Jan 14th, 2013 by Jennifer Lynn
Time, it just…evaporates.
This week, I have decided to keep a log of how I spend my time. Since having a baby, I cannot recall feeling restless or bored because the days just dwindle away so quickly now. But where do all of those hours really go? Then it dawned on me: in order to accomplish all of my desired daily activities, I needed to become more strategic with my time. Hence the idea manifested for a weekly time log.
Recently I inherited a beautiful keyboard with weighted keys, known as a ‘portable grand piano’, from my family, who just wanted to move the poor girl out from their dank basement. It has been years since I’ve sat down to properly play a piano but I was ecstatic to run my fingers over the smooth keys and reacquaint myself with some basic notes and scales. Unmistakably I am rusty.
Basically, before I knew it, an hour had slipped away and I still felt it had not been sufficient time to accomplish what I felt necessary on my new treasure. I then realized how difficult it was going to be to consistently squeeze piano playing time into my all-ready crammed schedule!
Furthermore I have a stack of books from the library that need reading and if I am to curl up with a novel, I would prefer a good chunk of time—more than twenty minutes, at least—to lose myself in the writing.
And of course on top of being a mommy, I am also blogging. As anybody running a site can attest to, actively maintaining a blog and participating in the community is a huge dedication in itself. There are blogging activities that I have been failing miserably at, such as responding to comments, which is something I would dearly like to change. Because I do read each comment and deeply appreciate every one of them.
So perhaps a time log can help me become more organized and figure out how to achieve all of my objectives more efficiently. At the very least it will be interesting to capture a glimpse of what a week of my life looks like.
Some mental scraps—
Daily hobbies I enjoy, which require at least an hour each: writing and journaling, reading, yoga and other exercise, generally through an evening stroll with Hubs and Bubs after dinner.
Chores I detest, but which must get done, unfortunately: tidying and cleaning up. Then cooking and after-meal dish washing—usually one hour, minimum. (Errrrrgh, and if M. is in the kitchen it will be even longer. You should see what a brilliant but sloppy chef he is.)
Here is how my personal log has progressed so far:
6:32 – wake up: blearily heat water to make coffee in the French press. Switch on the computer for writing. In zombie mode.
7:26 – M. wakes up and meets me at the keyboard to groggily say good morning. Heads to the shower. I am enjoying my second cup of coffee.
7:46 –I have written nearly 500 words. Lexi rouses. I change her diaper and, at her insistence, I also need to put a diaper on Elmo. We snuggle for a moment, all three of us.
…a diapered Elmo
8:07 – I prepare M.’s lunch to take to work and give Lexi her breakfast. As I’m finishing up some dishes, I turn around and realize Lexi has grabbed a hold of a paper towel roll and is unraveling it all over the kitchen tile.
8:21 – M. asks me to give his pants the ‘sniff’ test and then he is out the door. (He passed.) 
So, how do you currently ‘budget’ your time? Could you make progress in this area?
=^..^=
I am right there with you. I have days where it is the middle to end of the afternoon and I find myself asking where the day went. I have so much left to get done but no time. My time management really needs help.
I think it is a great idea that you start tracking your time, so you can point out areas where it just gets lost. Doing nothing is fine but is small doses. You are so lucky to have a piano! I haven’t had one for years and that is maybe what I miss most about having a permanent home. Can’t really move around with a piano…
Oh, Jennifer, I can totally relate. Time just seems to evaporate around here. We really do need to budget our time more closely, because after all it’s just as valuable as money in my opinion. I love the diaper on Elmo btw, we’ve done the very same thing in our house many a time.
My day usually starts with checking email, Facebook Yakezie forum, and blog. Then I go round and read and comment on all of my favorite blogs. Then I check my big 4 time sucks again. Get some actual work done. Check everything again.
I once read a productivity tip that recommends working in 25 minute bursts then break for 5 minutes. Some days, I think I do the opposite.
I’m going to blame Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for most of my time!!
Hmm.
The sniff test on M’s pants. Then I remembered the transatlantic differences in language!
Anyway having a toddler is a sink for time. Maybe somewhere in the universe there is a repository for all those hours spent with junior members, along with the missing socks and stuff. We would probably need a few dimenions added on.
@John – haha! By pants, I meant trousers, which sounds terribly old-fashioned to say here.
We live in an apartment with coin-operated laundry facilities in a (incredibly creepy) basement, so M. in particular will ask for the ‘sniff test’ before he feels forced/obligated to do any laundry. I on the other hand will hand wash most of my garments in our kitchen sink (or while I shower!) Trousers and jeans are a bit trickier and require the washing machine, however.
I think you can always improve anything! I constantly reflect on my decisions and how I spend my time. When I stop thinking about these things, I will stop improving. Since I am constantly learning, I will never stop changing and improving!
Having kids makes time go so much faster. It seems like it’s crazy when it’s the weekend already then it’s over in the blink of an eye.
We don’t have kids yet, but I hear you on time disappearing. Sometimes it feels like I’m just treading water trying to get everything done.
Since our washer and dryer flooded we’ve been re-wearing pants a time or two between cleanings, so I too am intimately acquainted with the “sniff test”
I love that Elmo needed a diaper, he is one of the team now
I know exactly how you feel! I’m still on mat leave an constantly wonder where my time goes…it moves too fast :’( I wish I could stay home with her…I hate the thought of me going back in 4 months.
Wow! I love time management discussions. I don’t know if you’ve heard our podcast (it’s okay if you haven’t and have no intention to….), but we’re tackling this topic on Monday’s episode. Time management expert Laura Vanderkam is joining us to talk about what successful people do before breakfast and how they manage their time.
I can’t ever figure out where my day goes either. Now I try to carve out times for critical tasks and “me” time, and the rest of the day just try to keep up
@AverageJoe, the podcast will be available this Monday coming up? I will be sure to keep my eyes and ears peeled. Thanks for the heads up.
I appreciate hearing everybody’s opinions and suggestions!
She is so cute!! It gets easier as they get old, sort of. Not much. There is still laundry, homework, meals, taxi, etc.
When I have time to do something I want to do, I sit down to do it (writing) then end up flipping on the TV and vegging. BAD!!! ME.
To be honest I’ve been struggling to budget my time. I’ve had to really cut back from blogging and commenting, and stick more to time with the family (the things that matter).
If there were only 36 hours in a day!
[...] Broke Ass Mommy asks; Where does time dwindle away to? [...]