In previous posts, I have referred to our schedule.  I would like to explain why I feel so strongly about schedules as well as how we design and implement ours.  Schedules are great tools to maintain order in our home and ensure the most important tasks are completed.  They provide a sense of peace for Mom and children alike, as we can know what to expect for the day.

Everything in our created world has a rhythm to it.  Some examples of this are seen in the seasons, night and day, and the tides.  Our bodies too have a rhythm and function more efficiently when we cooperate with these rhythms.  It is amazing the difference this seemingly unrelated change produces.

The idea of a schedule frequently gets bad press but think of a schedule as a friend.   This friend has the job of reminding you what is important to accomplish.  In fact, this is the first step to making a schedule.  Make a list of all the things your day needs to hold.  This is best approached with a lot of prayer, as it is important to spend our time where God desires for us to spend it. 

The next step is to start filling in an excel spreadsheet with your activities.  You can put the time down the left column and the days of the week across the top.  Things might vary from day to day but it is important to keep some core anchors the same.  These would include things such as wake time, bedtime, meals and chores.  It is also a sanity saver to leave white space in your schedule to ensure a bit of margin in your day.  

Here is where some tough choices need to be made.  I have talked to many people who give up at this point due to discouragement.  Something to think about is that you have to make this choice one way or another.  Without a schedule, the choice is made on the fly and perhaps without thinking it through.  Why not make the choice ahead of time so your choices can be bathed in prayer?

Some things I have found helpful:

1)      1)Rank your activities good, better, and best.   Some activities might not be wrong but they might not be the best use of your time.  It is important the “best” things get in that schedule first!

2)      2)Remember it is your schedule.  Some people like to plan things down to the nearest 15 minutes while others prefer a looser format.  Find what works for you.

3)    3)  Schedules work great for children too.  It helps them to know what to expect.   If scheduling is new to your children, go slowly.  It is best to start with the main anchors and stay there until your children are managing them well.  Then you can add things a little at a time.