It is very important that there is consistency and organization in life; without a routine, confusion tends to take over rather quickly. If you want to stay organized and help your family get things done, a routine is essential.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Create a Daily Schedule
Step 1. Set up a spreadsheet with eight columns
This document represents the programming of the week. The first column on the left begins with the time you get up and ends with the one you go to sleep; in the other columns you have to report each day of the week.
- For example, if you get up at 7:00 and go to bed at 23:00, the first box in the first column should say the time: 7:00; continuing in the same column you should progressively list the hours of the day until 23:00.
- You should create a spreadsheet for each family member so that each has a personal pattern to follow.
Step 2. Report fixed times
Proceed with filling in the document and indicate the times when you already have commitments; for example, if your lunch break is from 12:00 to 13:00, write it down on the sheet. Other activities you should write can be:
- Meetings;
- Timetable of lessons and study;
- Time to sleep;
- Time you go to church services;
- Appointments;
- Children's activities;
- Spouse activity you plan to participate in;
- Travel time to get to work;
- Physical activity.
Step 3. Leisure Time Schedule
These are as important as work and study to ensure you have a good quality of life; they have been associated with the health benefits of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Free time also helps reduce stress; for this reason, you must intentionally insert moments of leisure between one commitment and the other already set. Here are some examples of recreational activities:
- Amateur sports;
- Activities at some voluntary association;
- Activities at the local parish;
- Events at local parks and associations.
- Consider including moments of fun with the whole family; you can find tons of activities that meet the needs of all members.
Step 4. Prioritize events and deal with the unexpected
You may have planned everything perfectly and have a last minute unexpected event, or maybe a time could change and collide with another already planned event. Nothing to panic about - remember, life is unpredictable. You will need to learn to prioritize each task by ranking them in order of importance.
Consider whether or not you can postpone an event until later, if it is something important or necessary to you, if there are things you can delegate to someone else, and so on
Step 5. Create a schedule for a whole week
Check if you've set aside enough time for some specific commitments. For example, are you sure that you have calculated exactly the time to get to and from work or do you find that you are often late or that you have to hurry to arrive on time?
Step 6. Make any necessary adjustments
Adjust the original schedule according to the problems you notice as you go, so that the plan is more respectful of reality.
For example, if you find that you are constantly arriving 15 minutes late, you need to change your schedule by adding 20 minutes to the time you have set for the transfer
Method 2 of 4: Create a Morning Routine
Step 1. Determine how many hours you want to sleep
It is important to define your bedtime based on how many hours you need to sleep. One of the most important aspects of maintaining good daily organization is getting up on time every morning. When you wake up late, the rest of the day is affected; however, when you get the right amount of sleep, you are more likely to get up on time. Make sure you define the appropriate bedtime for your children as well.
- Evaluate how many hours you need to sleep to feel well rested in the morning and based on this define the exact time you need to go to bed to be able to achieve this goal. You will have to try several times and go to bed at different times for a few nights to figure out which one is best for your needs.
- Know that most healthy adults should get 7-9 hours of sleep per night, while children need 10-14 hours of sleep, depending on their specific age.
- It may help to start relaxing about half an hour before going to bed. turn off all electronic devices to have some quiet time before bed. This is a great way to go from day activities to sleep.
Step 2. Set the alarm
Many people think that the morning routine starts the morning itself, but that's not entirely true - setting the alarm in the evening helps you get up on time the next morning.
- To avoid pressing the snooze button in the morning, risking not being able to respect the schedule, you should put the alarm away from the bed; by doing so, you are forced to get up to turn it off.
- Alternatively, you can activate several alarms at a distance of 10 minutes from each other, always keeping them away from the bed; in this way, even if you go back to lie down after turning off the first, the second helps you to "stay on track".
- Make sure you set the alarm at an appropriate time to be able to wake the children up on time; you should start calling those who struggle to get up a few minutes early.
Step 3. Plan your morning rituals
Many people follow a specific routine that they love to stick to before they start tackling the rest of the day. Among your rituals you can consider praying, physical activity, meditation, writing a journal or even just spending some quiet time with your loved ones at this time of day. Regardless of what your activities are, be sure to take them into account and write them down in the planning sheet; by inserting them on purpose, you avoid delaying subsequent engagements.
- Enter the time to perform your rituals in a specific space on the floor; give them half an hour, an hour or two hours, according to your needs.
- Morning habits often help clear your mind and increase productivity. A little light exercise increases blood flow and is a quick way to really increase productivity throughout the day. Sometimes, something as simple as stretching can be a part of the physical activity regimen.
Step 4. Use a timer while taking care of personal hygiene
It's easy to lose track of time when showering, doing makeup, getting dressed, or taking care of your body in some other way. However, getting and using a timer can help you stick to your "schedule"; you can buy a cheap one at most home improvement stores or supermarkets.
- Very often, parents take advantage of their children's breakfast time to take a shower; other times, however, they prefer to have breakfast all together.
- Another valid alternative to respect the morning schedule is to wash the night before.
Step 5. Find ways to use your time wisely
Doing multiple tasks at the same time is a great way to keep the family organized. For example, you can think about how to get some chores done while getting ready to go out; involving children and having them help you can also be a good solution. Here are some suggestions:
- Prepare a load of laundry in the washing machine before you leave for work; you can put it in the dryer when you get home.
- If you have a dog, you can ask the children to prepare him for a walk while you shower; for example, they can prepare the leash and poop bags in advance, so that when you finish the shower you can go out immediately with the dog and the children.
- Have older children help younger siblings prepare; a ten-year-old child is able to help one of the kindergarten age; this saves you some time.
Step 6. Eat a healthy breakfast
Food is the "fuel" for the body and should therefore be part of the morning routine. If you have a tendency to skip breakfast, try to understand why. it could be because you are in a hurry and don't have the time or you just don't like breakfast foods. Whatever the reason, try to become aware of it and find a way to incorporate this meal into your daily routine.
- If you don't like breakfast foods, try eating the ones that are usually provided for lunch.
- If you find that you are always in a hurry in the morning, go to bed a little earlier in the evening so you can get up early in the morning.
- If you are not hungry at this time of the day, have at least one snack; remember that food is the substance that provides you with energy and it is important to consume adequate amounts in the morning.
Step 7. Get out of the house on time
This is another important aspect to avoid having to rush; take into account all the stops you need to make. Whether it's leaving your kids in front of the school or stopping for a coffee at the café, you need to have plenty of time to get to your destination on time.
- Figure out how long it takes to get to work, including stops along the way. Take note of the time needed for all the stops during a morning to get an accurate estimate; add 15 minutes to the data you obtained to also take into account any unexpected events or traffic. Arriving late means not respecting the set times and certainly makes you feel less organized.
- Another useful thing is to prepare the necessary material for the day already the night before; this allows you to save time and to be able to leave the house in the morning more quickly.
- The drive to school is a great way to review your test subject, practice spelling, or review math proofs, especially if you've been busy the night before.
Method 3 of 4: Prepare for the Night
Step 1. Prepare your clothes for the next day
Choosing clothes for the next morning, when the kids are busy with their evening hygiene routine, saves you a lot of time. While they're in the bathroom, you can take the time to choose their clothes, so you don't have to hurry up the next morning.
- If the children are still very young, Not leave them alone in the bathroom; on the other hand, if you have an older child, he is able to get his own clothes for the next morning, once the hygiene routine is finished.
- Make sure you have everything you need ready the night before; this also means considering shoes, socks and all accessories, such as hair bands and costume jewelery. Also check that the comb or brush is in place so you don't have to waste time looking for them in the morning.
- Alternatively, you can prepare all clothing, including accessories, for the whole week on Sunday evening.
- Check that coats, caps and gloves are in the designated spaces to be able to wear them on colder days.
Step 2. Have all bags ready
Make sure your bags and backpacks are ready and stowed in place before bed so that the only thing you need to do when you go out in the morning is to pick them up and take them with you. Among the various bags you should prepare consider:
- Backpacks with books;
- Grants for work;
- The night before, you can fill the container for your lunch - as well as those of your spouse and children - with non-perishable foods and add those that spoil easily the following morning, along with the cooler pack.
Step 3. Plan your breakfast in advance
Setting the table for breakfast the night before can help you organize yourself better in the morning; arrange the placemats, cups, bowls, spoons and cereals during the evening, so that everyone can help themselves when they wake up; the only thing left to do in the morning is to prepare the milk and juice. This method is effective if everyone in the family eats grains.
Do a load of dishes in the dishwasher immediately after dinner; by doing so, you ensure that they will be washed and ready to serve before bed
Step 4. Fill out all the school forms during the evening
Doing this in the morning is typically disastrous, as it is quite a long job - you may find yourself filling out forms at the last minute or even forgetting about them altogether. Establish a receptacle for the children to store their forms in as soon as they get home in the afternoon; when they have gone to bed, you can fill out all the forms and put it back in their backpack, so that it is ready the next morning.
Step 5. Create a to-do list each day
It is extremely helpful to have it ready the night before, as it allows you to keep everything well planned. Remember to check your calendar and agenda before making your list so you don't forget anything.
It can be a good idea to hang up a calendar for the whole family to do. Everyone, excluding the youngest children, must make a commitment to write down their future commitments; for example, Lucia has to take care of writing on the calendar the date and time of the next dance recital or basketball match
Method 4 of 4: Establish a Routine for Children with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Step 1. Have a workable daily schedule
Identify the hours in which the child performs individual activities and try to keep the schedule constant every day. When the child and the parents know what to expect, it becomes much easier to stick to a routine. The specific activities you should consider are:
- Time to go to bed, get up and naps;
- Wash;
- Leaving the house to go to school or kindergarten;
- Extracurricular activities;
- Meals;
- Other structured activities.
Step 2. Organize the house
Children with ADHD often have a hard time remembering where they put things; this can be quite a challenge when you are trying to follow a schedule, which is not respected because the child does not remember where he put the lunch box. Make sure you organize your home so that it can store things logically and can find them more easily. For example, he could keep his school backpack in a basket near the exit door or his pens in his desk drawer. Try to arrange things more rationally for the whole family, to make everyone's life easier.
Step 3. Make a homework schedule
Allow the child to complete the tasks in small sessions and allow him to take a break between each. For this purpose, it could be useful to set a timer to help the child respect the various commitments; a schedule proves invaluable for following a routine in carrying out homework.
Define a specific place for the child to do homework and keep school supplies. Remember that every child is different, some may prefer a quiet place to concentrate, while others may need parents to help them do their homework
Step 4. Get used to writing instructions
Use written reminders to help him stay focused with his routine. The instructions should be brief so that they don't become distracting themselves.
Checklists are perfect for helping children with attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome get organized. Try posting one on the exit door, in his room or anywhere else, to help the child remember what to do
Step 5. Praise him very much
When you find that he tries to stick to his daily routine, it is very important that he receives your praise; that way, you motivate him to "stay on track" to the best of his ability. Don't just focus on the details she gets through each day, but acknowledge her commitment as well.
Advice
- At the beginning of each week, preferably on a Sunday evening, spend some time planning the next seven days.
- Hang a chart on the refrigerator on which you have listed the various activities of the children for each day of the week, in order to remember what happens in each day; for example, Luca could have football training on Thursdays and Giulia could have choir rehearsals on Wednesdays.
- Planning meals for the whole week on Sunday is another perfect way to optimize time and keep everything well organized; it's a good technique to make sure you have all the food you need for the rest of the week.
- Get in the habit of establishing specific areas to store the various items you need in the morning (for example, keys, satchel, pet food, and so on).
- Treat yourself to small rewards throughout the day when you realize you've followed your schedule.
- Whenever possible, immediately praise the child for achieving a goal.
