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with Nataly
Hi, I am Nataly and I am the co-founder of Work It, Mom!
I write the daily Work It, Mom! Blog where I talk about issues affecting working moms, goings on in our Work It, Mom! community, new site features, updates,and contests. I also share my own juggle between work and family and love to see members jump in with comments. Come and visit often!
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I tried to think of a creative title for this post and then decided that I should just call it what it is: A list of things that I’ve done recently that are helping me manage my daily work-life-whatever juggle just a bit better. None are groundbreaking but you know, every tiny bit helps.
Get up 15 minutes before my daughter is up for the day. This is probably THE most helpful change to our routine that I’ve ever made and I can’t believe I didn’t do it sooner. I get up, get her lunch ready, get my own lunch ready, put on a pot of hot water for coffee or tea, start breakfast prep if I am in a fancy hot breakfast making mood, and most of all, wake up a little. By the time she is up and calling us from her room I feel like we’re much more organized and ready to go.
Pack my bags for work the night before. I bring a purse and a laptop bag to work every day. Sometimes I also bring my gym bag if I am going to hit the gym after work or during lunch. Getting everything organized the night before and even putting them in the car really helps to cut down on the running around routine in the am.
Put up small hooks by the door for keys. Another tiny thing that has really reduced the running around in the morning routine. I imagine once I actually remember to put the keys on the hooks, the running around will be further reduced.
Print out a shopping list and keep it out all week. I have to give credit to my dear husband for actually doing this (with my strong direction) because it’s a huge help. We now have a bunch of copies of our regular shopping list and we keep one on the counter. As we run out of stuff I just check it off on the list. Has significantly cut down on the “Honey, do we need potatoes?” calls from the store.
Buy a bunch of cards for various occasions ahead of time. I am really trying to stay on top of family and friend birthdays and send cards. As in real, paper cards, not e-cards, which the old-fashioned me still thinks are a bit less personal. But when I don’t have a card handy to send out I often forget to go get one — or just run out of time. So I got a bunch of different cards and now have many options to choose from.
What are some small things you’ve done to help you be more organized and less frazzled? Share in the comments!
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I make lunches for the kids the night before, which helps with the morning chaos. I also Pack backpacks, etc. the night before so that we can get out the door with a minimum of yelling (on my part).
Angella | February 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
I love those tips- so simple! Wish I had some in return- chaos prevails!
starrlife | February 13th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Morning is hard for me. I try to have the kid’s clothes all ready to go in the morning and make breakfast in advance when I can.
Kaycee | February 13th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
All of those tips are useful!
I always lay out my clothing the night before, and even put out a few options to quell morning indecision. It has cut down the frantic rummaging for black NOT navy trouser socks, etc.
My husband and I also check the family calendar (posted on the wall with pen attached) to agree upon who has a meeting and who is doing daycare pick up that evening.
Melissa | February 13th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Very nice. I like the tips. I use the one with, wake up earlier.
Also, for cards, try sendoutcards.com. It’s a great tool. You complete the info online, it then goes in for printing and the person gets an actual card in the mail. It’s easy. Let me know if you want to know more.
http://www.sendoutcards.com/verababayeva
Vera Babayeva | February 14th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I actually got a little box that I put in my front entry way for keys. Apparently it is easier for me to throw keys into a box/bowl/container than to actually have to OMG HANG THEM UP!
My laziness knows no bounds, it seems.
I need to do that packing my purse and laptop bag the night before bit. That’s brilliant.
Miss Britt | February 16th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Couple of things:
I buy ground beef or chicken breasts in bulk. Then I spend an hour or so cleaning the chicken, or dividing up the beef into 1/2 lb. balls. Each breast or ball is then wrapped in Cling Wrap, and stuck into a labeled freezer bag. Voila! Instant meal prep. Now I just have to worry about which veggies go for that night’s dinner. the chicken or beef is a snap to thaw in the micro.
My son is 5, so he’s still learning how to manage his time. So I have a watch that has a 10-minute countdown. In the morning, I set that watch. If he’s up and dressed before it beeps, he gets a sticker. Same with eating breakfast, and the toothbrushing/facewashing process before school. Since I started using this method, he’s been ready for the bus 5 minutes early each day!
I have a little 5-drawer organizer (one of those rubbermaid deals) and each drawer is labeled with a day, Mon-Fri. On Saturday or Sunday, when the laundry is done, I sit with him and we pick out clothing for each day. That way, there’s no fussing, or worrying when it comes to getting dressed each morning.
LS | February 16th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Discount stores often sell boxes of cards, and these days you can get some really cute ones…I got a box of birthday and a variety box. I keep a few birthday cards in a bag along with stamps, an address book, pens, bills, and a checkbook. I can send cards, prepare payments, etc., whenever I have to sit and wait somewhere. I love that.
I know this post is really about daily stuff, but we travel a lot…here’s a tip for traveling: I have a set of plastic boxes that stack and snap together for my daughter’s medicines and her toiletries. (I got them at a big-box hardware store.) The medicines box stays in the kitchen cabinet when we are home, and the toiletries box stays in a drawer in the bathroom. When I’m packing up, I just click the toiletries box onto the medicine box and add the top (which has a handle). Makes it easier to remember because if I grab one, I automatically start looking for the other. It also makes unpacking easier.
Thanks for the tips!
Just me | February 16th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
LS — try freezing the ground beef flat instead of in balls. Storing is easier and thawing takes practically no time.
I swear it’ll change your life :).
Just me | February 17th, 2009 at 3:23 pm