Spring Reset and Time Management Tips

Hey friends! I thought it would be fun to do a little bit of a brain dump on some organization and time management tips. To disclaim: I do NOT have this all figured out. (Watch me running out the door like a mad thing because I should have left for work five minutes before haha!) Also I know that not all my readers are in my season of life. For those of you who may not know me well, I’m a single gal living at home, with a part-time job and fulltime but somewhat flexible school schedule. Church involvement and time with my family fill most of my extra time.

Soooo…I’m learning as I go and thought it would be fun to share with you all some general thoughts and tips. I would love for this to turn into a conversation—everyone’s mind works differently, and it’d be so fun if you’d share your style of organization/time management in the comments below. Also any of you ladies that are wives and/or moms, feel free to chime in with your tips since I’d love to learn from you.

Anyway—hopefully some of these ideas can be helpful to you!

Using a Planner

For me, this is huge. Typically on a Sunday afternoon/evening, I’ll sit down for a few minutes and plan my week ahead. I put in my work hours, note which classes I’ll be having and when I plan to watch them, and add in any appointments, birthdays, or social/church events. My planner breaks my days into a.m. and p.m., which I love. I like a more flexible type of schedule, so I’ll often put a task in the morning or afternoon without attaching a specific time to it.

I also make goals for each month at the beginning. Scheduling doctor’s appointments, reading goals, things I need to purchase, and of course my new recipe to try each month plus any fun seasonal or new projects all go in that!

I’ve discovered that part of this is a mental game for me. If I prioritize wrongly, I end up overwhelmed and frustrated. On weeks I have a lot of schoolwork, I know that my two main priorities are school and my job. I lower my expectations as to extras. This is especially important around certain times of the month, when you may have less energy. Also, as someone who deals with a lot of fatigue, I’ve found that I run out of juice quickly and it’s better to be realistic than overly ambitious!

For me, once I have written something down I’ll generally remember it, so I don’t even need to consult my planner every day.

Get It All Done Blitz

This is when I have a burst of energy and go to town on my to-do list! Just kidding…kind of. Occasionally it is simply time to stop procrastinating and do all the things. I will usually give myself a time limit (or the limit of a certain number of tasks I need to accomplish). Then I’ll turn on some music or a podcast, which seems to help me focus. It is amazing what you can accomplish in even a short time with some focus and determination. This is often when I do the little things that have been accumulating (dealing with paperwork, random cleaning, mending or stained clothing, making a phone call I’ve been putting off, etc.).

Making a Menu

Writing down a two to four week menu plan has helped us so much. Otherwise, when it hits about four-thirty, I’m often wondering what in the world I’m going to make for supper. I take into consideration what’s in our freezer, who will be home or out on a particular night, and any events of the day when I’m planning our menu with my mom.

It’s flexible and we frequently change meals around. But at least we have an idea of what to make. I also like to add in one to three new meal recipes to try every so often. One important thing—which I tend to miss—is remembering to look at the menu a couple days in advance and take out frozen meat ahead (iykyk)!

Go with the Flow

Sometimes this isn’t possible—you just have to do what you have to do. Still, learn to say “no” or “later” when you need and can.

Again, for us ladies, our energy fluctuates at certain times of the month. For those of us with irregular hormones this can be harder to plan, but if you have a general idea, it’s okay to be easier on yourself when you know you won’t be at your greatest physically.

I’ve found this even with seasons of the year. I need more rest in the winter; my energy is much lower. It’s not always possible, but planning your days with intention to be a bit slower can be helpful. In the summer, I find it much easier to get up earlier and tackle the day. Also, without schoolwork I can be more spontaneous.

Remember that what is most important is the relationships in your life. Your to-do list is not as important as the sibling who needs to talk or the little one who needs a snuggle.

First Things First

For me, church attendance is not an option. If something interferes consistently with my commitment to the Lord’s house, then it must go. I have a whole post about devotional ideas where I go more in depth about ways to have a vibrant devotional life.

Again, I have by no means attained perfection in this area. But I do try to worship the Lord throughout the day and have at least a short time in His word devotionally (for me right now, it’s often at night). As a Bible school student, it’s important to avoid letting my schoolwork substitute for a devotional time; it’s just not the same.

Budgeting and Purchase Planning

I realize this is a very personal topic, and I’m not here to put shame on anyone or say it’s my way or the high way. Proverbs 31 indicates that the virtuous woman was financially intelligent and planned ahead for her family. Now, I do have it simple compared to some of you—I’m not budgeting for an entire family! However, I’m trying to put in place solid financial habits that I can carry with me in the future if the Lord blesses me with a family of my own.

I try to be very aware of where my spending is going. I allot myself a specific budget for spending each week that is much lower than what I’m earning. Giving and expenses such as phone bill, gas and car insurance are separate. Whatever is left goes into savings. I have a separate account where I set aside a portion for gifts and fun spending for others. (This makes it so much easier at Christmas time!)

Personally, I try to use cash when I’m shopping in person. It limits me and makes it much easier to track my spending. Unless I earn extra money on the side, this cash comes out of my personal “fun” spending budget. That budget goes for personal needs/wants like clothing, books, or beauty products.

I also have banking alerts that trigger on my email whenever there’s a credit card transaction (a purchase or refund). This is super helpful in keeping track of my spending most of the time.

All in all, I’ve found it helpful to have a giving/saving mindset rather than a spending mindset. Yes, money is there to spend and I do spend it, but I enjoy planning ahead on my purchases and the anticipation of saving for them. If I know there is a need or want, I’ll plan it ahead within the next paycheck or however many paychecks in the future it can wait. Perhaps I need new shoes for the springtime—-I’ll think about when I want to purchase and how much I’d like to spend on those. When the time is right, I go for the purchase.

One resource I’ve found super helpful for personal finance management is anything by Dave Ramsey. I read his Total Money Makeover book shortly before I started earning a regular paycheck, and it really challenged my views on finances in the best way!

Declutter

If I bring an item in, the item it’s replacing or a similar item usually goes. Especially with clothing, jewelry, craft supplies, or decor. Otherwise I’ll end up with just way too much stuff. If you purge as you go, it’s easier to avoid the huge accumulation and overwhelming declutter job.

(Fun Tip: I love beautiful things. I’ve found that often functional can be pretty at no extra cost except maybe a little time or effort. If you can have both, why not!)

That being said, I do a major declutter/clean in the week between Christmas and New Year. I was so proud of myself for the garbage bags of stuff I cleaned out this past year lol. This is also something you could do seasonally, especially with your closet. If I didn’t wear it in the last season, didn’t miss it, and don’t believe I’ll ever wear it again, out it goes. If it doesn’t fit or it’s worn out—goodbye!

One idea I have tucked away for the future would be to declutter one room at time if I have a whole house to organize. I can get my bedroom done in a day or two, but that’s not feasible for a larger space.

I used to work for an elderly neighbor who was very particular about cleanliness and housekeeping. She’d often quote the cliche, “A place for everything and everything in it’s place.” Hey, there’s truth to it!

Personal Growth and Goals

Do you love learning and growing? Do you have a whole bucket list of things you want to accomplish and learn? There’s no need to wait till you “have the time” or stop just because you are an adult. Sure, you can’t do it all at once and maybe some things are not a good fit in your season of life.

But how about picking one new thing to work on each year? Cake decorating, sourdough, music (even one piece or technique), a book you want to read, writing projects, a Bible study, gardening (again, that could be a specific flower or veggie), volunteering, a new experience…the possibilities are endless. Start small. Maybe you just grow one type of vegetable or flower in a pot this year. Or you pick one local museum you’ve never been to before. Or you write a couple of hundred words a day. Or you try to journal twice a week.

I love to read, and I have a huge list of books I want to enjoy. But realistically, I may only read one chapter of a three-hundred-something page novel a day. That’s okay. Ten minutes before I turn my light out, and slowly but surely I’ll read the whole book.

Well, I’d better stop here. I’d truly love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. My goal in this post is not to make anyone feel less than or inadequate. Let’s learn together and help each other be the best we can be for the Lord and our families! And a reminder to us all: our worth does not come from our accomplishments, but from the One Who loves us unconditionally.

Have a blessed week!

Love,