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Home Time Management Step 4: Create Your Action Plan
Without a doubt, this action plan is going to either set you up for success or set you
up for failure. If you really think about it, nothing gets
accomplished without planning … even if it's unconsciously. You don't just walk out
the door, get in your car, and drive away without knowing where you're going. At least
you don't if you have something you need to accomplish such as going to get groceries
or pick up a kid. Even if you're fighting with someone and "take
off" your plan is to drive or walk off steam. Another (somewhat comical) example that really
drives the idea home is to think about how often you walk into your bathroom and just
fall into taking a shower. At some point you've made a plan that you're going to take a shower.
If you'll generalize this concept of planning being the impetus of setting yourself up for
success or failure into the problem areas of your life you'll see where lack of planning
has probably been letting golden opportunities to reach your home time management goals pass
you right on by. For instance… and this is a wacky, but true,
example. I've always known that washing dishes gets me in a serious cleaning mood. My kids
became aware of this at a young age and used to try their best to keep me from washing
the dishes because they knew it may lead to a spring-cleaning type of day or evening.
On the flip side, I use that on my cleaning day to get myself into gear.
In other words, I use this knowledge to set myself up for success. I would occasionally
go through periods when I… for some reason… just lose my zest for cleaning house (hey,
it happens… even today). I could jumpstart myself by leaving the dishes on Friday night
and waking to a kitchen needing to be cleaned (I know it's nasty but it was only once in
a great while). So, now that I've convinced you that you need
an action plan I guess you're wondering how to create one?
While there is really no step-by-step guide that works in all situations I can give you
a few general guidelines. Remember, these are ACTION-oriented and…
for maximum effectiveness… I'd suggest you tackle one area at a time.
I guess I need to point out that each of these has multiple steps that someone would need
to take in order to see that real and lasting change. For the sake of brevity I'm only going
to list the very first step. Too, what I list here relates to action steps…
this is assuming you've already talked with your family about what's going to change and
why. Creating Weekly Meal Plans
Sit your family down and have everyone help think of their favorite meals. Let them know
they should think of places such as at home, at their friends' houses, at school, or even
at their favorite restaurant. Very soon, you should have quite a list from
which to begin making your weekly meal plans. Keep collecting new ideas and aim to have
recipes/meal ideas for 30 days, 60 days, or even 90 days or more.
Getting Your Children Helping with Chores and Laundry
The very first thing you'd need to do is to teach them what they need to do. This may
take a week or more of you keeping a close eye on what they're doing to make sure they
1) Remember what they should do, 2) Remember the order (if there IS one), and 3) Actually
DO what they should. For instance, if you're teaching your 6 year-old
to clean the bathroom he may need several days to create his own little routine. Just
make sure that he does everything you want him to do right from the beginning… even
if it takes him a long time to get it down. Don't roll your eyes and mentally resolve
that you'll just have to XYZ because he just can't seem to do it right. Give him time…
he'll get it. Oh, and trust me when I say it's so much easier
to have him learn to do it right from the beginning than to let him develop bad habits
and try to change them 6 months from now. I've been there, done that, and don't advise
it. Getting and Maintaining a Clean House
If it's been a good long while since you've attempted to clean house then… by all means…
start in one corner of one room. And don't feel bad about it either. Very soon,
that one corner will start to look a whole lot better than it did when you began. Then,
when you get that one corner looking good you'll be ready to move on to another area.
Cooking Smarter There are… literally… hundreds of different
ways you could begin action in this area. I'll give a single example of giving yourself
a night off from cooking. The next time you're cooking cook double.
If you're browning hamburger then brown an extra pound and freeze it. If you're making
spaghetti sauce then cook double and freeze the rest. If you're making a meatloaf, then
mix a double portion and freeze the extra. Then, later in the week when you're running
low on time pull that extra hamburger out and make sloppy joes, or hamburger and gravy
over rice, or any of a dozen other dishes. Turn that spaghetti sauce into beef-a-roni,
shepard's pie, or any of… again… a dozen other dishes. Turn that meatloaf mixture into
stuffed peppers, flavorful patties with gravy, or… once again… a dozen other dishes.
If you found this video helpful then don’t forget to “Like” it so it’ll be easier
for others to find. Also, I’d love it if you’d “Pin” me
and pass me on to your friends. And, if you have a Home Time Management topic
you’d like to see covered shoot me an email @
marysegers@marysegers.com My goal as a Home Time Management Coach is
to help you save time on the things you HAVE to do… such as cooking, cleaning, laundry,
and housework so that you can reinvest that time into your marriage, your kids, your family
and friends, and even yourself. As a matter of fact, this video has been created
from an excerpt of my free 77 page eBook on Time Management and Nontraditional
If you'd like to learn more about Home Time Management then join my email list @ http://marysegers.com/join
and I'll send you daily emails aimed at covering all aspects of Home Time Management including
saving time on cooking, cleaning, laundry, housework and then spending that time on your
spouse, your kids, your family and friends, and yourself.
Remember… you only have one life. It's up to you how you live it.