I’ve received a bunch of comment requests for an update on how we’re doing when it comes to finding the ever-elusive work/life balance that we’ve publicly proclaimed that we want to get a handle on this year (we never aspired to work nights, weekends, and even on vacation – and we only have ourselves to blame).
So we thought it was a fun subject to tackle while we’re working away on the front porch (can’t wait to share an update for you guys tomorrow!). The scallops are a-tumbling down and the columns are getting boxed in.
But back to the whole work/life balance battle. The first step in the not-working-every-second-of-every-day thing for us was definitely acknowledging the problem (it has definitely been harder for us to shut things off now that both of our jobs revolve around a 24/7 internet, and our laptops are only a room or two away). Then we just started chatting about it to the world at large (nothing lights a fire under your butt like a public proclamation). So we mentioned it here, here, and even here in this BBC video:
And now that we’ve been working on it for the last four months or so, with some noticeable progress, I thought I’d share a few things that seem to be helping us get more done in less time (we still have a ways to go considering that we still work three weekends out of four, but we’re moving in the right direction).
- Writing out a specific list of things that need to be accomplished and circling the top five priorities, then working towards completing those first. Prioritizing is helpful to me because it I can resist the urge to check smaller things off the list since they’re easier, which isn’t efficient if the bigger tasks are more important or time sensitive (I’m just stalling if I’m putting small easy things in front of the big important things that have to be done anyway).
- Being satisfied when we each complete the five most important items of the day on our list. It usually takes us all day to get to that point thanks to switching off on caring for Clara, but once we finish them we have to resist the urge to add five more things to the list and work until 1am. Instead we’re trying to be satisfied and allow ourselves some non-work time in the evening when we can. It feels weird to cut ourselves off – but it’s so good for us to step. away. from. the. laptop.
- Cutting down on inbox clutter. John and I receive about 200 emails a day (it’s a pretty even split since we divide and conquer when it comes to managing ads, giveaways, and inquiries in general) but I noticed that around 30% of those emails are junk mail, so I took ten minutes one morning to unsubscribe to those daily offenders. Turns out it’s a lot nicer to wake up to emails in the double digits (even if there are 72 in my inbox by 8am) than triple digits (ex: 145 the first time I check my email) – so I’ll take it. We’ve also been using the canned message function in gmail to help us handle certain emails more efficiently (sure beats writing up the same info every time).
- Stepping down to seven posts a week instead of eight. This has actually really helped since we implemented it after mentioning it here. Even though it doesn’t sound like it should make much of a difference (it’s just one less post a week), it adds up to 52 fewer posts a year – which means that now one week night or even a whole Saturday may get to be spent doing something fun as a family instead of scrambling to maintain our old eight-posts-in-five-days pace.
- Being realistic. This year one of our resolutions is to remember that we’re only two people. Two highly dedicated folks who love what we do, but two people who can’t do the work of ten people, no matter how hard we try. So we just have to do our best and accept that projects could always be bigger and posts could always have more pictures but we can’t beat ourselves up about doing things as thoroughly as we can manage and then pressing “publish.” Especially when we’re churning out around 30 posts a month (which means that noodling one project or post too much can actually rob time from other things on the agenda).
And while John and I are very much a work in progress on this subject, my friends and relatives are all much smarter than we are (most of them work regular hours and spend every night, weekend, and vacation without being connected to a computer). Can you imagine?! It’s the most romantic notion, and we’re desperate to get in on that action someday. So I decided to text them all one simple question and see if they had any advice. The question? “How do you work smarter, and not harder?” Here’s what they all had to say:
Emily, a senior booking agent, mother of three (and John’s sister) says: Realistically I work smarter by asking for help and having a support network of friends. I literally spend hours in a car shuttling kids and can’t be in more than one place. So a very organized network of carpoolers is my lifeline. I realize and accept that there’s no possible way for me to do it alone. I also work smarter by having my older kids (ages 12 and 14) do their own laundry and put it away. They make their own lunches too. That old saying “don’t do for your kids what they can do for themselves” definitely contributes to our household running more smoothly.
Cat, a mother of two says: I put things away as I find them. Everything has its place. I designate a time each day to take a laundry basket and carry it floor to floor to put things away. I like to give myself a deadline like ten minutes to see how much I can get done. I read something once that said “Where does a fork go in your house? In the utensil holder in the utensil drawer in the kitchen. Make everything a fork. Everything needs a spot.” It really resonated with me. Oh and I don’t do auto pay on any bills because I like to look them over and make sure I’m not getting hosed, but I pay them immediately upon receipt. I’ve often found overages I would’ve missed if I signed up for auto-pay that way.
Roo, a mother of three and humor blogger says: I use canned responses in Gmail along with a lot of helpful labs in Gmail. And I like the send + archive button (here’s a post with more of her tips).
Noah, an artist, author, and brand new father says: I try to maintain inbox zero as a way to not let email be my to-do list. So I immediately respond to short emails, especially at the start and end of my workday. I think of it as hitting the tennis ball back across the net, “pok, your turn.” Sometimes I’ll quit my email program or cover the notification bar during the middle of my work day when I don’t want to be distracted. I also unsubscribe from mailing lists and have an auto response for messages that only need a stock response. I also separate personal and work email so I’m not distracted by the other when I’m at/away from work.
Katie, a blogger and mother of two says: For blogging, I think batch editing, grouping like projects together (spray painting ten things instead of just one), and writing out a post to-do list helps. I also like to upload all of the photos for five different posts in one day and then write the narration for one of them each evening that follows. I also have set times for comment-reading and post-writing that coincide with sleep times or independent play time for my children. I also like to plan out a morning craft or activity the night before so if I stay up late working I don’t rob the kids of something fun in the morning. Oh and I use a crock pot a lot, and always have shredded chicken on hand for quick meals.
Kristin, a freelance copywriter says: My calendar is my boss. I plan ahead, and live/die by it. I put workouts on there so time is scheduled in, along with lunch dates, deadlines, and whatever I’m going to work on each day. That way, I see my day, know what needs to be done, and feel good checking things off. You can easily work harder if you just fill your calendar with stuff until you’re not sleeping, but I don’t do that. I need a break. I also never ever EVER work on Saturday. Saturday is my day. No exceptions. Also, I like a glass of wine after a long day. It unwinds me ;)
Megan, a senior marketing director says: Efficiency and technology. Develop strategic systems and plans the first time you do something so that the next time you attempt it the path is already laid out for you. Evaluate the process a few times a year to allow for evolution and refinement. And if a computer can process something faster than you can, let it or learn how to let it.
Dan, a chemist (and my push-up loving brother) says: Multitask so there’s not a minute wasted. Like brush your teeth while you shower or watch a TV show and do pushups during the commercials.
Dusty, a full time quality improvement manager, mother, and blogger says: If you’re doing something you love, it won’t matter how hard you have to work to get there. The smartest people know this, and choose their tasks accordingly. And if its a job you hate to do, but it still has to get done (like cleaning the bathroom, prepping taxes, proofreading) it’s not a crime to outsource those to save precious time that could be better spent doing something else.
Heather, an advertising art supervisor and mother says: All of the following things seem to help me make my day go smoother and cut out inefficiencies: being prepared, doing research, hiring the right people with the correct skill set, making a plan, making a list, asking questions, thinking ahead, and preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
Nicole, a blogger and mother of two says: I had to work more efficiently when I became a mom because I had less time (and desire) to work. I use canned email responses for pitches that aren’t a good fit. I try to get a little more done at night if I want to have a mid-week day off, and I started saving drafts in my WordPress admin with ideas for future posts. They could just be a title or a few links but they’re great for keeping me on track when I’m stuck and I don’t forget topics that I want to cover. I also have a secret Pinterest board (“Things To Blog About”) to visually bookmark ideas.
Lisa, operations director and mother of two says: It’s got to be technology. Keeping to-do lists, reminders, and calendars on my iPhone helps me get things done and get my family where they need to be. Menu planning also saves me a lot of time.
Diana, a trial attorney of thirty years (and my mom) says: The key to efficiency for me is identifying what I want to do, mapping out specific and realistic tasks that will lead to accomplishing it, and completing those tasks without distraction. I find that multitasking is usually too chaotic for me, so focusing on one task at a time leads to a better personal result.
Isn’t it interesting how something that works for someone (my brother loves multitasking) doesn’t work for another (my mom loves focusing on one task at a time – which is usually the best approach for me – so I guess I’m my mother’s daughter). And now, since I’m convinced you guys have secrets of your own, let’s pretend I just texted you the “how do you work smarter, not harder?” question. Any tips or tricks out there that work for you?
Update – Some of the most frequent requests that we get are for info about professionally blogging (how we made our site, how we grew our following, how we make money, etc) so we shared all of the details about how we started a blog, grew our traffic, and turned it into a full time job.
Tina says
With an ADD brain, list making is the only way to get things done. But I keep it simple (One sticky note on my desk at work, one super-sticky note on my wallet.) because if I planned to have a super organized notebook o’ things to do I would spend all my time organizing said notebook and not actully doing the things I need to get done.
LYNN SOMERS says
Great post, I’ll use some of these ideas. I’m a part-time professor and mother of two (special needs) kids, so I’m the point-person for everything that happens in our home. I live and die by iCal – my calendar is synced on my iphone, my ipad, and my laptop, so I’m constantly looking at my day(s). Everything is input, and it’s all color coded. “Home” is blue; “Work” is green; one kid is red, another purple, etc. Because I’m very organized and my hubby is not, I discovered the “invite” function in the iPhone’s calendar. I invite him to all the appointments/activities that apply to him and our kids, so he can never say he “forgot” about something. I duplicate this calendar on a dry-erase board in the kitchen that my older daughter can read (so she feels a part of this). Because she has executive functioning issues, this is helpful to her.
As far as “turning off” work, I truly believe that you just decide to do it. Of course sometimes I need to grade papers or write lectures on a Sunday because the work week was over-full with extra appointments or tasks. But for the most part, I try to work smart (prioritize, stay on schedule), so that I can practice yoga at night (de-stress) and have only family time on the weekend.
Kathy says
I really think Emily has the answer – asking for help. This has never been easy for me, I’ve always thought I could and should be able to do it all–well that’s just not true.
Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. And that often does mean paid help in this world, but also working with other families who also need help. It ends up being not only a blessing to me, but to them as well. So I get emotional benefit from both ends!
Kelly says
For me the biggest lesson after 4+ years of blogging and managing a big household (we have four kids, all school-aged) is to know that there is no answer that will work forever. What worked last year doesn’t work this year. While there are some constants in my life like meal planning, focusing on outsourcing when possible, and making family time a priority how I get there from week to week or year to year changes as my business develops (I’m a blogger and social media consultant), and my family’s needs change. I was most surprised to realize that with all 4 of my kids in school that they need me MORE now than ever before so I take the time off from the second they walk in the door until after dinner.
I recently had to adjust some priorities to deal with my own health and mental well-being. http://www.thecentsiblelife.com/2013/03/prescription-for-happiness-getting-personal/
erin says
right now i’m all about goals, setting a couple goals a week (personal) and project wise. And well i think right now with the warm weather, I’m just MOTIVATED!
but for the most part, I’m just a multi tasker!
Amber says
I think there r some great tips here and uve already started using them:) outsourcing is a great idea! I think having someone help out is gonna be necessary for u guys here soon (if I can be totally honest) u can’t be stressing when the time is right for baby #2… Check around find a housekeeper who can help with cleaning laundry and simple household task like mowing. I think even blog stuff could start to be outsourced. An assistant could work with all ur ad ppl and prepare all ur giveaways so that u dont have to. they could even help with emails and editing posts. Btw if u hire an assistant I wanna be it:) hope I’m not overstepping or being too blunt… I hope u fund the balance ur looking for:)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Amber! We like to keep things simple, so instead of hiring a bunch of people to manage we’d like to keep this blog as it always has been (just us sharing our trials and triumphs in DIY-diary-form). My mom always says “things are as complicated as you make them” so by choosing to use auto responses to the crazy amount of emails that we get and keeping the blog completely written and designed and managed by us, it actually feels less complicated than outsourcing things. Besides, we’re do it yourselfers… so you know we like to do it ourselves! Haha!
xo
s
Crystal says
Great post and great insight! I get asked this a bit as I am married with two young kids, work full time, blog, volunteer at my daughters school, etc.
I’m definitely a list maker and prioritizer. By focusing on the top must-do’s and letting the other, less important things slide if need be, I’m able to accomplish the most important things on my list and don’t sweat the small things that don’t get done.
However, I think the most important thing, I’ve realize as I’ve gotten older and wiser/less dumb, is that I’ve slowly eliminated as many stessors as possible. When your mind is pre-occupied by stressful people, problems, environments, it’s impossible to focus on the task at hand and truly enjoy yourself. Your thoughts and decisions will ultimately be ruled by those stressors and that’s energy draining.
bryanna says
one of my favorite websites, with a url that is a bit.. er.. adult for how you run your site has one of my favorite tips. It’s unf***yourhabitat.tumblr.com (there are no astricks in the actual url… ) and her biggest thing is NO MARATHONING. you work in either 20/10s or 45/15s (or whatever ratio works best for your situation) and the first number is how long you work with the second number being how long you take a break. people who follow her advice will talk about how many 20/10s it took to say, clean a kitchen or finish a challenging school project or organize seasonal clothing or whatever it is they need to do that feels too daunting. The idea is that breaks will help you continue to do what you are doing because it doesn’t become too much and allows you to do these things again in the future. like with cleaning, a lot of people will let their kitchen get really bad then marathon clean it (no breaks!) and then be too burnt out to clean up for the next couple days… they are stuck back at marathoning again! the work/break cycle keeps you motivated and you can do that even for daily chores.
YoungHouseLove says
Love all these tips guys! So much fun to read through :)
xo
s
Kristin says
One bit of advice that a coworker gave me before I had my daughter: “If you ignore the to-do list for a few days, amazingly half of the things will disappear.” And do you know what? It’s true! I think it is just another way of prioritizing.
For instance, now that I’m working two jobs and pregnant with my second, a lot of the things I used to think were required of me aren’t necessarily things I want to waste my precious time doing. It used to be much more important to me to volunteer with local clubs and charities, grow vegetables, make birthday gifts, etc. I’m sure I might get to that point again in my life, but for right now, it is okay to just say no!
christina @ homemade ocean says
What a fantastic post! I love love love that you gathered a lot of other advice too :)
I am printing this whole post out and wallpapering my office walls with it…tres chic no?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, sounds very avant garde.
xo
s
Andrea says
Last summer I discovered David Allen’s book “Getting things done” and it has really changed how stressed I feel (or, should I say, don’t feel!) about both my work and life. His process shows you how to gather up everything that has meaning to you, process it into action steps or other categories of things you want to remember, organize it all into a system that makes sense to you, and review it as often as you need to to feel on top of everything. I am more relaxed, which allows me to focus better on the stuff I need to do. And I’ve found that it’s helped me get perspective on the big things that really matter to me (like spending quality time with my family) and make those tasks a priority. For a list-making, organizing nerd like me, it’s amazing!
Rebecca says
This post is great and I love tips for working smarter, totally useful for everyone. However (and please forgive me if I’m overstepping, but I’m just trying to understand what you’re aiming for), it seems like to achieve the work/life balance you’re striving for, then you both have to work just part time. If one person is with Clara all day, and the other person is working, and you don’t want to work nights and weekends, then you’ve essentially got one stay at home parent and one working parent (even though you split both duties) – which is fantastic, but for most people that’s not a possibility. It’ll be amazing if you all are able to achieve that! Talk about living the dream. :) I love all the tips, and love that you reached out to lots of moms to get a variety of ideas.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, in order to never work any nights or weekends or vacations we couldn’t both be full time bloggers (because we get 90% of our projects done at night when Clara sleeps) but the goal is just to find balance for us, which is maybe working 4 nights a week and taking 3 evenings to just sit on the sofa and relax or read :)
xo
s
Sheryn says
One thing I find very helpful in getting stuff done is to make chores more enjoyable by listening to a good podcast. Same thing as being on the phone with my mom… I’m always amazed by how much I get done.
Kristin says
I’ve made it a point to not take work home with me or answer late night/weekend e-mails. While they are pretty infrequent, my time outside of work is invaluable to me and between house projects, training for marathons, and blog maintenance, I can only focus on work during work hours. Also, I’ve been better at saying “no” to people which I think is normally more difficult for women because we want to please everybody. I’ve cut back on more time intensive local volunteering projects to make time for the things that need my most immediate attention. While they weren’t stressful, I cna breath a sigh of relief that I’m not leaving anyone in a lurch.
Kay says
I’m a borderline obsessive list maker. I make lists to help me stay on track and lists of my goals and lists of my wants. But I think the biggest advice I can give you, is the same advice my mom gave me. Don’t beat yourself up when something doesn’t get done. If you really want to spend the next hour vegging on the couch watching Real Housewives, do it. You’ll be happier and ready to move on to the next thing on your list.
Kristen | Popcorn on the Stove says
Great post!
I often struggle with trying to get everything done (with commuting, I have 12 hr days and then I get home and spend the next 4-5 hours blogging – needless to say it’s exhausing!) but my planner is a big help because I can plan what I want to write about. I also tackle multiple projects in one day so I’ll have things ready to go (and thankfully, I like crafting so it never really feels like work to me!).
Olivia says
Even though crossing something off of a list is satisfying (and maybe slightly addictive), I think a really important first step is realizing that resting/relaxing is just as crucial for success and health as being productive! If you truly believe this, it makes it easier for this to be a priority (rather than feeling guilty about kicking your feet up sometimes). You could even consider blocking off specific time chunks for resting where you have no set agenda. Even doing absolutely nothing is ok sometimes!
I think it’s great that you two are working on this goal and I hope are able to get even more time away from the job soon.
Erin says
I used to think I was super efficient (my old job preached work smart, not hard) but then I read this article and realized I was doing so many of these counter-productive things. I can multi-task, and I’m decent at it, but my work always, always suffers.
http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/08/13/productivity/
YoungHouseLove says
So interesting!
xo
s
Claudie says
I have a lot of things going on and it does get so overwhelming at times that I get sort of frozen and don’t know where to start (which usually ends up with me deciding to just watch something on Netflix). Since I know I will do that if things get too insane, I make To-Do lists like no one’s business. I find them comforting somehow. That sounds like a strange thing to say, but it’s true. :)
Pamela says
I am still working on learning how to do this at work, but when it comes to stuff at home, I actually find that learning to put off projects that I am not really ready to tackle helps. It sounds counter intuitive – procrastinate to get more done – but by putting some things off, I am better able to focus on the things that need to get done right then. I like to have all of my ducks lined up in a neat little row before I get started on any kind of larger project.
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
Wow! I love this post! What a fun idea to text people that question and learn all the ways people make life less stressful for them. I think it’s great that this is one of your main priorities! Thanks for the update!
Rachel says
A daily planner is what keeps me sane. Without it I would be stressed and disorganized.
Lindsey says
I really take the old adage, “Never put off until tomorrow what you could do today” to heart. Sometimes I’m motivated to clean off my desk, sometimes I’m not–but it still has to get done. So if I feel the urge to do something, even if it wasn’t exactly what I had planned for that chunk of my day and if there isn’t something else that needs to get done RIGHT THAT SECOND, then I just seize that urge and get ‘er done. I always end up thanking myself later, because no one ever complained about a completed task.
Liz says
Thanks for your post! The “top five” on your todo list reminds me of a helpful tip: think of where every task falls on an Important-Urgent matrix.
Take care of “urgent-important” tasks (like paying bills) ASAP, and make sure to prioritize “important-but-not-urgent” tasks (long term projects, special family time, etc.).
The biggest trick for me was learning to identify “urgent-but-unimportant” things (special requests, things that seem cool but aren’t super necessary, etc.). Saying no to these helps me avoid getting suckered into spending time on stuff that ultimately doesn’t fully reinforce the things that are most important and fulfilling for my family.
And obviously try to never spend any time on things that are neither urgent nor important ;)
Jody says
So, when reading your list of things to do today, i read the first line as “Unite Monday’s Post” rather than “Write Monday’s Post”. This made me think though that perhaps “uniting” the Monday post might save a little bit of time? Is there a reason that you can’t combine and have the Fab Freebie be a sub-part of your Monday morning post?
YoungHouseLove says
Hahahah! It doesn’t take too long to write a giveaway (it’s more about arranging it, getting info pics, scheduling, etc) so whether it’s attached to another post or its own post doesn’t really save much time. In fact combined comments would be confusing to pick a winner I think :)
xo
s
Andrea says
LOVE this post – thank you! I read every single day (for several years) and I rarely comment, but I do love posts like this. I know we are all striving to work smarter every single day!
Have a wonderful day!
Andrea
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Andrea! You too!
xo
s
Meg Sylvia says
Great post! I have the problem of being over-ambitious about what I can accomplish in a weekend and always fail to do it all. Will definitely take your advice on list making and prioritizing!
Catherine says
Glad to hear this. I work in theatre which can be life-consuming, people can be very demanding, calling at all hours of the night. I have learned to just not answer emails or calls after 7pm unless I am waiting for something urgent. My dinner, my dogs dinner, my evenings are most likely more important, LOL. In your case, you actually need to be switching off and enjoying life, do your project s, have fun with Clara…because your blog will ultimately benefit from the riches of that. Win win.
Traci C says
This is a great post! I lived by myself for a long time, so I never really had to worry about cleaning and cooking and picking up after others. In the last two years I met someone, got married, and had a baby…my life/organization/routines has been turned upside down! I am always looking for tips to stay organized and not feel like I’m constantly running around. I love Katie’s tip about keeping shredded chicken on hand at all times. I’ll be using that one.
Lotte says
Good for you for working on your balance goal! You know, I’m pretty sure that most of us readers wouldn’t mind at all if you scaled back the number of posts to one a day (5 a week). We would still happily come back to your blog and be happy for the extra time you guys get to spend together with Clara, Burger and maybe another kiddo in the future.
Heather says
Scaling back posts also means scaling back readership/page views, which results in lower revenues no matter how you look at it. There is a sweet spot where more posts won’t mean more income, but it’s a lot higher than the 5 real-meaty posts a week they have right now.
Carrie says
I schedule EVERYTHING on my to do list. Not a specific minute by minute, but I put it in the “before taking M to preschool” part of my day or “during nap time” category. I also prioritize my to do list with a top 3 just like you!
Something else that lights a fire under my bootwah is setting timers. I’ll play with my girls and tell them, we’ll play 20 minutes, then I’ve got to do some laundry for 20 minutes. They know what to expect when the timer goes off and I’m able to fully commit that time to them, no housework distractions! Then during my 20 minutes I do the one main task I planned for (like laundry) and use any extra time for other chores. For some reason, knowing that there is a time limit helps me to work more quickly without getting distracted by email or texts or another job around the house. I think I feel like that 20 minutes is my finite time for that job and it feels SO good to get it done before I hear the “ding.” But if I don’t, I let it go. I made progress on my task and now it’s back to time with my girls. The best parts of my day!
MJB says
I work at home most of the week, so it’s hard to call it quitting time. It’s too easy for work to consume my life. Here’s what I (try to) do.
* Designate two full days as work free. TWO.
* Track my hours so I know how much I’m really working. Because I have flexible hours, I can drive a carpool or attend a school play in the middle of the day. Awesome, but I would tend to work more to make up for that lost time, when really I still put in well over my # of paid hours per week. (I’m part-time.)
* Work in chunks of time then reward myself with a short break. Take a 15-minute walk when a blog post is done. Read an inspiring blog (like this)during a break.
* Learn to say NO to good things to leave room for great things. This is the hardest.
* EVERYONE in the house needs to help with the house in age appropriate ways. Little kids can set the table or match socks. Bigger kids can take out garbage or do dishes, etc.
* Set REGULAR social time. I miss the days when I could call up friends and go out that same night. Spontaneity is a thing of the past, because every parent has to consult her calendar, figure out childcare/nursing schedule… it would literally take days of back and forth to figure out a time to get together. No more. My friends and I get together the third Thursday of the month no matter what. Also, plan on a regular date night (every Saturday) with your husband. Even if you watch a DVD together after the kids go to bed…
Jena says
I love the idea to do a secret Pinterest board for posts to write, and I’m totally stealing that idea!
I definitely struggle with the the whole work/life balance. Between working full time and blogging, I’m always blogging and DIYing after the 9-5 hours. I have no problem leaving my 9-5 job at 5, lol, but blogging definitely consumes the rest of my free time. But I love it and it’s the most fun hobby I could imagine :).
Amanda says
I really love this post. Lots of good tips. I’m a list maker – everything from personal to business gets listed and priorities are set. I also really like your mom’s suggestion about setting specific tasks to achieve the bigger ones. It all helps to keep me focused.
Caitlin Wallace says
I’m finishing up my last semester of college, so most of my time is eaten away with homework and projects that I have no choice but to do. They aren’t all fun, but I keep reminding myself of how great it will be once I finish them. Sometimes the thrill of having that task behind me is enough to get me to finish it. Since I don’t have a lot of extra time for myself, I try doing little things to save time. For instance, I love to cook and my husband and I try to eat really healthy, but on weeknights I don’t always have the extra time to make a big meal. Lately, every Sunday I’ve been making a big pot roast. That will be our big meal that day, then I can use the leftover roast meat to have leftovers the next day or use it to make beef stroganoff, beef stew, roast beef sandwiches, etc. during the beginning of the week. I’m still getting to cook and eat homemade meals, but they are much simpler during the week since the bulk of the cooking was done on Sunday (in the oven while I was at home doing other things). I also don’t usually get enough sleep during the week since I’m up late doing homework, so on Saturdays I have a rule to not set an alarm, that way I have a more relaxing morning and get to catch up on some sleep. Just little things, but I’ve noticed that they’ve been a big help! :)
Heather says
My crockpot was my savior in college. I cannot stand to eat the same meal a few times a week, and I have appetite issues anyway, so I would make a batch of soup and freeze the leftovers, then reheat leftovers from a different week for another meal. Also casseroles. I seemed to sometimes have time to cook dinner but never at dinner time, so I’d make a casserole earlier in the day or even the night before, and be able to throw it in the oven while I did homework or whatever. Or to have my boyfriend put it in while I was at work/class and have it ready when I got home. Also, having oatmeal hot and ready to eat the moment I woke up was a wonderful thing when I had class at 7am.
Kathy says
Can I say one more thing?;) I also have learned it’s important not to have “conflicting goals”, so I am always on the lookout for two/ormore things (goals, or just wants) that are in direct conflict with each other. Trying to make opposing goals happen will drive you nuts. Got to pick one. Ok, I’m done. Off to eat some donuts and complain about not losing weight ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Smart!
xo
s
Kate says
Thanks for sharing all these great tips!
Kelly S says
I think the difficulty that you guys have is that blogging, especially DIY/decorating blogging isn’t a 9-5 job so it’s never going to fit the mold. Since it’s your only source of income you have to do what it takes to make the money to support your family OR quit and get 9-5 jobs.
I know it’s hard! I work a full time job (9-5), have a part time photography business, my hubs works a full time 9-5 and is in the national guard. Plus our daughter plays 2 sports & we are on the PTO board at her school. We run non-stop BUT – that is the way I like it. Outside of work we are almost always together as a family even if it is at a practice or game or a family night at school.
Everyone just has to decide what works best for them. My motto is make our life work for our family even if it doesn’t work for others!
Holly Tremblay says
I am a full time work from home online special ed teacher and foster mom (and wife). I work smarter by scheduling time for both work and play…and sticking to it. I have childcare help a couple days a week, and I know those are my days to power through my work to-do list. My “reward” for staying focused on those long 8-hour straight days is to not have to be on my laptop/phone all day on the other days…or nights/weekends/etc.
I also agree with the “hiring out” tip. We pay to have our house deep cleaned every other week, a gardner, childcare for 2 days/week, etc. because I know I can’t do it all and still enjoy life.
I also quit social media (gasp!)…Facebook, Instagram, etc. shortly after we got out kids. I just found I was wasting too much time on those that I could be using to work or be with my kids.
The baby is napping, so it’s time to power though my work emails…I better get to it ;)
Jen says
I have 4 kids (we’re also homeschoolers) and my husband works out of town for a couple of weeks at a time. Working smarter instead of harder seems to be a daily exercise for me. I think the key to working smarter and not harder is knowing who you are. If you can multi-task effectively then do that! If you know you’re easily distracted *raises hand sheepishly* then don’t bother just because it works for someone else! I’m a visual person so I have to see what I need to do. I make lists and prioritize those activities. I have spiral bound notebooks that I keep all kinds of lists in–daily tasks, household projects, lesson plans for the week, bill due dates, etc. and this household runs on those lists. I use the timer a lot so that I don’t get bogged down in the little stuff. I also make cakes as a hobby and I schedule every detail so that I can make sure I not only remember to do the cake but also the steps that go into planning and can arrange for help with the kids. Oh, and I make coffee the night before so that all I have to do in the morning is turn it on. If I want to do the “talking in coherent sentences” thing, the coffee is a must. ;-)
Bonnie says
I keep ongoing lists. Things get added and deleted continuously. Usually, I’ll keep one for work, one for routine home tasks, one for home projects, one for groceries and other things we need, etc.
I try to keep the house picked up throughout the week and then every Friday evening or Saturday morning, I’ll set the timer for one hour. I know I can get all of the normal weekly house cleaning stuff done in one hour, if I focus. I almost play a game with myself to race the clock. It works and when I’m done, I’m done. Then it’s family time (or project time) for the rest of the weekend.
Erin says
Youngsters, this post could not have come at a better time for me personally. I have recently changed my posting schedule between two blogs. All this while being mom to three kids under five and taking comedy writing classes on the weekend. I wonder how I am goi g to do it all. I love all your tips as well as everyone else’s. how convenient to have Ll these tips in one place! Thank you so so much!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw I’m so glad!
xo
s
Roxine says
Learn to say “No” — It means recognizing that you can’t do everything even if you want to and prioritizing what’s (who’s) important. You can always say “Sorry, No, I can’t bake 4 dozen cupcakes for the fundraiser, but I’d be glad to cashier for an hour.” Relax when it comes to the small stuff. Does the house need to be vacuumed every day or will twice a week do it ;-) Family/couple time is precious and you’ll never get it back.
Laura H. says
You guys are awesome bloggers and never let me down. You are dependable and reliable and I love that.
I know you are number crunchers and know the impact that skipping a post has on your bottom line, but also know that I’ve stopped reading some of my favorite blogs entirely because I simply could not keep up and the content became quantity vs. quality. I really think you are headed in the right direction, but if you skipped a random post once in awhile as life gets crazier I won’t hold it against you!!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Laura!
xo
s
Heather P. says
I loved this post! As a part-time teacher, I don’t work every day of the week, so it can be hard to make the most of my “days off,” which most people think are days I lounge around in my PJ’s doing nothing…but the reality is that I spend half the day grading papers (which I don’t get paid for…boo), and the other half working on my new blog (which I also don’t get paid for…but that’s okay).
What works for me is to make sure I get out of the PJ’s and turn on some music. I don’t know what it is, but the second the tunes go on, I feel more productive. I also have a pretty solid schedule I try to stick to…though it’s not easy on days like today where it’s sunny and 70+ degrees outside!
Glad to hear you guys are making progress on getting your days organized better to have some time off! I can’t wait to hear how things are going at the end of the year too!
EB says
for me multi-tasking is the way to go – I NEVER waste a trip to the basement family room without a laundry basket on my hip! :) I use an online calendar and follow it faithfully – from planning the weeks meals to scheduling when i need to go b-day present shopping! :) its also about just letting some stuff go – my house is definately NOT picked up during the week. Id rather hang out with the kids after work than clean, even for 10 min. So we all pitch in and spend an hour or two on a weekend day cleaning up. Keeps my stress level down during the week.
That outsourcing comment is interesting – you guys spend a ton of time Ill bet editing and going thru comments – is this something you could consider letting a high school student do for you or I wonder if you could do an “intern-ship” and what that entails? food for thought! good luck finding the right balance for your family!
TJ says
I agree on an intern, but to keep in in-house you could start training Clara now so she’s ready in a few years. ;o)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! And Burger! He’s been living rent free for too long!
xo,
s
Liz says
I find that giving myself a limited time to get something done helps me focus and be more efficient. Example: I will have this spreadsheet done in 20 minutes. It also helps my kids to know exactly when I’ll be available, and how long they have to occupy themselves!
Also, on the super busy days it really helps to have a little pow wow with my husband the night before so we can discuss everything we need to accomplish, and what we need from eachother in order to get everything done. It also helps me not to get super frustrated at him by expecting things from him that he has no idea about :)
You guys should tell your tips! You’re probably far more efficient than most of us!
Brenda says
Eliminating outside distractions is one of the best way I get things done. My office is open Mon-Thur and every other Fri morning. I come in on the closed Friday mornings to answer phones and get a few more hours on my paycheck. I can get more done on those quiet Fri mornings when I’m the only one there than I can sometimes in an entire week.
Another thing that I do to get things done is to just do it. For example, if I have dishes that need to be washed, sometimes I will literally pause a DVD in the middle and just go do it. I’m great at procrastinating, so I try to go with it when I feel an urge to clean or be productive around my apartment.
YoungHouseLove says
Love all the tips guys! Thanks again so much for sharing!
xo
s
Lauren says
I love these type of posts that you sprinkle in occasionally. As for how we work smarter, not harder in this house:
-I’m at home, my husband is in the Navy. I try and do the little things I know he hates while he’s at work, and save the things where I need his muscle for when he gets home. I keep his to-do list for things I truly can’t do myself or that I really hate!
– We split our responsibilities to things that we do better or like more. Big things we do together.
-When it comes to blogging, I love it and it’s my escape. It’s not something I want to stress over. Saving drafts of things I want to write about or have already written and will publish later, helps tremendously.
-We keep a small whiteboard in our living room. It’s not pretty, but it holds our to-do list. A visual reminder is always helpful to me.
Shannon says
If I had 3 wishes, 1 of them would be that you guys stop moderating comments. It takes so much time and that slight delay in comments being posted means the same questions get asked over and over again. Many sites have started using commenting systems where the community moderates itself and can mark things as inappropriate.
I run a site that gets around 300k page views/month (which is a good amount but pales in comparison to your site) and I’m hiring a VA soon. I know you’re all about DIY but there’s something to be said for choosing to spend your time on things that you want to. Let somebody else handle the repetitive stuff while you get more time to go play at the park or catch up on Real Housewives. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, thanks Shannon! I think the most enjoyable part of blogging is joining in on the conversation and truly reading and responding to people. If they take the time to read our posts (and this blog supports our family) the least we can do is read their responses and answer their questions. Heck the comments are a lot of the reason we have been able to DIY non-stop for 5.5 years! People inspire us and motivate us and make us smile. Comments make this feel like we’re not talking at people, we’re talking with them :)
xo
s