Productivity Creepin’: My Beautiful Chore List
13 Aug
Nothing like a little productivity creepin’ to start off a Monday morning. I know Mondays have a bad rap but I kind of like them. They are full of promise and usually start before the whole week has gone to shit. Of course it helps if you like your job, which fortunately for Isobel and my troupe of misanthropic cats, I do.
The most important thing I’ve learned since staying home with Isobel is time management. I don’t have a boss looking over my shoulder and telling me how to spend my time. How I choose to spend my time is 100% up to me and if I don’t use it wisely I fall down into one of the several pits of guilt we parents dig for ourselves. I use this list to remind me of how much needs to be done and most importantly when it’s okay to stop.
You might look at this list and think, “Wow, that’s too much cleaning!” but keep in mind a few things: 1. these chores are spread over two people, as Anthony is a willing accomplice 2. when you spend all day at home you make more messes and have to clean up more 3. we don’t accomplish all of them perfectly every week. If you’re looking at this list and thinking, “Wow, that’s not nearly enough cleaning!” then I’m not really sure how you found your way here. Some things I just don’t bother cleaning. Has a family of raccoons moved in? No? We’re good.
How I Use My Chore List
I can’t stick to a rigid schedule to save my life, but at the same time, certain chores a cyclical. Apparently I have to feed the cats every day, twice even, and dinner rolls around each evening whether I’m prepared or not. And I’m embarrassed to tell you the number of times I’ve forgotten to push the trash to the curb for pick up. So you see, I’m not sticking to a chore schedule. The chore schedule sticks to me.
I’ve put a lot of thought into this chore list, and it works for me because I’ve found the right combination of rigid and flexible. I can swap certain tasks around if I need to without the whole thing falling apart and yet it keeps me on track for the things that simply must be done. If you look carefully you’ll find that this is more just a chore list. It’s also a family schedule.
I gave the chores each a different color not only because it’s beautiful but because each color signifies a different category. This list covers household chores, meal planning, small business tasks, fun things to do, stuff I need Anthony to handle, and stuff specific to Isobel.
For example, on Thursday I’ve noted that it’s a perfect day to go to the park and feed the ducks because on other days we have other fun things available to us. I wouldn’t want to go to the park on a day we could go to the flea market or visit Kingston. Those things don’t happen every day. By noting when stuff usually happens I can make the most of our play time so we don’t get bored. When you are at home by yourself with a toddler all day boredom is your enemy. This list reminds me of what’s going on when so I can make the best choices.
I kept a version of this chore list in my binder forever. I hated having it on the fridge because it was, well, ugly. I’m sure you can guess how well that worked for my productivity. I love having it on my fridge now.
Do you have a chore list that you stick to? Am I alone on this?
I try to stick with the Flylady system. When I do, it works great! But as far as lists go, I’m an index card girl. I keep my daily list in the bathroom (weird, I know, but it works for me. I would catch myself going there when I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing anyway) on a little bullitin board I made out of an Ikea frame and some cork board. I made a tiny board for each room so that if there were things specific to that room, it would fit on the card. If there are chores to be done i that room that week, there is an index card on it. If there isn’t, it’s empty. The frames hang near the light switches so that I don’t miss them, and they are painted to match the “decor” in the room. If any. Mostly there isn’t any but I tried to match the “feel” of the room. There’s a master list in my binder.
Ginamonster recently posted..Fluffer-What?
Framing them to match your room sounds like a great idea! I just have the one list because I need things to be as simple as possible. If it’s too much effort to keep track of it, I just won’t do it. I try to maximize on the habits I already have for success.
I know a lot of people love and swear by the Flylady system, though!
Oh goodness. Maybe if my list was that pretty, I’d keep it where I could see it. More often than not I rely heavily on the FlyLady system of things… but then every couple of months I get off track.
That list would help, hugely!
Sarah recently posted..Weekend Update #10
I think the Flylady system is too involved for me. I do daily maintenance, which is something she suggests, but she seems to rely on too much of it for my tastes. I need something simpler.
oh, man. the fiance and i have had A Discussion about keeping a chore list. i try to keep on top of everything, but what usually happens is i end up going nuts on Saturdays trying to scrape a week’s worth of filth off every surface in the house. must do this immediately.
emily @ the happy home recently posted..Peanut Butter & Chocolate Sherbet
Anthony and I have specific chores that we took over, and though we’re happy enough to help each other out in a pinch, discussing a division of labor has saved soooo many fights. I can’t recommend it enough!
I know that catch-up game. Impossible.
I love your chore list (and your fridge)! So pretty—and inviting, even!
I have a chore list, but it’s in my head, which is TERRIBLE for time management. And it makes me feel grouchy and overwhelmed.
Noelle recently posted..Thirty-Nine Weeks
My chore list has totally helped me relax. I give myself permission to change it around as necessary as long as most everything gets done. I don’t have to remember anything, the chore list remembers for me. It’s really changed my SAHM-rhythm.
I get that, I just get a lot of satisfaction from crossing things off my list. And I don’t do ALL the Flylady stuff, just what works for me
Ginamonster recently posted..It might be an addiction, part 2, in the beginning
Yes! That’s the important thing for any chore list or system: sticking to what works for you!