Wonder Woman Wannabe: 31 Days to Finding Balance as a Home Manager :: Day19 {Create a 'Road Map' For Your Days}

I love the comfort of a good routine. It brings my mind and spirit peace to generally know what's going on and what is coming up. However, I've never been a huge fan of 'scheduling' . I think motherhood has done that to me. If we mothers set too many rigid schedules, I think we could be setting ourselves up to fail. Life with little people is just unpredictable. Period.

That's no reason to completely throw in the towel on trying to plan at least a general idea of what life looks like on a day-to-day basis though.

I prefer to think of my daily schedule as a ROAD MAP. I have a general idea of what I would like to be doing at certain points of the day, but I think of this as merely a GUIDE to help me on my way.

I am always aware of potential delays that could come up or to have a plan B for taking an unexpected detour as well.

Using my Time Audit and Time Budget as my guide, here is what a common Road Map plan may look like for me:

6:00-6:30 - Rise and Shine, Scripture & or Devotional reading - focus my mind on the positive and mentally prepare for day ahead. (perhaps shower and prepare for day if meeting with a client that morning)

6:45/7am - children begin to rise - begin morning routine

7:30/8am - oversee chores for children help them prepare for day

8:00/8:30 - children have some television time while I check email and read

8:30/9:00 - prepare self for day if not going to local YWCA later that morning for exercise or head to organizing consultation

9:00/9:30 - Bible lesson/story with children (3 yr old leaves for preschool at 9:30 two mornings a week)

10:00 - 6 yr old leaves on bus for school (yes, our school has a later schedule...sometimes nice, other times not)

10:15 - Errands, outings, activities with 3 yr old, house maintenance, or work with client

11:30/12:00 Lunch with 3 yr old if at home

1:00 nap/rest time for 3 yr old ('office hours' for me)

2:00 - children's program or short movie for 3 yr old - (more 'office hours' for me)

3:00 - Special time with 3yr old - + possible outing/errand

4:00 - Begin dinner prep and finish up house maintenance tasks

5:00 - Welcome home 6 yr old off bus

5:30 - Family Dinner

6:00 - Begin Evening Routine & Family Together Time

6:45/7:00 - Begin bedtime routine for children

7:30/8:00 - Lights out for children - finish up any house maint. tasks - then time for ME and/ or with spouse! (I try to prep for bed early)

10:00 - electronics off (work in progress) - book reading bed

10:30 - Lights Out

What about you? Do feel more productive and comfortable following a strict schedule, or does a 'Road Map' approach seem more realistic?

Here's a handy Printable if you'd like to create your own Road Map!

Open publication - Free publishing - More daily schedule