Using your timer

**canadian gardener** · 07-19-2004, 03:33 PM

One of the uses flylady often says, is to time how long it takes to do something. LOL I'm inspired by Amy's funny 30 minutes to a clean house thread!

I have a timer I bought from Walmart several years back, and today I decided to time my washing machine going thru my regular cycle.

Normally I do one or at the very most 2 loads a day, but today is Monday, I do sheets, and dd left this morning and we got back from a wedding on Saturday

so wash is piled up. I want to keep on top of it, so I'm timing my machine so I can keep cycling thru load after load, using the timer to tell me when a new load needs putting in, and the old one moved to the dryer.

This will come in handy to know for the future.

There are a lot of uses for a timer

Some people use them to give the kids turns on a favoured toy. Or time the time outs. Or play beat the clock.

I think beat the clock has always been my favourite. Set the timer for 15 minutes or 5 minutes depending on how you feel and just go like stink, racing around getting as much done as you can.

Often that is all it takes to get the room in order or the house dusted or the garbage taken out or a dishwasher loaded and running or unloaded.

It can tell you just HOW LONG a particular task takes when you give it your all.

That is SO useful. If I know it takes me 3 minutes or less to unload the dishwasher (timing a VERY full dishwasher) then I don't feel so much like it's a BIG job and I tackle it and get it out of the way.

What uses do you use your timer for, other than cooking?

**canadian gardener** · 07-19-2004, 03:35 PM

Oh and btw my washer takes 40 minutes to cycle thru a full wash, from fill to final spin, and that includes a second deep rinse cycle that I always use. Hot water wash, cold rinse.

For super fast loads I will use a warm warm on a very short cycle and no extra rinse.

**forestdale** · 07-25-2004, 06:58 PM

Margery, I like this idea! Sometimes I put off the simplest of tasks because I can't be bothered doing it, or "I'll do it later". I'm going to work out how to use the timer on my microwave and try your timing procedure. Things like this work for me. Thanks!

**lucy979** · 07-27-2004, 03:20 PM

I want a timer but haven't found one yet. I think it would really help Baylie with cleaning her room and doing her homework.

**guest2** · 07-27-2004, 04:05 PM

I use mine to help keep the kids on task when we are doing our testing and for timed assignments. It also helps to keep track of how long each child can be on the internet.

**canadian gardener** · 07-27-2004, 04:41 PM

they are so cheap, at the supermarket, drugstores, and Walmart type stores.

Incredibly useful.

As Debbie mentioned I used the one before this in our homeschool years for the same kinds of purposes. Not just timing the dinner in the oven, but homeschooling, time with a toy or game (back when they were little and fought over toys) or TIME OUTS

**Early Bird** · 07-28-2004, 03:37 AM

When I'm playing Mom's Taxi in the late afternoon, I use my timer so that I don't oversleep on my nap!

**Heather** · 07-28-2004, 10:11 AM

Very good ideas! Thanks!

**lucy979** · 07-28-2004, 02:23 PM

I got a timer today!! So now I just have to use it. I'm so excited!!

**canadian gardener** · 07-28-2004, 05:38 PM

they really are great.

Right now I've been using mine to do 2 little 5 minute bursts on my elliptical machine. It helps keep me focused to get that exercise thing DONE.

I know, I know, that doesn't add up to much but that machine is tough, and I'm out of shape and that timer keeps me going.

Later I'm going to add to the time, but for now, I've got closure after 2 --5 minute sessions a day.

the other thing I want to do is time myself online a bit. Say do 20 minuites here catching up and chatting, then off for 20 minutes doing my procrastination projects and back online as a reward.

(got two done! trimmed the hedge and trimmed a shrub that badly needed doing)