photo credit: jepoirrier
- Fill out paperwork I’ve been putting off (riveting)
- Clean and organize the paper pile that’s been mounding on my desk (exhilarating)
- Scrub the kitchen floor (I adore all the tiny crevices!) and vacuum the carpets
- Clip coupons and throw out expired ones (the least of all these evils)
- Change the litter box (have you ever tried to not breath for 10 minutes?)
My WANT to-do list for today:
- Sew a Christmas pajama top for Chloe
- Sew a dress for Chloe
- Sew Christmas gift bags
- Begin assembling some Christmas projects (sorry … I have to be vague here!)
- Spend more time on my blog (more than just writing a post)
Now, not one thing on my want list is bad at all. They are all productive and valuable tasks with which to occupy my time. However, I spent a large amount of time sewing yesterday, allowing the necessary tasks to accumulate a little more. I spent so much time sewing that I had to whip together a quick, not-so-nutritious meal because I got a little behind. There’s nothing wrong with doing that every once in a while, as long as it doesn’t become a habit. Were I to do the same thing today, my need to-do list would be even worse and more time consuming tomorrow. Necessary tasks don’t diminish; they occasionally remain the same and they frequently get worse the more you put them off. The paper pile is worse today than it was yesterday and the kitchen floor … yuck.
Here’s the point. My want to-do list cannot be accomplished at the expense of my need to-do list. Yeah, I can have a want to-do day here and there but the best management of my time personally is to do a little of each. Some days are more need-to’s and some are more want-to’s, but all in all I keep up with my chores while also investing time into things I enjoy. Please do not misread what I am saying, I have not mastered stay-at-home-mom time management skills by a long shot, but I do know what works for me. I feel most at peace in my home when the necessary things are taken care of, which makes me feel less rushed and guilty about taking time for things I enjoy.
How do you balance what you need to do and what you want to do?
Why I do what I do ~ Today I was lucky enough to witness my daughter attempting to affix her hairbrush to the refrigerator with a refrigerator magnet. It didn’t work 
Have you liked Domestic Cents on Facebook yet?
If you enjoyed this post you may want to subscribe to free updates by RSS feed or Email.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this post. I just found your blog, through make n takes, but I really think i needed to read this! I am having such a hard time with time management! Thank you thank you. Now the reason why i hopped on over was to ask about your hommade hot chocolate recipe…I am planning on doing hot chocolate (and of course Marie’s candycane idea!) but I was just going to buy it…could I get the yummy recipe?!
Thanks!
Nicole
Nicole’s last blog post..Yee-Haw!
Kitty litter. I swam in high school and could actually hold my breath for a very long time. My college roommate had a cat, oh the smell. My dad does the litter box every day, I don’t know how he can do it…
the weakonomist’s last blog post..The “No Interest No Payments” Trick Exposed
I never separate the two, just check them all off when they get done. The way I see it is that it is important to get some “wants” done too
The key is realizing we can’t possibly get everything done every day and being content with that. At least I can’t.
brandisthoughts.com had a great post about being overwhelmed a couple days ago that I loved. http://www.brandisthoughts.com/2008/12/overwhelmed.html
Andrea’s last blog post..Santa or Satan?
Thanks for the link Andrea. I agree with you that there needs to be a little of both in the schedule. It definitely works best that way!