working women staying organized!

**Juto** · 06-02-2005, 09:46 PM

What kind of tricks to you pull from your hat to make your day smooth from getting the kids off to school, getting to work on time, and having dinner prepared at a decent hour? I pre-cook a lot and I have a lot done the night before such as backpacks ready. Any other ideas to make life less stressful?

**Michele Annette** · 06-10-2005, 11:09 AM

Hi Juto, I don't have kids, but my days during the week are usually full of work, errands and activities. I keep a day planner (one that is 5.5" x 8.5") so I can easily tote it around with me in my bag. I write down everything I need to do in it. It's just like anything else that requires decipline to actually use it. It works if you do. Good luck!

**Mom23boys** · 06-10-2005, 03:48 PM

I keep a running "to do list". I have 3 kids that I have to get off to school during the school year. I also work at the school. I try to do some of the chores in the morning and the rest when I get home. I have a habit of starting dinner when I come home from work so that I can get that out of the way and enjoy the rest of the evening because everything else will be done. I do the evening chores while dinner is cooking.

**Mojjo** · 06-10-2005, 04:32 PM

Prep the night before, do a lot of cooking on the weekends, start a load of laundry in the morning to finish at night, day planner where I keep running lists and write down EVERY appointment.

And it helps DH and I work together so we have lunch together and can pay bills, meal plan, and make errand lists.

**AmyBoz** · 06-10-2005, 05:03 PM

Lists and multitasking. (No multitasking when spending time with the kids, though) DId I mention lists?

**Telephus44** · 06-12-2005, 07:33 PM

I don't have kids, but the two biggest things I do to make my life easier are:

1. Get everything ready the night before. I pick out my clothes, pack my lunch, make sure that there's water in the coffee pot. If I need to mail something I make sure that I have the mail in my purse to take to work. If I'm going to have a dentist appointment I make sure that I pack my checkbook.
2. Keep a to-do list for phone calls I have to make on lunch, and pull it out at noon while my lunch is in the microwave. Tomorrow I have to call my doctor and our insurance plan about DH's coverage. I have a list with both of these items and the phone numbers. I will also put errands on the list (say, if I have to go to the post office) if they have to be done on my lunch hour.

**Prairiemom** · 06-13-2005, 02:49 PM

I do my baking on Sundays so there's plenty for lunchbox snacks for the week.

I love to cook but try to plan quick meals or a crock pot meal for the days I work. We usually have a leftover night late in the week, this is my night off from cooking, everyone can pick what they want and it uses up food that might have been wasted.

I have a small marker board on the refrigerator to write down food and personal items we're needing and appointments we need to remember for the week.

**mfedor** · 06-15-2005, 03:09 PM

Several things I do
- Make lunches the night before
- Review activities for the next day
- Meals are planned for the month
- House is picked up before bed
- Lists, lists and more lists.

Now if they would just extend the day just a little longer

**Jerseygirl** · 06-18-2005, 10:43 PM

Don't sleep, lots of lists, don't let things fall behind, plan ahead, shop ahead, and when all of that doesn't pay off, don't freal out!

**Michelle** · 09-18-2005, 09:27 AM

I actually have an Excel spreadsheet of things I need to remember to put in the kids' backpacks. I check them off as I do them since sometimes it seems like, "I just gave them lunch money" when in fact I only did it for one of them.

I don't work outside the home (haven't found a job yet), but this helps me get them out the door on time without too much stress on me

**inneedofhope** · 09-29-2005, 11:38 AM

It seems to be that any time saving idea I've run across actually takes up more time for me, because it usually just cuts into the few precious moments my son and i actually have together in the evening. I'm divorced, working full time, and raising my 4 yr old son. He goes to preschool all day while I'm at work. Every morning we rush around and try to see if we can actually get out the door on time. My biggest problem is dragging us both out of bed early enough. I make breakfast and pack lunch at the same time, dog goes out, ds eats while I shower and dress, bring dog back in, I usually have his clothes out for him, but more often than not I am dressing him after I'm ready. And out the door we go. His school calendar is posted on the fridge so I can check if he needs to bring anything. Alot of times I switch a load of laundry while I'm searching for clothes.
When we get home at night, I start dinner, check the mail, ds gets some free play time or tv time, I clean and cook at the same time, then after dinner he goes in for bath and I clean more, sometimes prep for tomarrows lunch. I make time to play a game or do an activity with him before bed. I read to him at bed time. I'm generally exhausted by then and am ready to just crash, but on ocassion I will have time to watch a dvd or read. I have been known to pay bills late at night.
My house is usually a cluttered wreck, but my ds is growing up tooo fast for me to spend too much time cleaning.
I am off from work for "vacation" for 2 weeks. For me that actually means time to do all the things around the house I've neglected because I'm busy working. I did take time for a nap yesterday though!