subject: Managing Family Time [print this page] Today the world works at lightning speedsToday the world works at lightning speeds. Everyone is on the go all the time. We rush to and fro without taking time out to reflect on what matters. This means it's awfully hard to squeeze in some good quality time with the family. Modern families seem to operate at the speed of light. There are so many things to attend to-band practice, doctor's appointments, pizza nights, homework, chores and errands. Time has become a very precious commodity.
To get to the crux of the matter, families need to get in the habit of maintaining carefully planned, tight schedules; otherwise, chaos can and probably will ensue. It's hard to manage ten different schedules-in fact it all can get quite exhausting, but remember you can make it easier on yourself. There's no need to add more pressure to your already hectic life. There are ways to make it work.
Following these simple rules or guidelines will help you out. You'll be able to manage your schedule and your family's schedule without too much fuss. You'll finally be able to relish your time together.
The main thing to remember is to take some time out and do a little planning. That's it.
First thing's first. Get organized by getting a calendar. Use a large paper calendar that your whole family can see, and complement it using online calendars or applications such as Google Calendar. Remember that all busy head executives and business men stay on track by jotting things down, they have planners. You've got to simply get to task.
Use your cell phone or your personal organizer to synch tasks so that you can keep up to date at home or work. Systematically take in all important dates, think sports games, practices, recitals, meetings, doctors appointments, orthodontist check ups, etc. etc. You may even want to color code each activity for easier organization. Don't neglect to write down who, what, when and where.
Plan ahead. You don't want to let some unforeseen complication mess up your entire schedule. You should be able to foresee when your own work and other commitments may end up being heavier than usually. Make up for those times by planning ahead and shifting schedules. Remember to jot down all dates and activities well beforehand so you have time to plan in advance. Also, be sure to consult your calendar in the morning so you don't forget anything.
Try to use your weekends to plan ahead too. Organize your schedule as soon as you can. Look and see where you might need to move things in order to compensate for emergencies or heavy workloads.
Dole out duties. If one parent is in charge of transportation, maybe you could switch things up to better accommodate your schedules. Remember that if need be, you can always look to others; ask family members and friends to lend a helping hand; they'll be glad to help.
Prioritize. Consider what's really important, and what's not as important. Don't schedule too much at once, it will only give you headaches. Remember to let your kids know the importance of having priorities too.
Take time out and remember to smell the roses from time to time.
