Balance, Peace and Other Worthy Rewards

It’s been a week since I implemented my 168 hour plan. It took me a fair bit of time to come to terms with some nasty habits I had developed. Complacency has no place in my life anymore!

This weekend, I took Sunday off. No cleaning, no planning, no errands. I volunteered at our church, as scheduled, and I had a blast. It was so much fun to go into the day with nothing to do but enjoy the company of others. I went with my husband and youngest daughter to see my nieces in a musical. I even had time to enjoy a dinner out…something that rarely happens for us. Peaceful, relaxing… It was like going on a holiday.

Now in the spirit of full disclosure, I did not complete everything I had planned during the week. I managed to do more than half. The rest just waited for me until Monday. The dishes were done, the laundry was done. Most of the house was picked up. That’s a win in my book.

Having a written plan in place allowed us to hit the ground running this morning. We were able get all of our schooling finished by 1 pm. We were able to plant trees, prepare the green house, clean up the yard and enjoy family time by the first bonfire of the season. All of this before 8 pm, and everyone is relaxed and happy….with the possible exception of the teenage boy. I’m guessing that sundown interrupted his basketball time. J That is a drawback to having an outdoor hoop.

The bonfire is our reward for cleaning up the yard after last week’s wind storm. We are still not done. But we are done enough to enjoy this early season treat. I’ve always felt that hard work should be rewarded. While there are important lessons to be learned in delayed gratification, there are equally important lessons in reaping the fruit of one’s labor. And nothing wraps up a beautiful day like a roaring fire.

I think I’m going to put the computer away here and enjoy this blessed night.

P.S. – Some dear friends saw the fire and stopped by for a short visit. What a blessing! It will always be these little surprises I enjoy the most.

Time management for beginners

I was recently introduced to what has been, for me, a life-changing vision of time management. Those who know me best know that time management has not yet proven to be, shall we say, my most gifted area? Yeah, I’ve been horrible at it! So when I told my family I was starting this blog and shared the numerous ideas swimming in my head about what this blog could become, suffice to say they were cautiously optimistic at best. For me the struggle is real. I love a simple and tidy home. I hate to clean. I love being early, with time to spare for visiting and helping. But there is always something else to do before I go. It’s a challenge I have yet to master. So when I stumbled upon the idea that there could be a way to do it all and still maintain my sanity, I was all-in.

The concept is simple enough. I call it the 168 Plan. There are 168 hours in a week. Everyone has the same number. No more. No less. And yet, while everyone has unique talents, callings and claims on their time, I found one truth shared by all. When I interviewed people, I asked if they were able to keep busy, not one person said no. Not one person smiled and said, “I’m afraid I have nothing to do.” Everyone seemed over-tasked. Everyone was struggling with fitting in all in. Everyone longed for a break, if only for a moment. For me the challenge had been set. I set off to find a better way to manage time, to put it to work for me rather than the other way around. 168 hours…how does it work?

First, a disclaimer: I am a wife, a homeschooling mom of two, a military mom-in-law, a soon-to-be first time grandmother and an entrepreneur. Your life may look different than mine. The beauty of this concept is that it is completely customizable to fit your needs.

Second disclaimer: I did not invent this plan. I simply developed it for my personal use and want to share how amazing it truly is.

The 168 Plan

The concept, as I mentioned, is simple enough. The goal is to use all 168 hours each week in the most efficient manner possible as they apply to YOUR family. It’s personal, intensely personal. The first thing you will have to do is throw away the notion that things have to happen the same way for everyone. For example, I work and school my children from home. I have no commute, no school bus to catch, no morning bell.

Starting with 168 hours each week: I homeschool 20 hours each week. I also work 30 hours a week starting my online business. Next is sleep. I plan for 8 hours a night. I am not to the point where I use them all yet, but that is my goal. I am best able to care for my family when I myself am rested. The result is 62 hours of time, every week, to use however I desire.

What would I do with 62 hours a week….

Cleaning – one hour a day, weekdays only, for general clean up should suffice. I’m not there yet but with diligence, downsizing and the proper training of children I could be. Five hours must be enough time to spend doing something as mundane but necessary as cleaning.

Remaining time: 57 hours

Laundry – essentially laundry doesn’t factor in to the 62 hours for me because the washing machine is right next to the classroom. 4 hours of school a day, yields 3 loads of laundry every day. Four people plus a day for sheets and towels = weekends off and everyone has what they need.

Remaining time: 57 hours

Errands – 4 hours per week. I am low-balling here. By streamlining my shopping list and tightening my budget, I should be able to get everything done in one afternoon. Route planning, and shopping at off peak hours will maximize efficiency.

Remaining time – 53 hours

Cooking – I currently spend a lot of time here, or so it seems. Perhaps I don’t spend enough. Perhaps I spend too much. As I streamline processes elsewhere and plan menus to suit our preferences, I will have to keep track of time I actually spend here. But for now, 14 hours a week seems appropriate.

Remaining time – 39 hours

Personal care – 2 hours weekly covers daily routines, including showers! Time to get efficient.

Remaining time – 37 hours

Church – realistically, this is never just an in and out deal. This is all bloody morning and some of the afternoon! And that’s what I love the most. Our church offers a Saturday evening option, that’s our family’s favorite. – Plan on 2 hours every Saturday. J

Remaining time – 35 hours

Sabbath – day of rest! The Sabbath was at one time one of God’s great commandments. We were called to “remember it, and keep it holy.” A holy day of rest…we are bringing back the Sabbath in this home. Instead of spending the day worrying about all we are not getting done, we will budget our time appropriately. Think of the Sabbath as the tithe of time budgeting.**

Remaining time – 25 hours

Volunteering – presently this includes teaching kindergarten Sunday School at Cherry Creek Campus, Sunday morning church service. (2 hours every Sunday morning)

Remaining time – 23 hours

Kids sports – I can easily commit 3 hours to this, but I don’t necessarily need to. The kids are not always in sports. But they always seem to have something going on so this will stay in the plan.

Remaining time – 20 hours

Hobbies – is it possible? Do I really have two hours every day to do anything I want? Horseback riding, gardening, fishing, hiking…unfathomable! The result here should be full freezer, full pantry, two well-trained dogs and a serious case of horse fever for the little princess. J

Remaining time – 10 hours!

Chores – morning animal chores, this is a hobby farm after all. 30 min daily is more than enough even in the winter. 3.5 hours is fine. My kids share the evening chores.

Remaining time – 6.5 hours

Budget and finances – an hour or so a week is all I really need here. I’ll save the details for another post.

Remaining time – 5.5 hours

Travel – Like money in the bank! Local trips, field trips…it all counts.

As I review my time budget I see problems already. The problems are not real of course. But perception is often more powerful than reality. On one hand, I have very specific things that are missing from my time budget. Entertaining friends, either at home or elsewhere, does not have a specific spot. Exercise and physical wellness do not have assignments either. Do I not have time? Have I found a weakness to the plan? Absolutely not! Rather the opposite is true. The 168 Plan includes an exceptional amount of what I label “hobby time”. “Hobby time”, for me, is gold. It’s that time of day when I can do anything I desire. Garden already weeded? Go for a horseback ride. Find a new trail? Grab the kids and dogs and go check it out. Is a friend having a birthday? How about a grill out and a bonfire? The 168 Plan is completely customizable. So for those of us, like me, that prefer more free time, we can get our fix. For others, who prefer to have every minute planned out days in advance, the 168 Plan provides the perfect platform for exactly that as well.

The concept of being free to manage all 168 hours however I like is nothing short of liberating. It eliminates the stressful feeling that comes with having to do it all. It allows the young person to see a clear vision of their future. It allows the entrepreneur a chance to see new possibilities for their business. It provides the single parent a way through the hardest years of life.

Time is our single greatest resource. It is finite. And it is precious. When managed well, it becomes the most powerful tool we have, to live the most productive and fulfilling life we can imagine. I challenge you see for yourself. You are worth it.