This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
As a work at home mom, I am really lucky that I don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder.
Some days just don’t go according to plan. Things can get a little sketchy when you are juggling kids, housework and a business.
So a post titled “Should You Get A Raise?” on another WAHM’s blog caught my eye. Beth uses a tactic she calls “minute mapping” to keep her day under control. She says:
I have a chart that starts at 7 Am until 11Pm. It is in 15 min. increments. I map out my day to the minute… I map a shower in and all grooming, breakfast, calls, playing and cleaning… I run my business like I am working for someone else, that’s the mind set that helps me stay on task. Every so often I ask myself if I were working outside the home would my boss give me a raise. If I answer that question with an honest no I rethink my map and get moving!
Personally, not only wouldn’t I be getting a raise – some days I might get fired!
Thanks for the tip, Beth.
Whether you are a stay at home mom, a working outside of the home mom or a work at home mom, getting everything done is always a challenge.
What tips do you have for keeping on task?
Anomama says
I work at home while raising an 11-month-old, and I pretty much have to micromanage to get anything done. The trick is staying flexible enough that when my son decides to have a teething meltdown, I can toss the schedule out the window. That took a lot of practice for me, and I still struggle with it. Mut it’s maintaining that balance between tight schedule and no schedule that you have to get a handle on. Using both sides of the old noggin at once!
Nell T. says
I enjoy the freedom working from home brings me. I do not schedule. I grab time as I get it. I’ll probably do better with schedules once the kids are in school and I know I have a certain amount of time each day to work before they get home. But right now they are both under 3 and I have to grab time when I get it.
Susan says
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who is not excited about scheduling her day down to the minute. I am often jealous of organized, schedule-keeping women, since I cannot seem to stick to any schedule.
I am trying to get more schedule into my life, but it is really hard for me to do. I just hate writing out lists, but I know I need to start.
In my former life as a software developer and business consultant, we were supposed to track our time down to the 15 minute intervals and record it in our daytimers. We were supposed to have it down to the 15 minutes in case our time was ever questioned by the client and we had to prove our work in court. I used to always end up at the end of the day trying to remember how I spent the day and filling in my schedule after the fact. As the years went on, i got more and more slack about filling in my daytimer. Luckily, I never had to go to court. (And, no, I didn’t get fired. Thank goodness.)
Lauren says
Ummm, no thank you!
Sandra says
I don’t map everything out to a tee, but I do stick to a schedule, it’s the only way to keep order in my house.
Having the kids in bed everyday at the same time means that I can then have those extra hours at night to either read the bible, or a book, or put away some laundry or watch tv etc.
It’s a gift I give myself. If I can keep the family on schedule and in a routine, then I can put in some time for myself 🙂
What better way to ensure that everything runs smoothly at home, than to make sure that I myself feel good?
Diane says
I think I would rebel if I had to write down what I did in 15 minute increments! However, writing down a list of things I would like to get done–is a surebet that I will accomplish the task.
I have been a stay at home mom for more than 25 years–and I have learned to schedule my volunteer comittments, my church involvements, housekeeping (YUK!), and time for after school activities by using daily lists. I also give myself permission from time to time to rearrange the items on the list–should unavoidable situations arise (i.e. illnesses, etc).
Scheduling in lunch with friends, a nap (!!!!) or even an afternoon matinee is essential. Not to mention–scheduling in lunch with hubby! I think too many times, SAHM’s don’t allow themself the flexibility or permission to do things that recharge their energy! And we all know–we need our energy!
No matter how we organize our days–we need to support and encourage one another! It is a pretty valuable job that we do!
Diane
Jeepgirlmom says
I will have to admit I’m in a pretty great job right now with a great boss, but I’ve had my share of pissy jobs and pissy bosses. Honestly, I think that getting along well with your boss and co-workers makes the job a lot easier to handle.
Janice says
Yeah – 15 minute intervals could be a little intense. I am not a scheduler AT ALL! So if I stuck to even a 6 hour interval schedule that would be a feat! LOL
I like to “wing it.” Pretty much I have the basic things like take Jackson to school etc and appointments that are rigid and then a general outline of what I would like to accomplish for work that day and then I just try to make it all work. Some days it does – other not! LOL
Gibee says
UGH! I can’t imagine micro-managing my time like this!!! LOL!!
Jen says
Wow, that sounds familiar! I used to work for a guy who made us write down every single thing we did, on a chart marked out in 15-minute intervals. We even had to sign in and sign out to take a washroom break… we never had the feeling that he trusted the work ethic of his employees, for some reason, and that made it a very unhappy place to work, hard to get inspired to put in that 110 percent effort that comes easier when you’re self-employed… Come to think of it, I did get fired from that job! lol