Let’s chat about schedules. I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic recently as I created something that truly works for me and I wanted to share this breakthrough with you!

I noticed after my first full year working from home that I was constantly feeling uneasy about the structure of my days each week. Working a corporate job for many years before transitioning into my home studio, I am very Monday-Friday oriented and I don’t see that changing any time soon. So, why push back when I can go with the flow, right? So I did! The thing that worked so well for me with corporate jobs was a solid weekly structure. Normally, these schedules are set for you by your boss when you work a corporate job, but there are SO many things you can do on your own time at home that get rid of stress.

For the ladies who work from home, you can try what I did, which is to make a weekly schedule with specific tasks listed for each day. For example, with my work schedule, I have Tuesdays set aside JUST to write blog posts once a week now. It is so nice to wake up and know exactly what is on the schedule and start creating or working on that task. Then, when it is complete, you can cross it off and feel that wonderful sense of accomplishment! That is what kept getting me down when I didn’t have the set schedule, the craziness of having too many items on my to-do list and not being able to get them all done. Don’t set yourself up for failure. It will make you feel bad instead of great about your day!

I picked Mondays to respond to emails, order supplies for my shop, and organize my office. I picked Monday for these tasks because they are some of my favorite things to do. They come naturally and don’t make me feel frazzled. That is the best way for me to start my week, on a positive, easy-going note. So, I suggest listing out all of the tasks you need to do each week, and choosing days that really work well for those things to be completed with ease and enjoyment. If there are things you don’t enjoy, stick them in the middle of the week so you’re not starting your week with them but also not putting them off until Friday and dreading them. Do you know what I mean? Our schedule really does effect our mental happiness so much!

For the ladies who work a corporate job or day job that is scheduled by someone else but you, your opportunity to delete stress from your daily life comes in when you get home. You know all of those tasks that you’re randomly doing right now like cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms or vacuuming the house? Make a weekly schedule for those things and enjoy each daily routine! It’s overwhelming to think about ALL of the things that need to get done in the house, but thinking about and really focusing on one at a time is actually enjoyable. It’s like meditation. Mondays can be for cleaning up the bathroom, while Tuesdays can be for clearing kitchen counters and wiping everything down, and so on. Doesn’t that sound SO much better?!

So grab your planners, ladies, and get to planning your weekly schedule! You’ve got nothing but stress-free moments ahead to look forward to if you do it.

I use my Ashley Shelly Planner to plan out my days and I write each daily task for work and home in my planner, that way it’s right in front of me. You can see all of the awesome planning supplies in the shop at ashleyshelly.com.

Happy scheduling!

-Ashley

 

*First photo was captured by Red October Photography