Time Management

Last week as I was racing from work to my osteopath, via friends to pick up a computer game the kids had been nagging for when I realized I might be able to squeeze in a 10-minute hasty shop for something to wear to my birthday dinner with the girlfriends.
And I managed it.
The reason I needed to squeeze it in, rather than taking my time afterwards or on the Saturday morning, was because I didn’t want to lose time with my kids. So I squeezed it in.
After (what I thought) a successful buy (more about that later) whilst I was lying face down on the massage table and unable to squeeze in any of the other many thing s I needed to get done, I got to thinking.
About how practical we become with time management once we become parents.

My husband and I built our home in 6 months when our children were aged 12-18 months and newborn-6months.
We would go into a tile shop and just as our son was about to pull a large display onto him we would quickly go with a choice we both agreed on and fitted in our budget. There was no going back, umming and ahhing, and re-thinking for us, that was it- decision made. This is how it was for everything we needed to choose, and we looked at it as a blessing, to make a quick choice and stick to it.
By the way, we still love our home and those choices; our mantra was keeping it natural and neutral and to not go with any design phases or crazes of 2002 that would firmly stand/age our home in that era as all phases do for their time.

So, how do we all mange? When we work, or have a newborn, toddler, kids or teenagers, friends, a life? Or a few or all of the above? How do we get through the day? What is it that we do?

We prioritize. We get rid of the non-essentials. We choose to do what is good for us, we choose to be with people we like and do the things we like to do.
Priorities are not generic. It can be having a clean house, spending time with friends, relaxing with a book, or doing all the bookwork, all priorities.

We live in the moment. When we are working we focus on the task at hand and do the best job we possibly can. When we are resting we clear our mind of work, non-essential stuff and we get some rest. When we are with our family we direct our attention to them and enjoy the moments.
Noticing the rhythms of our body we use the time when we have the most energy and we rest when we have the least.

We make time for ourselves because everyone knows; Happy Mum, Happy Family…and that goes for happy dads and happy kids too of course…☺

We use routine as having a routine is having freedom. Knowing when your children need to sleep and eat, knowing when the sports practice is, knowing what your partner has to get done means you know when you can book an appointment or need to be home.

We delegate. Because our partners are along for this journey with us. Because we know our children can and need to do things for themselves. Because (if we are lucky enough) we have family who love to help. And because our best friends would do anything for us when we need them.

OK. My own personal time management ways.
Buying clothes that do not need ironing or hand washing. I do not do the ironing thing, and luckily my husband and I do not work in an environment where we need to wear freshly pressed shirts!
Meal Planning. Every shopping list, I make a list of the 7 meals we will eat that week. No thinking about what to cook…
Speaking of cooking, slow cookers and large meals that you can freeze half of. Any meal that makes itself is a favourite of mine.

So back to the top I bought in 10 minutes…well that 10 minutes had to also include parking the car and making my way through the shopping centre, so there wasn’t time to try anything on.
I found a gorgeous ruffled, long, lovely top. Great! Well-done Suzy! Beautiful fabric, beautiful colours, even another shopper commented when I held it up to myself.
As I dressed the evening of the dinner to my dismay there was a niggling feeling I may look like a wedding cake. I asked my 7 year old daughter…she tried to reassure me it was fine, still that niggling feeling, she wasn’t being too convincing. Two of my gorgeous girls turned up and straight away they told me straight. And let me tell you, these women would not have an un-necessary negative comment in them, so I knew, the top was not a success…and as I rushed off to get the heck out of it, I saw a little look of relief on my daughter’s face…aah bless the beautiful life, you cant win every moment!

suzy x

A Treat a day, keeps the Stress away

Have you ever noticed how often we answer the question “how are you?”, with a “Great thanks...busy”. We are all so busy all the time. There are always things we “should” be doing. I should get the housework done today, should get the breakfast dishes cleaned up before I take the kids to school, should go down to the shops, rather than take a walk, should do this, should do that.

Maybe what we should do is take a look at our “should list”, and see how important this stuff really is. Maybe what we should be doing is spring-cleaning our list. Maybe some of our should list is outdated these days; like ironing is for me, which I think has always been not only out dated, but also over rated, I buy crumple free clothes! I also know housework, dishes, chores, will always (unfortunately) wait for me, and still be there when I decide to do them. I have never had too much difficulty in closing the door on these should do’s and going off to do something I want to do. Of course, if housework is your “thing” then that is what you want to do, as you enjoy it, so it is not really on your should list but on your want list...you know who you are!

I don’t think I have ever walked into the home of a friend with children, looked around in shock, and thought “good goddess!” this place is an absolute pigsty!
Of course I see things, dishes on the sink, toys on the floor, and also it is very likely the friend will say something like, “excuse the mess, you know how it is”... and then you both get on with the business of catching up and enjoying each other’s company.

I know that when I am 105 years old, taking a moment and looking back over my life, having my home absolutely immaculate when the children were small, will not be high on my list of priorities or great accomplishments! I am a busy woman, the things I should be doing are enjoying my life, enjoying my family, enjoying my friends. The things I have to do will wait, and no-one I care about is judging me on when I get them done!

The other day I was between one room and another, tidying up, putting washing away; something totally mundane and un-urgent, when I saw a large shaft of sunlight across my bedroom floor. It looked so inviting, our winter is here and it was a bit on the chilly side that morning. I put down whatever I was doing and decided to lie in the sunlight for 5 minutes and do some deep breathing, clear my mind for just those few minutes. I’m not the best at meditation, I start off with great intentions, get my breathing going. I am usually able to push the thoughts along and clear my mind, then I try to pretend that I am not moving into a more comfortable position, extremely like a napping position, then I promptly doze off. So I try to keep meditations short! Taking these 5 minutes to clear my mind, concentrate on my breath, revitalizes me. Gives my body and mind a break from the usual, ordinary and daily stuff. It takes no time to take a momentary break and kick start your self.


It is essential to use any spare moments you can find, here and there, to quieten your mind (even 1 minute for the extra busy people!) let the thoughts roll away, take deep breaths, relax yourself for just a moment, be kind to you...then get back into it. I can highly recommend doing this in a patch of sunlight at this time of year, very warm and cosy, with a nice dose of Vitamin D thrown in!

Surely all of us deserve to treat ourselves this way every day.

suzy x