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Time management for parents
MIkael Lindberg | Oct 10 2007
The excellent news that Merlin is joining the parent flock prompted me to write this post. I became a parent about a year ago and I've been battling the "loss" of about 8-16 hours of every day to parenting and the unpredictability element that babies bring to your schedule. I'm interested in hearing what other parents have done in order to keep a grip on their schedule and their lives. For me, the most extreme effect was that I decided to change jobs in order to do something I really like, despite having to take a 50% pay cut. I just can't afford to waste hours doing things that doesn't make me happy. I've also taken a few hints from Merlin and now carry a small note pad (sort of a hipster PDA) in my pocket at all times for capture purposes. I think my previous attempts at GTD has failed just because I havn't needed it enough. Now, I can't survive without it. As for handling the unpredictability element of children, my wife and I have a system where we try to never replan the current day schedule but instead handle exceptions as far into the future as possible. This keeps our schedules reasonably stable. What are your experiences? 58 Comments
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 IdeasSubmitted by BillSmargiassi on October 10, 2007 - 9:41am.
First off, congratulations Merlin. I picked up on GTD because of 43 Folders, and it's pretty much the only thing that's made this last year even work. Today's our little one's 11 month-old birthday. In no particular order: As mentioned above, learn to accept the fact that you will have less time for fun, housework, work-work, weekly reviews, sex, pretty much everything but the little one. You'll have to raise the bar of what you'll just never get around to. You should see my poor lawn... If you think you hate clutter now, just wait. Whatever isn't in your house your kid can't pick up and eat or choke on. Block out big chunks of time during months 5-8 of the pregnancy for working on the home. All pregnant women must paint, or hire painters. It's a rule. Besides, you need a nursery of some sort. Be aware of the fact that once the nursery is done, you'll think you're done. She'll think she's done. Then another big project will pop-up that MUST BE DONE before BOTH of our families VISIT ALL THE TIME. This will happen just about the time when she can barely walk let alone work on the house. Mine was a bathroom redecoration, which fortunately only took a weekend. It gets better in a few months when they sleep through the night. Or not if they don't. » POSTED IN:
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