I just realized how long it has been since I posted here at my blog!  Holy Cow!  Well, something that I have been trying to implement in my daily life is the topic for today! 

Time Budgeting and Multitasking! 

A friend of mine recently told me that multitasking is a bad way to get anything done.  I have pondered on this concept for a while because the reasons she had behind this theory make sense, so here is my conclusions.  Multi-tasking is NOT bad BUT there are some simple rules that will make is more successful than others.  These rules are the reason that I’m combining the time budgeting along with the multitasking idea.  How many of us try to watch the kids while trying to work on the computer or do e-mail and/or dishes and laundry?  That was me about 3 weeks ago.  My work on the computer would take 4 times as long, I would end up frustrated, the kids would be crying and the laundry and dishes would be half done as well. Not really a good example of finishing anything. 

So here are my thoughts.  First, Make a to-do list of the things that you need/want to accomplish in a day.  Now re-write your list.  Put the most important things up at the top and put a star by them.  Put the least important things towards the bottom.  You can mix business and home stuff.  For example, there are some days that I HAVE to do the laundry…so that’s at the top.  Then the things that could possibly wait a day or until later in the day are closer to the bottom. Second, schedule out your time during the day.  It doesn’t’ have to be anything to rigid, just a general plan.  For instance-for the past few weeks I will start my morning out slowly.  I put in a load of laundry and start the dishwasher (if it wasn’t run the night before).  I will play with the kids and do general cleaning until naptime.  At naptime, the baby goes down and my 3 year old has quiet time.  Then I work on the computer.  I will check and respond to my e-mail, update webpages, write in my blogs…etc.  When the baby wakes up, I finish the last thing I’m working on and again step away from the computer.  I will rotate the laundry and then start to think about dinner. 

And Third…When you are multitasking, you need to group similar items together.  While taking a business call, label some of your flyers or cut out coupons to hand out for your business.  While cooking meat for dinner…cut the veggies.  In this way, you are still able to multitask, but you will get more done in the long run! By applying these simple steps, my days run a lot smoother, my kids are a lot happier, and I get more done in the time I have.