Spinning Plates

Do you ever feel like one of those old timey circus plate-spinners?

Lately, I am SO that guy.

I can't stop laughing.

I mean, did you watch the video?





(Waiting.)





No, I am not that guy, but I totally feel like I am running around like a goober trying to keep my plates spinning and not having them all come crashing down.  (I have had a few crashes, but I was not nearly as smiley as that guy when he made mistakes.)

As much as I'd love to unload here and tell you about some of the completely jacked up days and weeks (and more) that I have had this fall.... I won't. I guess. I will, however, share a time-management method I am using so that I don't drop any of my super important plates (or Pyrex bowls).

My method is working for me, for a few reasons  ::

• I like lists. 

• I like hand written, in-pencil lists.

• It's flexible.

• It's super low-tech.  And doesn't need to be pretty.

• It prompts me to think on my important projects and which of those need attention during the week.

• At the end of the week, I can actually see what I did. 

• Dave can also glance at it, if needed, to see what the household is doing that week.  Not that he does, but he totally could, in theory.  (I leave the list on my kitchen counter top.)

And btw, this may be some totally real time-management method out there, and it actually has a name like the GitErDun Technique, I don't know.  It would be nice to think that I invented this method, but really, it is sort of a hybrid of various systems I have used over the years.  Like I said, it's working for me.  

This is how it usually goes down  ::

• Sunday evening, I get this panicked feeling that I have been forgetting to do something and I'd better work on it some time soon.  (Same kind of feeling like the one in my recurring nightmare about missing class for an entire semester then still having to take the final.  And I can't find the class room.  Anyone feel me, y'all?)  This panicked feeling is my reminder to plan my week.

• Then I drag my trusty notebook out.

• I write out the days M-F with plenty of space underneath to make my list, which can be changed throughout the week, in order to be flexible.

• While referencing a master list of long-term projects, I think about the big plates that I am spinning (the master list is so I won't forget any of them), and see if I need to do anything about each project that week.

• If I do, I decide which day it should be attended to, and write it down.  I also check my family calendar on the kitchen wall, and include any appointments on this new list.

The master list, lately.  I'll redo it after the new year.

Oh yeah, have I mentioned I am hard on my notebook?  There is usually some sort of glass ring or coffee splatter or random coloring on the pages.  Oh and also....  I really do prefer paper and pencil for this.  I have tried and tried to use electronic means to manage my time and it just does not work.  I am way more concrete, I guess.  (You wanna be a loser like me.  Now, name that tune!)


This was my week, a couple of weeks ago (why didn't I put the date on it?  no idea).  Ah, and there is the glass ring, nicely centered on Wednesday's activites.

Close ups of that week  ::

[Like my awesome Paint-editing slash scribbling?  I figured my new friend Kim in Dallas wouldn't like her phone number on my blog.  You know, in case my one stalker-reader who lives in Dallas decides to start calling her.  Amy M., you know who are.]

You might notice that each item is brief.  I don't include much as far as explanation on the list.  There is no point.... it only matters if I know what to do with that item.  No need to write out "Family breakfast at Tucker's school at 7:15, bring $4 cash."

This was the first part of the week of Thanksgiving  ::

Notice that I put a short list with a box around it at the top of the page.  This reminds me what I need to be reading (or want to be reading) that week.  Sounds kind of homework-y, doesn't it?  Well, there is some reading I have to just get completed, so it really is homework-y.  In this case, I am reading this super intimidating book called Adoption Parenting and I just really, really need to finish it.  Our home study isn't complete until it's read, so that is motivation enough, but also I just neeeeeed to be done reading it.  It's kind of like the adoption equivalent of What to Expect When You're Expecting.  It has all the stuff that can go wrong with your internationally adopted child.  Nice, huh?  Anyhow, other weeks I might read something frivolous as well as reading material for my beloved discipleship group (henceforth shall be referred to as D-group).  My D-group is also reading One Thousand Gifts, a book not meant to be read quickly, so sometimes I have to remind myself to pick it up to read a couple of chapters.

And finally, a shot of my week, this very week.  Looks like I did nothing today, doesn't it?  Well, it was a nice day of getting a few things done around the house, but I didn't need to list anything since nothing was super pressing.

I don't know why, but for some reason this week I didn't put an "X" next to things as I completed them.  Hmmm... let me look at that.  Well, that's because, now that I look, almost nothing is "complete".... most of those things are works in progress! Oh and to be honest, there are a couple of things I just chose not to do so I wouldn't completely lose it.  But, I usually do like to see "progress" by marking things off the list.  

I've missed my blog.... it's been weeks since I posted.  But, I suppose it is pretty clear why I haven't (see every photo on this post).  Have a great weekend!