The challenge: ” I have chronic health conditions. I engage in professional employment. I want to organize my time to get office work, housework, social life, and rest in each day.”

Weekly blueprint to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point, most of you are probably wondering what a weekly blueprint is anyway. I use the term “weekly blueprint” to mean a suggested guide for how you spend your time each week. It has enough structure to help you be more productive with not too much structure so that you feel it’s oppressive.

To get started on creating your own blueprint, you’ll need a blank sheet of paper and pencil.

1. Begin by writing the seven columns along the top of the page, one for each day of the week.

2. Along the left side of the page, list time increments by 1/2 hr going from 12am to 12pm.

3. Now it’s time to fill in the blanks. Start by noting when you go to sleep and wake up. Add in the hours that you spend on major time commitments- your professional employment, family responsibilities, your personal needs such as exercise, etc.

4. Once the major commitments are highlighted, this usually brings about an “ah-ha” moment. A good amount of the hours in the week are now accounted for. Take a look at the types of activities you haven’t yet recorded and begin to analyze how you might fit those in as well.

5. Make tradeoffs. Playing volleyball on Wednesday nights might mean that you don’t get to tuck your kids into bed that night. Time socializing with friends is not time that you are spending on professional work.

6. Post this blueprint prominently so that you can refer to it often.

7. Commit to honoring your blueprint when you’re making appointments with others or scheduling tasks within your day. For example, if you know that you need rest everyday from 3-5pm, that would not be an ideal time to schedule housework or social activities.

A word to the wise… sometimes I’ve witnessed people get so excited to have a weekly blueprint that they want to create this structure for every hour of the entire week. Control yourself!

Recognize time management is more than scheduling. It’s freeing time so inspiration can flow. Leave blank space on this weekly blueprint for life to unfold. A healthy balance between structure and spontaneity is so much more enjoyable than week after week of rigidity.