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Time Management
Tips for Work at Home Moms - Part II
1. Have a
chore chart - Using a spreadsheet or a piece of paper,
write across the top the chart the names of everybody in
the family. Down the first column write down all of the
chores that need to be done. Group according to daily tasks,
weekly tasks and annual tasks. Next to each task put the
number of hours the task takes to do. Don't forget to include
anyone able bodied enough to help. Even young children can
help by setting the table, putting their toys away and helping
dust. Assign tasks based on capabilities. Older children
can do more complex asks like help with the wash and making
a simple meal once a week.
Then have a family
meeting and fill in the chart. Our kids have a lot of homework
and activities during they week, so we ask them to do just
30 minutes each week day and an hour each on weekends. Within
reason, by filling in the chart they get to have some say
over which chores they want to tackle. Then my husband and
I have to divvy up the remaining tasks. I give him a "credit"
for his commute time since I work at home and don't; have
that hassle. But after that, since we each work 40 hours
a week, we try to split the remaining chores.
I usually go
last and will take the tasks no one else wants to do. I
figure that without the chart the default is that I end
up doing a lot of the work I was doing before I had a work
at home job, so to me just getting everyone else to pitch
in helps. I know some familis do not have the parents on
the chart, but I think it helps when moms are transitioning
from ful time homemakers to working at home that kids see
how much mom has to do and why it is important to pitch
in and help.
When you are
done put the chore
chart on the fridge or some other place where everyone
can see it. That way everyone knows what they are supposed
to do each week.
2. When the chore
chart is done, it helps to get kids organized if they then
have a daily schedule. School age children should
have a set time each day for doing their homework. After
our kids get home from school, they have a snack and then
get some down time where they can play outside or visit
their friends. After that then they have set times to do
their chores and homework.
3. I have found
that for me daily and weekly schedules also help.
I know there are some time management books that advocate
making a unique schedule each day based on what's pressing
but for me that just doesn't work. I find if I do that I
tend to spend to much time deciding what to do rather than
actually getting things done. So I have a standard schedule
each day for working, exercising, etc.
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