Organize your morning -- keeping it fresh
If things stay the same for too long, I get a little bored, and less productive. So, I like to tweak things periodically to keep things moving.
My current schedule is my absolute favorite so far, and I find we have time to get everything done.
After a quick shower, I head right to my Bible. If I stop and do anything else before this it gets shortened or skipped and the rest of the day just stumbles on by. Right now I am reading through the Bible thanks to 66 books, and I daily pray for my husband and kids using Power of a Praying Wife and my prayer calendar.
This biggest help I have found is writing it down. Even if we don't always stay exactly where we should be, we all know the goal, where we are headed, and what comes next. Here was my schedule from the beginning of the year, but I have had a hard time getting up at 6:00 recently so my exercise has resorted to PE time in the afternoon with the kids.
Running a close second for helping my days get started right is my new commitment to stay off of the computer. I don't even turn it on until we start school, and then it is just for studies. IF I get my morning responsibilities done early I check email before school starts, and I have designated blogging and computer times that I am working at sticking with. So far, pretty good. Sometimes things come up and they don't work out, and sometimes things come up that give me some extra time on the computer, but I control my computer not vice versa.
The kids all have their designated morning chores that are clear and, again, written down. I have found a homemade system that we love for keeping them on task at the various chore times throughout the day and makes their expectations clear. In a nutshell, they have chores on index cards that they move to the "done" envelope throughout the day as they finish them. Very hands on and visual.
Keeping it simple, written down, and tweaking as needed has helped us get started each day with enthusiasm and joy! So much comes back to me, setting the tone for the rest of the day by God's strength and my continual submission to Him.
Comments
I have also been laying back off the computer - no checking email first thing, etc. Boy is it freeing!
Ties that Bind, Great idea for having your husband hold you accountable! I have my blogging buddies, too, but they don't truly see what I am doing. My kids also have a great nack for saying, "Mom, I thought you weren't supposed to be on now?" And I slink away in guilt . . . It keeps me off!
Mary, The chore cards are great and I used pictures on them with the little ones. I think you are in perhaps the toughest age/season in terms of keeping in top of a routine. I found once the kids hit 7 their ability to help around home jumped. They could read independently and work more independently. I've been there and love all the littles around, but it is an exhausting time. I'm praying for you! Glad you have found freedom from your computer, too. :-)
~Erin