Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Find More Time

I love reading other blogs, but sometimes I wonder how people get SO much done!!  And on one blog - please don't ask which ... I already forgot - she mentioned a book about more time.

I did a search at the library and one came up called Find More Time....

Wrangler Man and I had to travel a few hours to a Cross country meet - so I thought I would read the book out loud to both of us, and we would come back all organized.... yes - you may laugh now... It won't hurt my feelings...


We did enjoy the book - the first part is a 100 question quiz, all about how you do things. I tell you we laughed. You were supposed to rate yourself on that activity from a 1 to a 5 -

Example - "prepare for the next day the night before"   WM says Oh ya - I do that.... and I say oh no you don't - I give you a 1.... and then we talked about what getting ready the night before really meant.  He then agreed to a 1.... of course this was an area i got a 5 in  .... so it's easy to pick on him. ( But you all know I adore the man right?  Cuz I do!)

There were others I didn't score so high - like having an effective to do list - emphasis on the EFFECTIVE..... I have tons of lists.... but.....

We came home and took an hour and made some lists and some goals. I made a Master list. The book said to make a Monthly Master List - I thought I would take baby steps and do a weekly one.... two weeks in - I am making progress.

The shoes/boots in the mud room have even been culled. There is no one in this family going to wear a size 3 shoe again. And the hats.... the hats - oh my goodness that hats.... the favorite ones are now hanging.... the unfavored are elsewhere....

I also made a Master QOV list... it seems those things just pile up - lots of little 5 minutes tasks that get me off track for hours... so I thought ( yep that is dangerous) if I wrote them all on the same sheet of paper, I could sit at the computer once and do them all. So far - it's working pretty good. I have only had one person get frustrated. I do remind myself that I am a volunteer though - so I was good.
That person is my Son! Crazy man!

A friend of mine is an awesome blogger, and is organized - i even asked her for some suggestions - and wow.... she had great ideas that I am trying too...  and you all - I love blogging - it is like my own little personal journal that keeps track of dates better than I do!!


One of my main goals was to make sure I nurtured my creativity. I told my family, and that is always interesting. You tell them something and they are really helpful in making sure I get some goof off creative time. AND! They don't laugh if I drag them out to the floor to dance ....

Any time saving suggestions?  Send em on!!


7 comments:

Vicki W said...

Think of purchases in terms of the time it takes to manage the purchase. Little purchases create clutter that takes hours of management. Big purchases take a lot of research and other activities (like researching insurance for a car). Since taking this attitude I do a lot less buying of keepsakes, clothes and decorator items. If I don't know exactly where it will go I don't buy it. Major purchases are only as needed. I bought a car this year but the last car we bought was in 2003! That's a lot of time saved because I research things to death!

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

I'm impressed with all that you already manage to accomplish. With your new system, you'll be even more amazing! You go, girl!

Gypsy Quilter said...

Glory be, suggestions, I'll take all I can get. I'm still trying to find the time I somehow lost last year. Who wrote the book? I need to find it on CD so I can listen while doing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen cupboards, and organizing fabric. Thanks for sharing.

Terri said...

My best suggestion is to put things where they belong - right away. I hate looking for things... takes up lots of time.
Hugs

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

I am looking forward to getting some time saving ideas form you! Go Alycia!

I do have a white board in my quilting studio where I write threads/supplies I need to order, things I need to get on my master list and to capture all those world changing ideas you get while you are running your machine. I also have all my rulers and templates hanging out on the wall so I can get to quilting right away without having to search for them.

Kate said...

Sounds like you found a few gems that are working for you. My best tip is to find at least 15 minutes a day to do what you want and to tackle big tasks in 15 minute increments. That at least helps my procrastination tenancy.

Elaine Adair said...

My suggestion: take a few minutes to acknowledge all the things you DO get done! There won't be a checklist at the pearly gates! We quilters tend to want to have THINGS and PROJECTS done. Pat yourself on your back for your successes - we all have them. Just being a successful Mom, and wife is a pretty wonderful UFO! All the other successes are gravy! 8-)))