during those two minutes? Absolutely NOTHING! He stands there and watches the bowl go round and round inside the microwave. Arg! I have told him countless times, don't just stand there! You're wasting time! Do something! I've told him that in the time he just stands there waiting for his oatmeal to be cooked, he could have gone upstairs and cleaned his room, he could have emptied the dishwasher, he could have taken out the recycling... If he moved fast enough, he could have accomplished all three of those chores! However, did he stand there again this morning? YES!
After reading about aforementioned Miss Super Mom, I'm now motivated to set a timer and keep track of everything I can accomplish in just 7 minutes.
What about you? Surely you can carve 7 minutes out of your busy schedule. What can you accomplish in just 7 minutes a day? You might be surprised!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
You Snooze You Lose
Can someone please explain to me what the purpose or benefit of the snooze button is on your alarm clock?
I'm amazed at the popularity of this button. Try to find an alarm clock without one! I don't know, to me it's simply a way to put off getting out of bed at the time when you're SUPPOSED to get out of bed. The snooze button is just a kinder way or "politically correct" way of saying procrastination button.
If you need to get up at 6:00 a.m., why not just set your alarm for 6:00 a.m. and be done with it. I know who you are ;) The alarm goes off at 6:00, you hit snooze.... alarm goes off at 6:10, you hit snooze again.... alarm goes off now at 6:20. AH!! You now jump out of bed and get moving! OK, so why not set the alarm for 6:20 a.m. then each morning?
By the way, my opening question is just rhetorical. I don't really expect an answer. First of all, you can't answer because I disabled the comment feature on my blog (a certain sister of mine was having way too much fun poking fun at me so I finally had to turn off that feature, lol) and second of all, I've already had many a conversation (debate?) with a friend who uses this procrastination...oh I mean snooze... button practically every morning.
You go ahead and snooze. I'll enjoy my morning coffee at a leisurely pace. ;)
I'm amazed at the popularity of this button. Try to find an alarm clock without one! I don't know, to me it's simply a way to put off getting out of bed at the time when you're SUPPOSED to get out of bed. The snooze button is just a kinder way or "politically correct" way of saying procrastination button.
If you need to get up at 6:00 a.m., why not just set your alarm for 6:00 a.m. and be done with it. I know who you are ;) The alarm goes off at 6:00, you hit snooze.... alarm goes off at 6:10, you hit snooze again.... alarm goes off now at 6:20. AH!! You now jump out of bed and get moving! OK, so why not set the alarm for 6:20 a.m. then each morning?
By the way, my opening question is just rhetorical. I don't really expect an answer. First of all, you can't answer because I disabled the comment feature on my blog (a certain sister of mine was having way too much fun poking fun at me so I finally had to turn off that feature, lol) and second of all, I've already had many a conversation (debate?) with a friend who uses this procrastination...oh I mean snooze... button practically every morning.
You go ahead and snooze. I'll enjoy my morning coffee at a leisurely pace. ;)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
It's Time to Leave!
Why is it on a Sunday morning when I announce, "It's time to leave for church!" the four members of my family scatter in every direction, none of which are even remotely in the direction of the garage door?
One son heads into the kitchen to grab a granola bar, another runs upstairs to find his Bible, another scrambles to the bathroom to "fix" his hair, and yes, even my husband begins a mad search of the house for his dress shoes.
Why does this happen when every one of them KNOW what time we are leaving... and they all know WHERE we are going. It's not a mystery to any of us, but yet my jaw drops every Sunday as this same scenario is reenacted over and over.
Am I the only one that thinks BEFORE it's time to leave - what do I need to bring? and then lay that stuff out on the kitchen table where it's handy to grab on my way through - my Bible, my cell phone, church library books that need to be returned, etc. Most items I place there the night before!
I've taught my children since they were young to always ask two questions of themselves as they head out the door since they (one especially) were prone to forget things:
1) Where am I going?
2) What do I need?
I think I've taught them well. However, there's one more thing I've realized that I neglected to teach them.... the importance of thinking through these questions ahead of time.
It's why I have learned over the years to announce "It's time to go!" ten minutes before it's REALLY time to go just so we are not leaving the house in a mad rush and arriving to our destination already stressed out. But I shouldn't have to do that. :)
Be prepared, folks. It doesn't take anymore of your time to set out things ahead of time. If you know you have to leave the house at 8:00 am, for example, don't wait until 8:00 am to collect your things. It's very simple. Lay out as much as you can as far ahead of time as you can, and you'll be more likely to get out the door ON TIME... or gasp... perhaps even a little early!
One son heads into the kitchen to grab a granola bar, another runs upstairs to find his Bible, another scrambles to the bathroom to "fix" his hair, and yes, even my husband begins a mad search of the house for his dress shoes.
Why does this happen when every one of them KNOW what time we are leaving... and they all know WHERE we are going. It's not a mystery to any of us, but yet my jaw drops every Sunday as this same scenario is reenacted over and over.
Am I the only one that thinks BEFORE it's time to leave - what do I need to bring? and then lay that stuff out on the kitchen table where it's handy to grab on my way through - my Bible, my cell phone, church library books that need to be returned, etc. Most items I place there the night before!
I've taught my children since they were young to always ask two questions of themselves as they head out the door since they (one especially) were prone to forget things:
1) Where am I going?
2) What do I need?
I think I've taught them well. However, there's one more thing I've realized that I neglected to teach them.... the importance of thinking through these questions ahead of time.
It's why I have learned over the years to announce "It's time to go!" ten minutes before it's REALLY time to go just so we are not leaving the house in a mad rush and arriving to our destination already stressed out. But I shouldn't have to do that. :)
Be prepared, folks. It doesn't take anymore of your time to set out things ahead of time. If you know you have to leave the house at 8:00 am, for example, don't wait until 8:00 am to collect your things. It's very simple. Lay out as much as you can as far ahead of time as you can, and you'll be more likely to get out the door ON TIME... or gasp... perhaps even a little early!
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