All In A Day's Work

I made a list this morning.

I am the QUEEN of lists.

But this one was different.

I made a list of everything that has to be done every day in order for my house to stay in shape. 

I also broke it down into time increments (how long each chore should take).

It's a lot. 

6.1 hours worth 

(not including breaks or eating). 

And right now, I'm not doing everything on that list. I'm getting lazy and slacking.

But it made me realize something - 

It takes a LOT to make a household run.

But today I realized something else.

I CHOSE this.

I CHOSE to stay home and take care of my children and my home.

Whatever chaos there is around me - 

I CHOSE it.

The Lord teaches us that:  

". . .whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matt. 25:40)

This is a verse that I have to keep posted to remind me of what it's all for.

I pray daily to be a blessing to my husband and my children.

I made this list with the intention of sticking to it every day. 

It's harder than you might think (some of you "Born-Organized" people probably do most of this without thinking).

I urge you, if you haven't already, make a list like this one. Think about everything you have to do to make your home run smoothly. If there's something you're not already doing, start doing it. Start small. As the Fly Lady says - "Take Baby Steps". Add one thing at a time, either day by day or week by week, however you're comfortable, until you're just doing it.

I know you've all been chomping at the bit to see my own list, right?

Well, here it is. Enjoy!

(still haven't figure out how to link a word document into blogger yet. sorry!)

Daily Routine

Early Morning

Make Bed – 1 minute

Dress to shoes, hair, face, teeth – 15 minutes

Swish and Swipe – 2 minutes

Boot Laundry – 5 minutes

Coffee with God - 45 minutes

Prayer/Meditation – 15 minutes

Breakfast

After Breakfast

Unload Dishwasher – 5 minutes

Load Dishwasher – 5 minutes

Counter/Stove - 5 minutes

Reboot Laundry – 7 minutes

Help little ones make their beds – 10 minutes

Break

After Break (Late Morning)

Reboot Laundry – 7 minutes

Fold and put up clean laundry - 15 minutes

10 minute tidy in one child’s room – 10 minutes

Lunch

After Lunch (early Afternoon)

Clean off table, wipe down – 2 minutes

Vacuum floor – 5 minutes

Daily Chore – 20 minutes

Reboot Laundry - 7 minutes

Fold and put up clean laundry – 15 minutes

Fly Lady’s challenge – 15 minutes

Break

After Break (mid-afternoon)

Fold and put up final load of laundry – 15 minutes

Unload dishes (if needed) – 5 minutes

Load dishes (if needed) – 5 minutes

10 minute tidy in other kid’s room – 10 minutes

15 minute declutter – 15 minutes

Break

After Break (early evening)

Start dinner – 45 minutes

Dinner

After Dinner (mid-evening)

 Clean up dishes – 15 minutes

Load dishwasher – 5 minutes

Last counter/stove wipe – 5 minutes

Shine sink – 5 minutes

Kid’s Baths – 30 minutes

Kid’s bed

Grownup Time

Bed Time