How to Get It All Done

Many of you struggle with “getting it all done.” From time to time I feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that I must do. However, for the most part, I am usually feeling quite at peace with a life of ministry. My first ministry is to my family. Caring for the needs of my children and my husband are a joy and a blessing. I can’t think of anything in this world I enjoy more! The fact that I have been able to stay at home full time and raise my children is one of the greatest blessings I have ever had!

When I feel overwhelmed I take a step back and evaluate the situation. I ask myself a few questions:

• Am I overwhelmed because I am not using my time efficiently?
• Am I overwhelmed because I am not having my devotions in the morning?
• Am I overwhelmed because I have planned too much in too short a time period?
• Have I set unrealistic goals for myself?
• Am I overwhelmed because the children are not helping out?
• Will the world fall apart if I let something go?

Some of you were curious as to how I can fit so much into one day. Honestly, it is ONLY by the grace of God that we are able to pull it all together each week. And when Sabbath comes, we all look forward to that 24 hour period when we can rest in Him. What a joy the Sabbath is!

I know I have shared these in the past, but over the last few months as we have adjusted better to homeschooling and life has settled into what we now consider a normal pace, our schedules have changed off and on quite a bit. The schedules we have now are working really well. I post the schedules in different places around the house so that the children and I can look at the schedule easily to determine what we should be doing at any given time of the day. Being regimented to a schedule is not the easiest thing in the world, but if you stick to it and make the routine a habit it will become easier and easier. My youngest children enjoy knowing what to expect next and my older children understand what is expected of them during the day. It also lets them know that anything they don’t enjoy (like math or chore time) does have an end.

I just like knowing I can count on the schedule to keep me going through the day! My schedule is much more difficult to put down on paper. Typically, when I try to put it all down on paper it just doesn’t fit or add up. The only explanation for this is God. He is soooo good to help me accomplish my daily tasks!

With homeschooling the children, they follow their schedules really well. I help them in between all my other tasks, which sounds impossible but really works well. I am always there to help when needed and I direct them in their lessons and which direction they are to take.

If I get behind on anything as far as my chores go, we make up for it during the 3:00 p.m. Chore Time. The house is divided into zones. The kids love the Zone system better than anything I have ever done. We have been doing it for about a year now. The zones rotate on a weekly basis.

• Zone 1: Dining Room, Foyer, Landing, Stairs, and Hallway.
• Zone 2: Kitchen, Mudroom, Breakfast Nook, and Butler’s Pantry
• Zone 3: Family Room, Laundry, and Bathrooms

At 3:00 when Chore Time comes, the children are directed in their tasks. They know what needs to be done. For instance cleaning the kitchen involved unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, putting away clutter, and wiping down the counters. I will load the dishwasher as needed. They also are the kitchen helper for mealtime when assigned Zone 2.

After Zone Cleaning, the children are then directed to clean their rooms if needed and then they can have free time. On nice days they go outside to play, or they have the option of playing indoors.

I have begun the practice of preparing as much as possible my supper menu in the morning. This is sooo much more time saving then almost anything else I have done in a long time. I use my slow cooker several times during the week. Most often on Monday and on Wednesday. But even on days when I am preparing a cook stove meal, I will prepare casseroles, “meatloaves,” etc. in the morning so they are ready to pop in the oven at the appropriate time.

I have also begun making biscuits on Sundays which allows me to have biscuits for any meal during the week. I make up my dough, place them on a sheet pan in the freezer until frozen and then into a gallon freezer bag. I can then cook the number I need at anytime. I love this!

And then, I have made it a point to begin baking all of our bread so that we do not need to purchase store-bought bread anymore. Years ago I used to make bread. But due to my illness I had stopped. However, I have begun making bread again and have been so encouraged by the excitement from my children (and husband). The kids beg even for the end pieces!

Sunday’s I make the “make-ahead” biscuits and a basic sandwich bread. Wednesday’s I make my Challah for Sabbath. Thursday is French or Italian Bread or maybe Foccacia. Every 10 days I make my Amish Cinnamon (sourdough) bread which is perfect for breakfast or any time. I like to give the bread away as well. Sometimes, when we have over ripe bananas I will make Banana Bread to give to church members.

It is so easy to incorporate the making of bread right into your daily schedule. Each part of the process only takes minutes, so why not provide your family with healthy bread that has no chemicals or nasty additives in it?

Sunday’s are also the day when I really do the deep cleaning in the house and plan my menu for the week.

On days when I must go to church for the evening, my supper is packed up and taken with me. For this reason, I always do a slow cooker meal on Monday’s. If we have an extra day where we go to church to work, I pack the meals. We almost always eat a hot meal regardless of whether we are at home or church and we almost never go out to eat. I am almost always home in the mornings until after lunch. However, if we do need to go work at church early, the children just pack up their school work and sit at a table and do it while I work, paint, etc. Also, we simply pick up where we left off when we get home. If the house is in real need of picking up, I will have the children straighten up their assigned areas and we will work together to get the house tidy before bed (if it is really late we just go to bed). Otherwise, we just play “catch-up” the following day which means we move faster and work harder during chore time to get the chores done.

Keeping the car clean and tidy after packing up food, and school work and the like is another task that must be done on a daily basis. Everytime the children go anywhere with us, they are responsible for helping to get every little piece of anything out of the car when we get home. Everyone must help unload. Trash is unacceptable and a trashy car just will not do!

Getting it all done takes a lot of self-discipline. It is not possible if you like to watch a lot of TV or craft all day long or sleep in late. But it also takes the grace of God. He truly will stretch your time – just like your pocketbook – if you are faithful to Him in all that you do!

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