Maximizing Productivity: The Key Benefits of Being Organized

I laugh at myself when I think about the subject of this article, as when I was growing up I was everything but a scheduled person. My parents were highly disciplined people who achieved a lot while raising their large family of nine kids, and although I admired them for their tenacity and dedication, it was something I avoided implementing in my own life as I was naturally more of a 'butterfly' my parents would often call me as I had a care-free nature.

I grew out of this phase pretty quickly when I became a teen mom at eighteen years old. I had goals and aspirations that I wanted to pursue, and also the demands of motherhood that I had no choice to embrace. When I made the decision to keep my son, I immediately envisioned the kind of mom I aspired to be, and the image I had in mind was that of my own mom. Her classy and feminine style, her complete devotion to her many kids, the stability of her presence in my childhood home, and the sacrificial way she served her family daily. But what did this all mean concretely? How was I going to become like her?

From the moment my son was born, I felt an instant love and devotion for him, even though I was just a teenager. Being a nurturing mother came naturally to me, as I was fortunate to have received a lot of love from my own mother, despite the imperfections in our relationship. However, adjusting to becoming an early riser and a more scheduled person took some time. Through many trials and errors in my early twenties, I eventually became quite disciplined and skilled in my organizational abilities by my mid-twenties.

I now enjoy planning events, and my husband trusts me to manage our family schedule confidently.

I often reflect on how I got here; how I became such a disciplined lady.

We've grown our family having four daughters in five years, and although it's unfortunate that my husband and I cannot lean on family support for regular help, a positive outcome, is that we are very blessed to have been able to grow together starting at such a young age. We've evolved into two united individuals that work harmoniously together in order to conquer our to-do-list each day, striving to reach our family's goals and aspirations. We do not let the busyness of our family life limit us from having fun together and with our five kids. It's strange because the older we get, the stronger we have become and the more ambitious we feel. Especially since the passing of my dear mother, brother and a few close friends, we have adopted the mindset of truly seizing the day! We are quick to tackle problems together and find solutions so we can truly enjoy life.

You might wonder how we did this and how we continue to do it ?

Here are ten simple methods to enhance your organization, along with the benefits of doing so:

• Schedule clear and strict bedtimes for your kids. I wrote an article last year, " Mama You Too Can Sleep" Mama You Too Can Sleep! which explains how to sleep train your babies as early as six weeks old and the benefits of doing so. Essentially, when you get a a good night's sleep, you will feel energized and focused to tackle your daily to-d0-list the following day. Also have the time to connect with yourself and your husband at the end of each day. Sounds like a dream? It's not, and totally attainable. Read the article, to learn more.

• Establish a consistent bedtime routine for yourself. Although I'm not someone who sleeps in and I wake up early regardless, for the past two years, I've been going to bed between 11 pm and 1 am because my husband and I were going out a lot and also having some amusing dates in and out of the home. Despite the late nights, we managed to complete our list the next day efficiently, but it was painfully exhausting! Why did we put ourselves through that? Since our daughters started attending a private school in the city, my husband and I have been responsible for driving them to and from school each day. Our daughters, my husband and I wake up bright and early at 5:45 am and since our girls have an established 7pm bedtime and my husband and I now go to bed between 9 and 9:30 pm, we feel perfectly fine with it because we get enough rest.

• Hit 3 birds with one stone. Write lists of what you need to purchase, and go to run your errands efficiently, adding in a pop in visit to see a friend, and/or book yourself a massage. I don't like to run out the door to go and get just a few items, I will wait until I have a few things I need/want to get and use my time more wisely.

• Write everything down. I am old fashioned in the sense that I have everything written in a planner instead of electronically. I like to buy planners that have each day of the week displayed vertically along with the hours on the left hand side. This allows me to see the flow of my week and allows for more efficient planning, not to overbook and to incorporate restful blocks of time.

  
  

• Plan in advance. I plan everything in advance, and of course I write it down. This allows me to do lot. I rarely get flustered by plans whatever they are as I typically come well prepared as I have scheduled the details ahead of time.

• Never leave finding an outfit for a special occasion to the last minute. I like to shop my closet, because when I come across an outfit that I love at the store at a great price, I purchase it as I know I will wear it. I do the same for my children, leaving me without stress to find the special dress !

• In order to be punctual, I usually leave 10-15 minutes early so that I may account for possible mishaps. I have taken the earlier times that I've set for myself seriously to ensure I arrive on time at my destination. When you're punctual, you can get much done in a day.

• Ensure your gas tank is always at least half full, or keep your electric car fully charged. How often have we found ourselves needing to be somewhere important, only to realize the gas tank needs filling? Then, upon arriving to the gas station, encountering issues with the machine that prevented you from being on time. This situation has happened to everyone, but I am particularly diligent about avoiding it because I strongly dislike when I have been caught in this situation.

• Eat healthy homecooked meals. For this to be possible, make sure your fridge and pantry are always filled with fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks so you can grab whatever is needed to make a nutritious meal. No need for junk in your life. You are what you eat.

• Maintain meal time schedules. For instance, if you know that your dinner time is at 6pm, you know to have dinner prepared before then. Plan your days according to maintain a sense of order for the well-being of your children, as predictability at home ensures your children to feel safe and mentally well when they know what to expect. As well for your own piece of mind and mental health.

These are ten tips to help you get started. I will write a sequel on this subject at another time.

Bottom line, being scheduled and regimented isn't about being harsh or inflexible. Of course, my husband and I do stray away from our organized schedules at times, but overall following a routine allows us to complete the mundane tasks required of raising a family, but also to be able to maximize the time we have to be able to enjoy life to the fullest and use our God-given talents to our greatest potential.

No matter the situation you're facing, it's achievable. If we managed it as very young parents without financial stability, living in a city far from our support network, then anyone can adopt more discipline and organizational strategies in their life to live their life more optimally.

" For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned." Benjamin Franklin