these days, i don't have a "set schedule". i keep monkey girl on a nap schedule and eating schedule and we work around that, essentially. i've worked at home forever and have had a pretty decent set schedule with that. i knew what i needed to be doing and when. but now that i don't have a straight 9-5, i feel as if i'm a little lost sometimes.
i can make lists, i can set goals. and i do. i just feel that without my "constant" schedule, my days just slip right on by and it can feel though i've not accomplished anything. even if i have! again, that can go back to not having my 9-5. an adjustment period, perhaps? i can be working on proofing a shoot, i can be working on new art for licensing, i can be working on laundry... a myriad of things. but for some reason i feel like my time is not well managed. i guess i'm just really trying to adjust to being a more flexible chick!
yes, i know this is just plain life. every day is different. with summer coming, j-man will be home and i will have to factor that into my scheduling. my studio *should* be done very soon and i will be scheduling clients there, and scheduling someone to watch monkey girl.
this post may not even make sense in some places. but i do miss some sort of structure. i'm hoping that after an adjustment period all will be running smoothly.
do you follow a strict schedule? tell me about it. if you do or if you don't have a 9-5, how do you make sure you feel productive at home? set priorities? give me all of your thoughts. they might help a girl out.
please enlighten me and then check out the other tft'ers this week: kristi, cass, jenny, heather
I came upon being a SAHM by accident. I'd worked for years and intended to continue working. My position was "liquidated" when I was 5 weeks into my 6 week maternity leave. I was left with the option of taking a position that would require more time at work (plus an hour commute EACH way) or staying home and being poor. I chose being home. I was NOT prepared for the feelings of lack of accomplishment. It took over a year to get into a groove. I'm a list maker, so I can check things off and feel accomplished.
Now we're into a schedule with me taking care of all preschool pickup and drop offs and all kid related things. Wynnie will be done with school in 2 weeks and I'm sure we'll have an adjustment period for that.
Hang in there! It'll come. It just takes time.
Posted by: Hyphen Mama | May 08, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I was the money maker for the first years of our marriage, it KILLED me giving up my paycheck. I kind of liked being the "bread winner". I could buy things and I didn't have to ask, because it was my money. I'm still freaky about that.
BUT you're getting your business off the ground. You have to give yourself credit for doing that. Most people don't have the courage.
Posted by: Hyphen Mama | May 08, 2008 at 01:54 PM
I thought I'd be all about a schedule at home with my kids, as I taught preschool for ten years and not only do I know about how kids neeeed consistency, but I THRIVED on my schedule and lesson plans.
We do have a very fluid schedule, but I found myself where you are Jess, feeling unproductive and like the days were just slipping by feeling like they were often full of "nothing".
I put myself on a weekly schedule to start... Monday's a cleaning day, Tuesday was full of dance class, errands and preschool, Wednesday is laundry day, Thursday was our morning to do a kid project, "field trip" or fun thing together, and Friday is a more laid back relax, free for all, get ready for the weekend kind of day. It helped me tremendously. Then I didn't feel like my chores were always waiting for me, like I had to be doing cleaning/laundry everyday, that everything was so fly by the seat of my pants/do whatever we feel like doing all week. We are super flexible with our schedule, and do other things in and around it; on Wednesdays for example... I get all the laundry done at once, but I just do it where it fits, sometimes all out of the way in the morning, sometimes a load here and there throughout the day while we do other stuff. It's my day to ACCOMPLISH laundry, but it's not the only thing in that day. That's how our week works.
Posted by: heather | May 08, 2008 at 03:09 PM
I have a pretty set schedule for the most part. I get up at 4:45 get ready for work, be at work by 5:45. work til 2. Pick up PB, go for a walk/run to park or errands. Eat at 5 unless J is going to be home then 6. Play watch tv, 8:30 PB goes to bed, My time, in bed at 10. My days off are the nonschedule days. though they are similar.
Posted by: Robyn | May 08, 2008 at 09:27 PM
You know me... no schedule, no work/job. What I have to do sometimes, to feel like I've gotten some stuff done, is POWER clean/laundry/pickup for a few hours straight. Then, I feel like I did something:)
I do love routine and schedule though, don't get me wrong!
Posted by: Jaime | May 08, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Ha! I wish that I could put me on a schedule. My day varies from day to day although my work hours are always the same. Some nights I go to bet at 10:00 other nights like last night I go to bed at 1:30. I used to have a schedule though and I seemed to get a lot more done. Monday Nights - Laundry, Tuesday Nights - Veg and Relax, Wednesday Nights - Clean Up House and so on...
Posted by: Denise H. | May 09, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I stick to a schedule for certain things. We wake up at a certain time, eat and nap at certain times but things in between vary. I need a schedule to function otherwise things just get away from me. But, I think that the girls need it to or they get really crabby.
Posted by: michelle | May 09, 2008 at 08:10 PM