I plan out my week, so I know when I will get things done and when I can relax. Every week I plan out when I will clean and what parts of my home I will clean. I also plan out my budget day, date night, meals, grocery day, even laundry day. If one day I don’t get everything done that I had planned, It’s okay, I can just always write it in another day of the week.
Planning out my week gives me flexibility if unexpected things come up. This way I don’t feel anxious or overwhelmed when things don’t go as planned.
My mentor also taught me the importance of combining my work life and personal life into one planner; I used to keep them separate. Ever since I started doing this, it has made my life easier. I am able to see when I have things planned at work, my home, time with daughter and husband, doctors and dentist appointments and when my bills are due all in one place. At first it can be overwhelming seeing everything written down in one place. After a while, you get in the habit of adjusting your schedule if needed and even end up finding time to have “me time.”
Planning out my week has also created a routine that makes my life easier as well as my daughters, since kids love routines.
My daughter used to feel a lot of separation anxiety but since we have this routine, she knows what I am doing and when. When I leave for work I let her know I am leaving, she walks me to the door, gives me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She knows what days I work, when I take her to school, and when I will go out with her. Of course she can’t read my planner, but it’s like she just knows since we repeat the cycle every week. The night before I even tell her what we are doing the next day if there’s any changes, especially before a doctors or dentist appointment.
My husband knows he can just open up my planner if he wants to plan something or needs me to take care of our daughter when he goes out with friends. (We don’t like to get a babysitter for the sake of going out. I always feel so guilty going out and leaving my daughter in the care of someone else. We are lucky that mine and my moms schedule are flipped so someone in the family can watch my daughter while I go to work until my husband gets home a few hours later.) This also helps my husband because if he has any appointments I can write them down in my planner and I can remember to budget for the co-pay if it’s a doctor or dentist so it doesn’t come as a surprise later.
Not every week looks the same, but most of them do.
I hope this helps inspire you to plan out your week!
GExtraordinaire 