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Smart Mom

School days Make the most of your time. By Maria Bailey and Jennifer ArnoldPublished: August, 2009

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As the first day of school quickly approaches, we may find ourselves daydreaming about all that free time we’ll soon have on our hands. What a luxury! But if we go into our newfound freedom all willy-nilly with no plan of action, it’s likely that 3 p.m. will arrive before you know it. During the school year, busy moms need a time-management plan to make the best use of every second. Here are some ways to help manage your time so that time doesn’t manage you: > Prioritize your days. Instead of making daily to-do lists, make it a weekly ritual on Sunday night to review your calendar for the week ahead. Take a look at what meetings, appointments and other errands and commitments you already have, so that you know where you have pockets of free time. Then make a to-do list for the week and fill in those gaps. > Don’t fall prey to time thieves. Facebook, e-mail, online surfing and phone calls from chatty friends can be fun, but they are also HUGE time wasters. Incorporate these activities as part of your scheduled downtime and consider setting a timer so you don’t lose track of time. > Prepare as much as possible. Take 30 minutes out of each day to think about dinner and tackle what you can in advance. This little action won’t take much time out of your day and will keep you from feeling frazzled and frenzied at dinnertime. Prep the vegetables, make a salad or marinate the meat; when 6 p.m. rolls around, you’ll be psyched that you’ve got a jump-start! If you have an extra 10 to 15 minutes in your day before you head to the bus stop, put the time to good use. Grab your list of five-minute to-do’s and get a move on! That’s the perfect time to prepare snacks for after school, organize the pantry or get the kid’s soccer gear ready for practice. > Just say, “No!” So many women, moms in particular, have a problem with this one. They see white space on their calendars, and before long that space is filled with commitments and meetings that don’t align with long-term goals. Taking on too much adds more pressure and stress to the day, and by the time our kids and husband get home, we’re ready to blow a gasket! Be very protective of your time. With each request for your time, consider whether the item will move you toward these goals. If it doesn’t, just say, “No!” > Refuel. Ultimately, the goal in managing our time during the school day is to use our time wisely, so that we can spend it on what’s important. Set aside a few minutes or more a day to renew your energy. Managing your energy is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. If you don’t take time out of the day for yourself, you can end up feeling exhausted and resentful. Think about how you get your energy.     If you’re an extrovert who gets inspired by being with friends, schedule a lunch or go walking with your gal pals at least once a week. If you’re more of an introvert, take time to journal or do some quiet reflection to restore your sense of well being. Perhaps there’s a hobby you’d like to start up or classes you’ve been dying to take; don’t feel selfish – go for it! However you choose to spend this “me time” is up to you. Just put it on your calendar every day … in ink! BE AN ECO ROOM MOM > Walk, rather than drive, your child to school, or carpool with neighbors as much as you can to cut down on harmful fuel emissions. > Plan “green” events for your school. Schedule a Green Lunch once a month, and post it on the school calendar. Challenge parents to pack their child’s lunch using reusable containers. Make it fun: Hold a contest to see which class creates the least amount of waste! Have a clothing swap, which can also serve as a fundraiser for the school. It’s a great way to encourage families to recycle and put money-saving hand-me-downs to good use. > Talk to your principal about starting a green school newsletter, or con-tribute an Earth-friendly column to an existing news-letter or school Web site. SOLUTION OF THE MONTH: PLAN NOW As the lazy days of summer begin to fade, we can look forward to the comfort of getting our families back on track. To make adjusting to the new routine easier on everyone, start early and ease into it. About two weeks before school starts, move bedtimes and wake times back to the school year schedule. Children need adequate sleep in order to be alert and able to perform their best at school. While it may be tempting to let everyone sleep in on that last day of summer break, getting into the habit now will make their lives and yours a lot easier in the long run. •> Need more Smart Mom solutions? Go to smartmomsolutions.com or listen to Mom Talk Radio: momtalkradio.com.

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