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.
Donna says
I completely second Katie B.’s tip on using a crockpot. It is pretty much life-changing!
Aly says
I’m a wedding photographer. I frequently have on my to-do list that I need to edit 100 photos in one day to keep on track. So I force myself to sit down and do it, even when it sounds like a fate worse than death, but offer myself a reward after each 20. Like “okay I’ll take the dog on a quick walk after 20. Then after 20 more Ill get a bowl of ice cream. 20 more and ill take a 10 minute Facebook break.” Things like that. Then I force yaelf to stick to it. It totally works for me. No ice cream until 40 photos are done! Even if it takes tree days.
Jennifer says
I always feel bad about saying how busy I am because aren’t we all busy? But, I realized I take on a lot more than the people around me, at work and at home. I only work part-time, but I’m assigned a full-time patient load for the week. I finally started to speak up and I was surprised that co-workers actually were happy to jump in and help. I did the same thing at home by assigning my kids and husband jobs. I don’t want to say chores because I didn’t want to be responsible for making sure they did them. The kitchen is my husband’s domain and he is completely responsible for it. The kids are completely responsible for the trash and dishes. This means they can reorganize things and make it work for them. That, and making a to do list that’s actually doable for the day has really helped. Otherwise, I’d look at it, get overwhelmed, and do nothing, lol.
mel says
i often avoid posting comments because i know you read them ALL and hate to take more time away from the things you need/want to get done during the day!!
but i wanted to share my one “smarter” tip that i try to use…OHIO…”Only Handle It Once”. i read it somewhere years ago and it really works for me! rather than fold laundry and then stack it back into the basket, i put it away. i unload groceries from the bag to the cabinets, rather than stacking them on the counters. basically, finish one thing 100% before jumping to another or leaving it unfinished.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes I love that tip!
xo
s
Pam Heggie says
I love how you outsourced for the content of today’s post. ;) And seriously, blog one less time a week. Six times is still so much and we’d love you guys just the same. You’ve earned it. Family first! :);
Karyn says
I am the WORST at this!!! It would be SO much easier if I could teach the dog how to clean up after herself. Emily is seriously super woman and every time I am around her kids I am impressed at how great they are. Great post guys!
Felicia says
This post totally resonates with us who are a husband-and-wife small business team. Some of our tips (we’re still learning to “let go”!):
– Don’t be afraid to outsource: We’re OK at website coding but realized that it’s more effective to pay a little for someone to do it. Freelancer.com worked wonders for us.
– Learn to slow down: Does this email need IMMEDIATE an response at 11pm at night, or can it wait till morning?
– Steal time off: Occasionally we’ll pack an impromptu picnic, throw the iPhones in the glovebox and just go sit in the park for a couple of hours to decompress.
– Schedule time off: Our calendars can fill up VERY quickly, so we consciously block off time for vacations/rest if we know we’re coming up on a super hectic phase.
Thank you for all you do: for sharing your home, and your life with us readers. You’re an inspiration not only in decorating, but in the moderate, practical way you lead your lives. We wish you all the best!
Tammie says
You guys are amazing! I truly think you guys need an intern to help do the tedious stuff like giveaways or picture editing or post edits. I think it could be a win win situation. You get the help you need and more time together and the intern gets to put on their résumé the experience of working on a highly successful blog. You can think of it as giving back to your community be getting an intern from the local community college.
Carrie - Worth Pinning says
I guess I blog heavy on the cooking/baking side because I can make something and the result is dinner, dessert, cookies that go to school for a classroom party or a family member’s birthday cake. I also throw in adventure posts- the scenery where we live is meant to be shared and we get good quality outdoor family time.
Angela says
I must say…you guys are dedicated. It amazes me every time I notice a response to a post-because you respond to a lot of them-kudos! As a former journalist…and now living in LA…where people are always “working” on something…I think it’s about priorities. What’s most important? Congrats on all of it…working hard and realizing you also need to play!
Deb says
I am a list person. My life can be in total chaos, but as long as I have a list – with even the smallest, most mundane things on it – I FEEL organized which makes me more focused. Making a list helps me prioritize and I am constantly redoing my lists – at home and at work. There is nothing like that feeling of accomplishment when you can cross something off ;)
Roo // NEON FRESH says
$HER, I love this post. All of these tips are money! I roll more like your mom than your bro – one task at a time.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks boo.
xo
s
Kate says
I once went to an all day seminar on productivity and efficiency. They showed a visual of a large glass container, a bunch of little rocks, and a bunch of big rocks. The glass container is your time, the little rocks are small projects, and the big rocks are big projects. If you pour the little rocks into the container then try to put the big rocks on top, they won’t all fit. But if you put in the big rocks first then pour the little ones on top, the little ones fill in the cracks and crevices left between the big rocks and they all fit.
Point being, schedule in the large tasks and fill the time in between with the little tasks. I’m always so tempted to do the small stuff all at once because it’s easy and quick and provides instant gratification. But it’s not the best use of time. I start everyday by deciding what “big stuff” I’m going to work on, and do little stuff inbetween.
YoungHouseLove says
Such an interesting visual!
xo
s
Liz says
I really, really, really loved this post! I think I put a lot of the same stresses on myself, so this was somewhat eye opening!
Jennie S. says
I learned years ago, after finalizing our first adoption, in order to prioritize my life I needed some long term parameters. From then on I said yes to two things, things that built up our family and things that kept us out of debt. I filter all activities through those lenses.
The things that aren’t choices (like clean socks and meals) I get my daughters to help. They are wonderful about pitching in and helping out! Also, I try to be an early riser – amazing what can get done in those hours before the kids are out of bed!
Jordan says
These are all great ideas — really need to work on implementing more of them.
I’m all about to do lists. At the end of my work day, I always create a to do list of the things I need to accomplish the next day, but my goal is to always try to cross at list two things off my list before I go to sleep. These are generally the easy tasks that don’t take long.
I also clean as I go. While making dinner, I clean up the kitchen. If I’m watching tv, I clean up the living room. I also do a 15 minute pick up of my master bedroom and bathroom before going away. I feel more organized if I go to bed with a clean house.
I’m trying to learn to relax a little bit more. I get, on average, around 500 – 700 emails a month depending on the day. If I didn’t have a “hard-stop” every day, I’d continue working until easily 2:00 in the morning and then turn around and get up at 7:00. I’ve learned to just shut everything down and have time for me. I have a task that needs to be completed every Saturday morning, but after that, I take the rest of the day off. I try not to work any more than around three to four hours on Sunday, but sometimes it’s not an option.
Sarah C says
Great post with tips for everyone to use, but an unexpected takeaway I had was remembering that this blog is your full time job. Seeing your lists, and the discussion from other bloggers, really sheds light on the amount of time and work to produce a successful blog. This is the only one I follow on a daily basis and I don’t have a child or a house to DIY (yet)…but I love learning all this house and life “stuff” for future reference! The effort you two put in to this blog makes it relatable and enjoyable for others, so thank you!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, you’re welcome Sarah!
xo
s
Kate says
I love this post! Lets be real, I tend to love ALL of the posts that show us some behind the scenes of your youngish housey lovely life :) And a HUGE “THANK YOU” for introducing me to http://neonfresh.com/. Holy hilarity I am in love with Roo and can’t stop reading! So much fun :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, she’s so funny, right? Roo’s my boo.
xo
s
Samantha says
You guys rock! I am in college, so I’m trying to enjoy life without having too much of a busy schedule, but I’m learning a lot from this post and the comments attached. It actually kind of makes me excited to have a family and kids and a job to see how I will handle it. Knowing my procrastination level now (for example, I have a writing assignment and I’d like to run, but somehow I’m here) it’s not looking too good, but I’m sure I’ll learn by trial and error as it seems you guys are now! Of course, I’d love to read 10 posts a week, but we all as loyal readers understand you guys have a life and a beautiful daughter, a cutie pup, and each other, to attend to! Im sure you’ll figure out a good schedule that’ll gel with your lives soon, it’s all about finding the shoe that fits! Xoxo
Heather says
I can’t tell you how many times I only got homework done to avoid housework, and how many times I swept my apartment to avoid a project for school. Sometimes it added undue stress, but sometimes it really just felt like it was all going to get done eventually anyway so I might as well do whatever sounded better at the time.
Karen F says
Great post and comments!
I’m definitely still a work-in-progress, but here’s what helps me “work smarter” (some of these things pertain more to life in general than to my actual job):
1) I use an internet calendar app (Cozi) – our entire lives are on there. My husband and I can view it from our computers, phones, etc and always know what’s going on. It’s a lifesaver! I also have a whiteboard 1-week calendar in my kitchen where I update just this week’s appointments where everyone can see them.
2) To do lists – I have a weekly list, and sometimes I break it out into a daily list to stay focused. I have separate lists for home and for work. I tried using an iphone app, but I prefer keeping my home/personal list in a notebook. I also take any important notes in the same notebook (from phone calls, etc) so everything I need is in one spot and chronological.
3) Meal plan for the week/grocery shop on the weekend – I’m not great at this, but it makes things go so much better during the week. I plan out meals for the week, and do a big shop on the weekends for the ingredients. Friday night is always pizza night :) I’m also trying to get better at using the crockpot – even if I just throw some tomato sauce and meatballs in there, it’s one less thing to think about at dinnertime.
4) When I don’t feel like doing something, or absolutely have to get something done, I set a timer for 15 minutes and start working. Usually by the time 15 minutes is over, I’m either finished, or I have enough momentum to keep going. And if I stop after 15 minutes, at least I got something done!
5) Learn to let go of perfectionism – I can’t always take the time to do things perfectly, but sometimes good enough is good enough.
6) A great day starts the night before – I take a few minutes each night to look at the calendar, gather what my family needs for the next day, so we’re not running around frantically in the morning looking for keys, etc
Lastly, I agree with your mom – I am not good at multitasking – I’d rather spend time on one thing and focus – I get flustered when I have too many things going on at once!
Paige says
Seriously….LOVE you guys! LOVE this post so much. I strive for work-life balance every day as a working mom. I know there must be SO many of your readers who can relate. Love how you highlighted other people in your post today too. xo
Katie says
Just think, in a few years Clara will be in school full time. Maybe then you could use your kid free days for projects/blogging and enjoy more family time once she comes home from school.
YoungHouseLove says
Ah yes, but we hope to have at least one more kiddo, so we’re hopeful that there will always be a little one around the house for a nice long time :)
xo
s
Jamie R. says
John and Sherry:
Love this post. It hits home, especially after this past weekend. We found ourselves getting very frustrated at the fact that as full-time working parents of a soon-to-be 1 year old and soon-to-be 3 year old, we find it EXTREMELY difficult to tackle any project. We have high hopes for every weekend to finish up little things like, the baseboards in the kitchen, for example, and well, generally life likes to intervene by way of a sick kid, etc.
BUT, we FINALLY managed to pin down a method that works for us. Instead of overwhelming ourselves with thinking about everything that needs to get done, but have decided that on Saturdays and Sundays we will each set aside ONE HOUR only to work on projects. Whether that’s dedicating an hour entirely to one project or, like me, running up and down stairs getting laundry done and slapping on a coat of spray paint on a frame as I run by the garage, to each his own. This way, one of us can still man the kiddos and the other person is getting shizzle done!! The rest of the weekend is free time!!!!! We realized that a ‘done’ house isn’t worth missing out on precious time with our homie and bean (PS, we call our little girl, Charlie, ‘bean’, too. Well, really it’s ‘bean’, ‘beanie’, ‘beaner’, ‘chuckie bean’…totally off-topic).
Any how, great post! Keep up the fantastic kick a** work, awesome blog post titles and well…just plain rocking!!
Jamie
YoungHouseLove says
I love that Jamie!
xo
s
Susan says
I use the SMART system:
http://www.oma.ku.edu/soar/smartgoals.pdf
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time Specific
Personally, I review my yearly goals on my birthday and make changes as needed.
Home-wise, I am a list maker.
I make a list nightly of what needs to be done the next day, and like you do, prioritize.
Computers do the smallest things first, though, and I follow that lead-knowing that my creative/most productive time of my day is late afternoon, being somewhat of a night owl type.
I also do a basic food menu ( Monday=chicken, Tuesday=vegetarian meal, Wednesday=fish, etc) and that makes cooking/shopping easier for hubby and me.
Same thing with my work wardrobe-I put together five outfits at the beginning of the MONTH, and while accessories can change with seasons, I pretty much wear A on Mondays, B on Tuesdays, etc. Smarter, not harder, right?
Bills are totally automated. Mail is opened over the recycle bin. My inbox is taken care of twice a day-and no more. We DVR everything so we can watch TV the way we want to, and skip those *&^%$ commercials/ads.
While I have everything on my smartphone, I also use an old fashioned desk calendar with color coded items at work ( I teach). I am a very visual learner, and seeing it all in one place-a good overview-works for me.
The hardest thing, I think, is saying “this isn’t working for me the way I’d like it to-” and making a change.
One can do everything-just not at the same time, LOL.
Katie @ Domestiphobia.net says
Well I guess it’s a good thing you’re not your brother’s daughter! Because that would be weird. Ha!
(Wait. How many people already said that?) :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, you’re the first!
xo
s
Jennifer I says
Learn to say no. I have learned that I get too stressed out if I am somewhere every night of the week — church meetings, this volunteer organziation, school wants this…so I really choose things carefully. If an activity that I am “volunteering” to do becomes a source of stress, it has to go. When you don’t have a lot of time, how you spend it is very important. If you know what your priorities are, then it becomes easier to determine if the activity is something you should be spending time on. As a mom and working full time, that means there is not a whole lot that I can do beyond getting the kids to their ONE sport each season. That is ok. My sanity, and our home life, is better for it.
Nickie says
Thank you so much for this post! This is something that I have struggled with for a few years now. I finally came up with a system I call “Treat Yo Self.” I list out my top tasks for the day and if I complete all of them (usually around 4 – 5) I give myself a little treat. Sometimes it’s a bubble bath or a peice of chocolate. If it’s a larger project that I complete over several days, then I treat myself with a movie or pedicure. It feels really good to cross off the big projects and know that I am getting a little reward (I’m very motivated by chocolate and cupcakes)! Thanks again for the awesome post!!
Erica says
That’s a fun idea!! Treat Yo Self!! :)
Carmen says
The things that really help me are making a to-do list and keeping a calendar.
And I really like marking things off the to-do list, so this tip helps me a lot: If something on my to-do list requires several steps to complete, I list them all out or break them up into their seperate bullet points. That way I can mark things off as I go. It gives a greater sense of accomplishment (crossing more things off) and helps me be more thorough with each task. Of course if it’s something really simple/quick that isn’t necessary.
I was forced to read a management book at my first job and that was one of the tips that stuck with me!
Angel says
Duck Tales – Woo Hoo! I love this piece of advice.
Piper says
Your mom is a trial attorney? That’s so cool! Criminals? Law & Order?
YoungHouseLove says
She has done a lot of different things. When she first got her law degree she was a public defender for anyone who couldn’t afford an attorney in Newark NJ (my moms tiny, just 4’11” – so she had to fake the confidence until she made it ;)
xo,
s
Alex says
Eesh, I can’t even imagine all you fine folks “un-plugging” at 5 PM and having NIGHTS & WEEKENDS! I am extremely jealous. I work 3 jobs trying to pay off my student loans, which is just my reality, not a pity party, but every time I have a random day off or night off I can get so much done. I cannot imagine having 5 nights a week and TWO FULL DAYS to take care of my home, be with my family, have me-time, etc. I so, so wish I was one of those people who could just say, “I don’t schedule ANYTHING on Saturday – that’s my day.” I don’t think my loan companies would go for that.
Ugh, someday. Someday, someday, someday. In the meanwhile, this post (or really, the comments) make me want to cry.
Anyway.
Sharon says
Wow, what a topic. I can’t wait to read more comments and get some ideas. I would love to share mine but I am still trying to figure that out myself. It is kind of like the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” It is always changing with me.
Steph says
This post is so helpful. I work crazy hours not scheduled by me (sometimes 2am-12pm, then the next day could be 12-9pm, literally any 8 hr block through out the day!) and have the worst time trying to find time to do things when I’m on such a weird sleeping schedule, or lack of one that all. I sometimes wrote what I plan to do in a few hour blocks at a time. I feel less overwhelmed if I am giving myself enough time to get everything done and I can visualize it. I even schedule free time on there so I don’t dread the day entirely, hah.
Patti says
Unlike a lot of commenters, my job is rather low-key so I don’t have a lot of issues about time management. I do like to write down my ‘to-do’ list rather than use any kind of technology to keep track. I keep a yellow legal pad on my desk and each night before I leave the office I write down what needs to be done the next day or any reminders, etc. At home when I want to get something done, first thing I do is turn off the TV! It’s a total time suck and makes me lazy! Then I do one of two things: put techno music on the house stereo very loud (makes me move) or choose an interesting podcast to listen to over headphones. Then I’m ready!
Mimi @ Irresistible Pets says
Great tips! I too struggle with how to do get it all done. I work from home for both my full-time instructional design job and my currently part-time blogging gig. There are so many distractions at home but you couldn’t pay me enough to go back into an office!
Amanda says
I am a firm believer in outsourcing. I HATE the grocery store especially with two kids so we have everything (diapers, wipes, formula, shampoo, toilet paper, the list could go on!) shipped to us on Amazon. I am a Amazon mom and use Subscribe and Save so saving money, not going to the grocery store and getting it delivered to my doorstep are all wins for me :)
Aurelie says
Hey Guys, Hate to create more work by sending a post (that you amazingly read and respond too!!!) but I just wanted to send a shout out to say I (and obviously many many others) thing you’re doing a fantastic job. I think the key is being able to recognize that work/life balance will always in some ways be a work in progress (I think especially if you have young children). And then do your best to take it on each day at a time. Keep up the great work, your blog is such a highlight for me to check in on each day at my busy job as a family doc (and yes, I do romanticize about you two working from home, and it’s good for me to remember it’s not all perfect on the other side!). And now when I see there’s no new post I think “oh good, I hope they’re doing something fun with Clara or for themselves!”
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Aurelie! This post has been so much fun to read through everyone’s tricks and tips :)
xo,
s
Sayward says
1. Crossing things off to-do lists are a huge motivator for me, and I always set up a reward – like, “after you fold this laundry, you get to sit on the deck with coffee and call your best friend for 15 minutes.” I also respond well to challenges, so I’ll start brewing the coffee and say “ok, try to have all the laundry away by the time this coffee is done, and if you do, you get chocolate too!”
2. No one MAKES me do anything. Knowing I can say “no” is very empowering. If I’m busy or tired, I don’t HAVE to say yes to every social invitation. If I don’t volunteer, it gives someone else a chance to get involved.
3. The Internets have become my butler. I’ve found that a lot of things are cheaper on Amazon than in the store, and I get free shipping so I don’t have to waste time shopping or pay for gas. All my bills come to my email and I pay them immediately. My to-do list is online. I refill my prescriptions online, etc.
4. Efficient shortcuts: While I’m already cooking dinner and have everything out and dirty, I’ll make a giant omelet and some bacon, portion it into single servings, and pop them in the fridge. There’s my breakfast for 3 or 4 days.
5. If it doesn’t get done, it’s not the end of the world. I can have friends over for dinner in my new apartment without every frame hung and every box unpacked. I can pass back essays on Monday even though I promised the kids they’d get them Friday. It’s not the end of the world, and I accept it and don’t dwell on it.
Kim says
Loved reading the tips but man is it exhausting! It just makes me wish Americans took time to slow down and enjoy life more, but all we do is work!
You don’t mention it here, but it also reminded me of how women are these days. We are no longer just taking care of the kids at home–we’re working 40+ hours a week AND coming home to take care of the kids and clean the house. It’s exhausting! I wonder how long we will continue being martyrs before we finally just say “enough is enough” and hire help, stop having kids altogether, or stop working altogether. Something has to stop.
Sorry for the rant. I’ve been reading a lot of stuff from Sheryl Sandberg lately and so I love hearing how women are balancing their careers, their marriages, their kids and their homes.
This is also a good read by my other favorite blogger: http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2013/02/help-is-not-four-letter-word.html. Ya know, in case you have any spare time!
Love you guys and all you do. But we won’t mind if you go on real vacations every year like the rest of us do! :)
Susan says
My husband is finishing up his Ph.D. and is about to embark on a professorship. Academia is a lot like being self-employed. You have to finish your dissertation or publish to get tenure, and it’s up to you how much time you’ll work to get that done. One thing we’re going to try out when he starts his new position is keeping track of vacation leave, just like in a 9-5 job. He’s going to give himself a certain number of vacation days at the beginning of the year, and then he’s going to plan for them, use them, and dock them from his leave balance. We think it will help him with that weird thing that happens where you never feel like you’re working enough but also never feel like you’ve taken a day off.
Megan says
Oh, I live and die by my To Do Lists. I have a separate list for each room of the house for decorating ideas, daily to do lists (i.e. take garbage down to curb, call mom about that thing, dog smells-think about bathing him), weekly to do lists for more time consuming goals, the lists never end and I love how they keep me focused. Without them, I tend to flit from project to project never giving my full attention to one.
Also, not sure if this counts as an organizing task but I’m in the habit of tidying up my great room (kitchen/living room combo) before bed each night. Normally takes 10-15 minutes of putting dishes away, putting recycling in the garage, folding the couch blanket, corraling all the coasters and remotes in one spot, etc. This is the space where my day starts so knowing that it’s already taken care when I wake up makes me all the more ready to start my day and get to checking things off my multiple lists!
Kate M says
I just got hooked on your blog :D and now my to do list in a million miles long…. I have found for me that keeping all my to do lists/reminders in one place really helps. I hate juggling google doc and ical and google calendar and random iphone apps and a planner AND paper lists! It just makes it too hard to remember where I put my reminders, which is certainly NOT working smarter. I have found that using Trello (https://trello.com/) really helps me keep all my ideas/to dos in one place. Its like super lists! definitely worth checking out. But good luck with whatever works for you!
Emily Williams says
This was very helpful, thank you!! The thing I find the most helpful is just to make a plan before doing anything and make lists. Of everything. I have about 18 running lists on my phone (menu for the week, grocery list, target list, lowes list, etc.) Just, uh, make sure your lists sync somewhere. You know, in case your toddler tries to play Monkey Lunchbox and accidentally deletes your grocery list halfway through the store…
Maria says
I’m almost finished reading The Pomodoro Technique Illustrated and I really like the concept! It’s pretty “serious” in terms of how systematic and reflective it is, but I think the concept is solid. It’s a one-thing-at-a-time method with 25-minute iterations. I’m excited to try it as a way of staying focused while writing!
Laura C says
Good for you! Trying to maintain work-life balance is so important. BTW – your brother is hot!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha I won’t tell him that. It’ll make h think those push ups are working. Haha!
xo,
s
Talia says
Some things that help me are:
–Spending some quiet time with God before things get crazy. Then I feel energized to tackle anything.
–Limiting but not eliminating my time wasters (15 min on Pinterest for example)
–Exercise…it gives me more energy for everything else.
–Daily organizational habits (like keeping your sink shined) that I’ve gleaned or adapted from http://www.flylady.net
–Taking one day a week that is completely off and being strict about it.
–Pursuing margin in my life rather than balance (as in, some life phases will have areas of our life that are more weighted than others and that’s okay–just give yourself some breathing room rather than trying to force every area to have exactly the same amount of time and energy spent attending to it at any given time).
Elizabeth says
Thanks for the post and keep working on it! As a mom of 2 with a full time job, I am right there with you. For me when I finally let myself realize that A. You only live once and B. I will never be perfect and that’s ok, (but don’t tell anyone else!) it became a lot easier to let the little things go…. Or drop everything I had planned around the house on a weekend and just play with my kids. As for organization I am a huge list maker and prioritzer. And I like to set limits on my work: for example at x time I will stop working no matter how finished I feel the job is. I think all your fans love you guys no matter what and we all appreciate that you need to live a normal life! Go out and have fun!!
Katy says
Hi guys!
I haven’t read all the 200+ comments to this article, so I hope I’m not repeating anyone. If it’s any consolation, you are one of my favorite blogs because 1) I genuinely like you guys! I like your ideas and humor and I feel like we’ve been friends for years even though I’m just one of your million fans. 2) I love how each post is a surprise, between your projects, letting us in on your family vaca’s, house crashing or just venting… I always enjoy reading the unexpected topic.
Also, my other favorite blogs don’t post nearly half the amount of content that you do everyday, yet I still like to check up on them. Not ever knowing how much time is dedicated to each post that a blogger will invest in, I think it’s awesome that you are balancing/cut back to seven posts a week in favor of family time or just time away from work. You have a great advantage to being your own boss and none of us will know the difference that it makes in your lives behind the scenes. And none of us will see the difference on your blog because your passion will always shine. And even on those days you don’t necessarily feel passionate, it doesn’t matter because you’re naturals at what you do and you have a likable factor that is infectious.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Katy :)
xo,
s
Kelly says
I work a normal office 9-5, so keeping up with everything at home can be pretty tough. Here’s what works for me:
-keep obsessively detailed to-do lists. I write mine down so that I’m not attached to my iPhone at home. Loved your tip about circling the most important!
-test my own endurance. For example, seeing how much I can cross off my to-do list in one night. Or, fitting in one last thing before I crawl into bed. I found that I have so much more time & energy than I think I do.
-never leave a room empty handed. This one is crucial for me. I always leave a room with something that needs to go in another. My apartment stays a little more organized and therefore I am less stressed and can spend more time on other things. This sometimes eliminates marathon cleaning sprees! Only sometimes :)
Melissa says
You guys might find this hilarious. I was doing a random search for a meme on communications professionals and for whatever reason, a meme popped up for stay at home dads in my google search. I looked closer and John is IN THE MEME. I wanted to tell you guys and then I saw the blog topic for today– perfect time. This is a link to the image location– not spammy, I promise :) http://twistedsifter.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/stay-at-home-dad-what-my-friends-think-i-do-what-i-actually-do.jpg
Enjoy!
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha isn’t that funny?!
xo,
s