Taking Small Steps: Routines
As we gear up for another deployment, I’ve been making a serious effort to really get into a routine. With my Soldier’s schedule so irregular, an 11 month old who has yet to realize there is such a thing as a schedule, and my own organization struggles- we have had ZERO routine lately. Which in my world equals chaos.
My mom always said I was a “creative” child. My teachers always agreed. My brothers said I was scatterbrained. I’m sure my husband agrees more with my brothers.
In general, I’m a very organized person. But that’s because I have to be. If my “stuff” is not highly organized, I’m a wreck because my brain is always spinning- things to do, long term plans, ideas for the house, books I’m reading, recipes I want to try, projects, etc…
Routines ground me, help me focus, keep me going in the right direction.
While my Soldier was off TDY, the Monkey and I found a pretty solid routine that let both of get plenty sleep, most of the housework get done, and I even had some Me time. This week, Soldier is home so we’re figuring out how to maintain that routine with him added to it.
There are a few things that I’ve found really help me:
- My morning is really determined by the night before. If I take the time to pick up the living room, make sure the kitchen is wiped up and all the things I need first thing in the morning are laid out, my day hits the ground running. While I’m a morning person, I tend to forget small things in the morning so having it taken care of the night before just makes things that much easier.
- I eat the same thing for breakfast for a week. Another one of those small things that just take the thinking out of the morning.
- Using my slow cooker at least 4 times a week. Whether it’s the whole dinner or just one component, using my slow cooker to help with dinner usually means that we eat earlier, spend less time in the kitchen and spend more of the evening as a family.
These are not hard and fast rules, just general guidelines that I try to incorporate in order to make the day flow a little smoother.
What’s your trick for making your family’s day flow?
