Pies, Pants, and Personal Planning

 I would like to begin this blog by making a very clear and honest statement: I DID NOT MAKE THIS UP. This is not even a new idea - it has been used for years and is, therefore, tried and true

I am freely admitting that I had chaos in my home until this little trick became a part of my life and now I am passing it on to you. It’s not super hard. It doesn’t cost a cent. All you need to do is follow through - and I recommend you do!

 If yours is a homeschooling family (or an American family - or a family of humans for that matter!) then multitasking is a necessary way of life. This article is called Pies, Pants, and personal planning because today I found myself trying to handle laundry while simultaneously writing this blog and baking two banana cream pies. After getting the pies in the oven I looked at my to-do list and tried to pick out the most important items that could be done in the thirty minutes it took to brown my meringue. Trimming the shrubs was out; painting the bathroom trim would need to wait; I would fix the crock-pot lid if I could find the blasted super glue (but I can’t so that’s not getting done); Laundry is forever going in, getting moved over, being folded, and (if I'm lucky) getting put away in the never-ending stream of clean and dirty clothes that are needed to cover the six bodies in my home.

  In order to complete everything you need to accomplish in a day there must be a system in place.  That little thing I mentioned just now - the to-do list - is the key to it all!

My list is an ever-evolving, constantly changing way for me to keep track of what has been done, what needs to be done, and what can get done eventually. It holds everything from specific house cleaning assignments to reminders to refill the mayonnaise bottle. Whether it is a big task or a little one, if I need to do it during the course of the day it goes on the list. I will even include my shower on the list! I am sure to pick the most pressing items (or the ones I am sure I have time for) to do first and if it doesn’t get done in the course of the day I don’t sweat it, I simply leave it up to tackle the next day. 

The method that I found works best for me is keeping a small dry-erase board on my refrigerator. There is room on it for 10-12 items. I fill it in at the beginning of the day and as I work through the tasks I erase them from the board. If I think of more things throughout the day I can add them to the list but still focus on the most important things first. Do I need to call the dentist about that appointment now or can it wait until after I have defrosted the meat for dinner? Does each child have clean underwear for tomorrow? Can the lawn go one more day or should it be trimmed now? 

Having an organized list of tasks helps immensely when trying to accomplish work in a timely manner. When your thoughts are scattered your efficiency is compromised. I have found myself starting one job only to get distracted by the recognition of a different job needing my attention and never finishing either one because my brain jumped to a third responsibility. When all of the jobs are written down, your mind is free to focus and complete the job at hand. When a job is finished you can cross it off your list and know you have accomplished what you set out to do (a very rewarding feeling!)

Whether you are organizing your school day or your spring cleaning, A list that you can refer to for directions will always be a wonderful aid for the busy lifestyle of the multitasking mom (or dad!)