We women have many things to carry out each day. Some women seem to have a knack of getting everything done. How do they do it? Is it a natural ability or can anyone learn how? What can a person do to become more productive? Let’s take a look at an activity which can help take some stress out of your day.

Personal Story

In 1998, I was pregnant with my fifth child. My husband traveled Monday through Thursday. I taught our four children in our home school and a weekly Sunday School class. You might say I had a lot on my plate! My friends wondered how I got everything done. I’ll let you in on a little secret. I didn’t! What I did do was plan my daily schedule to complete my most important priorities. Let me show you how.

Schedule Your Day

I’ve learned some steps which help me get a lot done. I don’t complete everything, but I do make progress. These steps help reduce the amount of stress I feel. I know that stress can do a number on my health. I don’t sleep well. Sometimes I get canker sores when my life has unusual amounts of stress. Here’s how I avoid these physical effects of stress.

1. Create a list to carry out. Here’s an example from Easter weekend:
   1. Family finances
   2. Healthful Endeavors Finances
   3. Lawn: water, mow, weed eat, edge
   4. Garden: water, plant, weed
   5. Indoor plants: water
   6. Mocha: clip nails, groom
   7. Laundry, iron, hem pants
   8. Food prep: pizza, broccoli salad for visit with friends
   9. Clean house
   10. Healthful Endeavors: Write blog 12
   11. Purchase Healthy Cooking class groceries
2. Prioritize
   1. Finances: family and business
   2. Laundry and clothing tasks
   3. Lawn chores
   4. Garden tasks
   5. Food prep
   6. Mocha’s grooming
   7. Healthful Endeavors tasks
   8. Cleaning
3. Set blocks of time to carry out your goals. Schedule the most important items first.
   1. 7:30 am: Laundry: start first load before breakfast, process each load as it finishes.
   2. 8 to 11 am: Finances: work with my husband on family and do business finances.
   3. 11 am to 12:30 pm: Lawn work: My husband mows. I do weed eating and edging.
   4. 12:30 to 1: 30 pm: Lunch and broccoli salad prep
   5. 1:30 to 2 pm: Finish laundry
   6. 2 to 3: “Rest” by writing Healthful Endeavors blog
   7. 3-5 pm: Iron clothes and hem two pairs of pants
   8. 5-6 pm: Prepare to go to friend’s house for dinner and a movie

This was what I accomplished on Friday. On Saturday, I focused on watering the lawn, watering indoor plants, doing garden work, grooming my dog, and doing food preparations. On Sunday, I got the few things I needed for my enrichment class and enjoyed my family. While I didn’t finish everything on my list, I saw real progress.

Some other ideas I use: set morning routines to help me prepare for the day. Block some time early in the day for planning. Schedule and do my highest priorities first. Schedule meetings and group calls in the afternoon .Spend some time relaxing in the evening. Create evening routines and go to bed at a reasonable time.

You might try some of the ideas to see if they can help you get some priorities done each day.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. Please encourage others by writing in the comment section above.