Okay, so I am getting into gear to start my New Year's Resolutions and the first thing I did was make a daily routine. This is just a preliminary one since I am sure I will need to tweak it after I get started. It does seem a bit rigid right now but I think I need this structure to get me focused. Once I am used to the routine, I can be a bit more flexible. I really want to keep at this and make it work. I added in planning times as well as some personal time too. After the schedule, I wrote out my Daily Checklist- a list of things that I check twice a day to keep me on track. I also have a Bedtime Checklist/Routine- things I do after the kids are in bed, before I go to bed. This is the time where I think I can really catch up on things, but unfortunately, also the time I seem to waste the most time (internet, etc) so that is why I need this routine!

As for household chores, I loosely follow the Flylady system. I have been doing this on and off for 5 years and it does work, I just tailor it to fit my needs. I combine that with this system which uses a file box and index cards with jobs for each day written on them. I have certain jobs I do on Mondays (laundry, clean family room), Tuesdays (vacuum kids' bedrooms), etc. I also have a few cards with everyday tasks on them like sweep the kitchen floor and AM kitchen cleanup. I file the cards in a file box numbered 1-31, for each day of the month. I don't label them with the days of the week so I can reuse it every month. I am still figuring out how I could do that though since it makes it easier to know what day I am on. I am a list maker and LOVE seeing jobs completed and being able to cross that item off my list! The card system works the same way. It may seem redundant or even overwhelming to write out all the tasks you do everyday, but for me, it is great to see all that I accomplished that day, no matter how small the task.

So anyway, here are my routines, plus a couple of pictures of my file box with the job cards.

Each day has anywhere from 3-10 cards. It is a 4x6 file box but I use 3x5 index cards.
After you complete a task, you just file it to the next day or to the following day of the week (the next Monday, for example).

MONDAY- FRIDAY DAILY ROUTINE

Get up and make bed
Breakfast
Morning chores (everyone)-
Get dressed
Brush teeth and hair
Make bed
Job of the day
Structured activity with the kids (playdoh, puzzles, play in someone's room, etc)
Snack
My Daily Checklist/kids free play (30-60 mins)
11:30/12:00 Lunch/AM kitchen and family room clean up
12:30- Luke nap/school for Z and K
1:45 Get ready for nap- pick up/potty/brush teeth
2:00 Katelyn nap/Zach finishes schoolwork/I fill workboxes
Snack
My Daily Checklist/kids free play (30-60 mins)
Activity with the kids
Dinner prep-Z and K have room time/Luke in high chair, family room, or w/Chris
5:30 Dinner/PM kitchen and family room clean up
Kids play with Dad while I plan- (Sun- meals, Mon- grocery shop, Tues- school, Wed- chores/structured activities, Thurs/Fri/Sat- family time)
7:30 Kids' Bedtime routine-
Pick up family room and bedrooms
PJ’s on/lay out clothes for tomorrow
Snack and vitamins
Potty/brush teeth
8:00-8:30 Prayers/Bedtime for kids
Do My Bedtime Checklist


MY DAILY CHECKLIST

CHECK CALENDAR FOR APPOINTMENTS AND ACTIVITIES

CHECK TO DO LIST/CARDS

CHECK HOTSPOTS

WHAT’S FOR DINNER

CHECK LAUNDRY

15 MIN DECLUTTERING IN ZONE

GET STUFF TOGETHER FOR TONIGHT'S PLANNING TIME



MY BEDTIME CHECKLIST

SHOWER AS SOON AS KIDS GO TO BED

LAY OUT CLOTHES FOR TOMORROW

PICK UP AROUND HOUSE

CHECK LAUNDRY

SHINE SINK/RUN DISHWASHER

CHECK HOT SPOTS

CHECK CALENDAR FOR TOMORROW’S APPTS AND ACTIVITIES

CHECK SCHOOL PREPARATIONS FOR NEXT DAY

CHECK TO DO LIST

WHAT’S FOR DINNER TOMORROW

DEVOTIONS

ME TIME- EMAIL/BLOGS

10 PM (OR EARLIER) BEDTIME