Any time I talk about the daily/weekly schedule that I use, almost without fail, someone will ask about it. I have been a bit hesitant to post it in the past for a couple of reasons…the main one being that it is a bit extensive, and may seem unreasonable to some…But, this is just what works for us, right now. It has changed many times over the last (almost) three years, and I am sure it will change many times in the future!
Disclaimer time:
#1: By posting this, I am not claiming to be super-mommy (domestic diva, Martha Stewart wannabe, etc.)! I do not have this thing down. Don’t believe me? Come on over! On any given day, you may very well find a toy-cluttered living room, an unmade bed, dusty furniture, a basket of laundry waiting to be folded (long after “laundry day†has passed), or dirty dishes in the sink…Hopefully not all on the same day! :) But, by using this schedule, and reevaluating, and adjusting when necessary, I do hope that I am striving to be a good steward of the time and energy that God has given me, while fulfilling the tasks that He has called me to accomplish.
#2: Let’s just get it out of the way…Yes, I do think that everyone should have some sort of daily schedule. (It can be a simple “to-do list†for the day, or something far more complicated and intricate than anything I have come up with!) Good intentions will only go so far. I can talk about my goals and priorities all I want, but if I never have any sort of plan for putting them into action…well, as the old saying goes, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.â€Â But, please remember that this is my schedule. It works for my lifestyle, with my family, and my kid. I am not suggesting that my schedule will work for everyone – it won’t. (But, feel free to use it, play with it, and tweak it to fit your needs if you think it would be helpful!)
So…Here is our (not-so-new, but recently improved) daily/weekly schedule (which I do keep on the refrigerator):
Explanation time:
Basically our “Daily Schedule†and our “Weekly Schedule†are one in the same.  This allows me to see the whole week at a glance. I like to “see†my time, along with what needs to be done each day.  This schedule serves as a basic framework for each day, and accounts for those activities, and tasks that are regular parts of our daily/weekly schedule. It does not include activities that do not always happen on a daily or weekly basis, like play-dates, company, or certain ministry/church events.
I start out by looking at my priorities, and my goals (both long- and short-term) for Hannah and myself. I then factor in certain blocks of time for regular daily tasks, events, or activities. I also plan time for activities that (I believe) help me to intentionally reflect and work towards specific goals or priorities each day. Yes, I scheduled a time for my own personal devotions…I cannot say that my relationship with the Lord is a priority, or that my own spiritual growth is a goal, if I do not consistently do anything to promote that in my life. I also want to be sure to instill in Hannah a love of God’s Word, and to utilize her amazing capacity for memorization at this age. So, we have a short Bible Time, followed by a time of working on a new memory verse/passage each week. Although Hannah no longer naps, I did factor in some time for quiet play (alone) in her room each afternoon…to allow both of us a chance to refresh and unwind for a little while.
Then, I looked at my list of household chores. While somewhat daunting as a whole, it is quite manageable when broken down by room and by task.  There are certain chores that I do each day (mostly basic maintenance or straightening in each room – dishes, sweeping, picking up clutter, etc.), and some that are done once a week (usually more involved tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, or “deep†cleaning). For me, this prevents a “cleaning blitz†in which I attempt to clean the entire house in one day. Been there, done that, and found that it does not work for me! By assigning one specific cleaning task to each day, I avoid “forgetting†about certain tasks…like when I last mopped the kitchen floor. Individually, most of these tasks do not take that long (isn’t that what mom always said?!), so, if (or, when) something unexpected comes up, it is much easier to double up for one day, or even, on occasion, to put it off until the next week (as long as that is not happening every week!).Â
And, Hannah is now getting to an age where she is not only capable of being a genuine help, but also wants to help. So, when I recently overhauled out schedule, I also added notes for myself to remind me to include Hannah in some of “my†chores. Yes, it might be easier to do them on my own. Two small, but eager, helping hands can tend to slow things down a bit. But she is a quick learner, and I love working alongside her! She loves to help sort and put away the laundry (and has recently been helping me transfer clothes from the washer to the dryer!). She is quite capable of helping to empty the trash cans, and is also a great little duster! She is also responsible for putting away her toys before moving on to another activity, and putting her pajamas/clothes away when she gets ready for bed, or dressed in the morning (either back in the drawer, or in the laundry basket).Â
Maybe this schedule seems a bit too complicated or involved. And, maybe it is. That’s okay. This is what works for us…find what works for you, and use that.  This is a tool that helps me to be accountable for my time and energy, ensuring that I am using it to reflect my priorities and accomplish what God has called me to do.Â
Proverbs 31:27 says “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.â€Â I love how Lisa Tatlock and Pat Ennis close out their chapter on Home Management:
“While the world often does not value the sacrifice of women who choose to work at home, Scripture is clear; a Wise Woman is one who ‘builds her house’ (Proverbs 14:1; 24:3). Part of building your home is to practice careful management, effective planning, and wise decision making. It is a privilege to be given the responsibility of caring for the daily needs of a family and home.†(pg. 139, Becoming a Woman Who Pleases God)
It is a privilege…