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WOW, that calendar is blue, huh? Trick of the camera, but the more important thing is that it’s also really EMPTY. And this is a really busy week for me!
1. We shop only once a week and refuse to go back. If we’re out of milk, that’s just how it goes, drink water. If we’re out of apples, eat oranges. There’s no need to have one of everything we like in the house at once. Except toilet paper. I will go back for that, but nothing else. Multiple trips to the store to pick up this or that really crowd my days, so I don’t do it!
2. We use a calendar–everything on the calendar is a commitment, nothing is a commitment until it’s on the calendar. And the calendar stays at home. Which means, I can’t agree to anything until I think about it. And don’t buy one of those ones where a day is a whole page, you might actually be tempted to fill it!
3. We only agree to do what we really want to do. Saying NO is a very important part of keeping your day simple. Just because someone else thinks we SHOULD do something as often as they wish has little impact on our decision. “Sure I’d like to volunteer. You can have me once every six weeks.” “But, but, but…” “I’m sorry, that’s all I can offer.”
4. The day is organized around benchmarks. I have four things on my mental to do list. 8:35, 3:45, 5:00, and 7:30. When the kids are off to school, when I get in the car line, when hubby gets home, and the kids’ bedtime. There’s no scheduling to the minute, ever. I just know what has to be done for those four things to happen.
5. We have one planned activity per day. If it’s swimming lessons, then there’s no going to the PTA meeting. If there’s a party, then there’s no meeting friends at the park. Now, I know that sounds drastic, but if you’re like me, planning one thing a day means you’ll probably end up with two. But setting the bar that low means when something springs up on me, (as it always does) I have room in my schedule to deal with it.
Ivory
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Ivory,
Would you consider updating your thoughts on this now that your kids are a little older and you are homeschooling? I wonder if you are sticking to this plan or if you have tweaked it abit. Just curious.
HA! I didn’t realize how old this is. Actually, homeschooling was a way to further simplify. No room moms calling wanting me to do all kinds of things.
Now that I look at it, I still do all of this. Even the benchmarks, though around different events, are at the same times.
Everybody needs to simplify the day, these are great suggestions.
I love, love, love this! We are starting homeschooling this year with — right from the get go as we have a 5 and a 2 year old. I am just dreading having a “schedule” (even though I am a very “scheduly” person!). I keep thinking I need a daily schedule and a “household binder”, but I don’t feel like I actually really need one. I love your guidelines and the freedom this system creates.
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