Everyone’s Day Off looks different. It may not be a whole Day Off. It could just be a consecutive collection of hours you spend with no one but you, you, and yourself. This is your Mom’s Day Off.

I love new beginnings. I’m great at planning and organizing the start of something new in my head, but my follow thru game is somewhat lacking. I struggle with time management because I am a procrastinator with very little focus. It took me forever to organize our daughter’s playroom. I’m easily distracted (shiny objects, loud noises, hunger pangs, sudden epiphanies, etc) so keeping up the momentum is a bit challenging. Having Multiple Sclerosis with constant Brain Fog & Fatigue is an additional problem.

However, I am a lover of lists and stickers. So, I created my Mom’s Day off Routine, using the Block Schedule method. I find that most tasks fall under the categories of Family, Home, Self and Work. I assigned each of these categories a color. The colors help me see how much time I was devoting to which group. The lack of purple stickers was a signal that I was not not including myself in my Day’s Off.

Things to Consider First

• Personal Goals – what will make this day a success?
• Your energy – When are you most energetic or tired during the day
• Delegation – Can anything be passed on to anyone else?
• Time Limits. How much time do you have, to the minute, from the time you leave the Drop Off Line until the time you pick your kid(s) up from school/daycare.

Make Your Mom’s Day Off Lists

• Make a checklist of all the things you usually do on your day off
• Then, make a checklist of all the things that you want to get done that day
• Next, make a checklist of all of the things you must get done in order for your Day Off to be a success

Block Schedule Method

Schedule out your entire, available day. This should include meals, appointments, hobbies, self care and yes, even a Nap. Whichever way is good for you, keep a written (Notebook, Wall Calendar) or electronic (Apps) schedule that is easily accessible. I used an appointment planner that uses the hourly system.

• First, Block off already scheduled/recurrent obligations so that you can immediately see what’s still available to choose from.
• Don’t forget to schedule in self-care tasks and time to reconnect with your partner if they’re also home.
• Once you have prioritized and used your stickers filling all of the available time slots, take a cleansing breath. 

One of the reasons I love using the stickers is that if anything didn’t make it onto the schedule, it can easily be moved over to my next avail day off. Also, if a scheduled task is missed because of a flat tire or picking up a sick child, again you can move it over to the next day off.

Ta Da! You’ve done it!

This might seem overwhelming at first, but it teaches great time management skills. And you end your day with a feeling of accomplishment and great productivity. Due to Multiple Sclerosis, my memory is about 7 minutes long in both directions. And when my check-off list is still mostly unchecked at the end of Day Off I get discouraged, frustrated and that leads to feeling overwhelmed.

Having a vision, then a plan is key to a successful day. Your Mom’s Day Off Schedule will look different from one day to the next depending on your needs and your limits. Adjust it to fit your life. You can’t do everything, but you can choose what’s most important and do it well. Organize your time, organize your life and maximize your productivity. Welcome to the job of Self Project Management!

Have you tried a Time Blocking System. How did it work for you? I’m always looking for great tips and new ideas. Please share any that you have in the comment section below.

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