Where DO you get the time

Why does it so often seems like you turn around and it is midnight when you raise your children? It looks like, whatever you do, sometimes, there is still much work to do with the time you're ready to go to bed. What can you do?

The first thing you need to do is find out where your time goes each day. Try to make notes one day about what you do and how long it takes. If you're feeling really ambitious, try this for a week when every day will be different, but even a day will give you an idea of how you use all your time. It may feel like you are wasting time writing these things down, and they will slow you down a bit for the day, but it can be a great help.

Take a look at what you have spent your day doing. Now assign a priority to each. How much time would you prefer to spend on each?

Now if you add all these up, you will probably find out your days are more than 24 hours long if you include time to sleep. This is how it is to be a parent.

The first thing you need to do is find out what items can be done less frequently. Can you be a little messy in the house? Can everyone else? Can you get more help from your spouse and children to keep the house clean? You'll have to decide which solution is right for you.

What about the time surfing the Internet or watching TV? Give yourself deadlines for each of these. If you have a Tivo or a VCR, you can try recording your favorite programs and watch them later, skip commercials. This not only allows you to select the time you watch your shows, it can cut down on their length.

Sometimes it can be difficult to find enough time in your day to be with your children, but most parents would call it a priority. Just remember that time with your children is not just about having fun. Even small children can help with making dinner, which may be a good time to talk with children of all ages.

We absolutely do not recommend cutting down on what meals you insist on eating as a family. This is a great thing to do as a family, and if you do not make time for family meals, find a way to do it! Although it's just dinner one evening a week together, no activities or sports to drive out of your family need time to relax together.

Finally, there are things you can cut all together? If you feel like you have been pushed into doing things for others because you are at home and "have time, do" not feel guilty about telling people that you do not have time to do things they want you to do. Your family comes first. If you really want to participate, thinking either cutting the number of hours when you need more time for yourself or your family, or volunteering for something you can do as a family.

There are only so many hours a day, and so many things you would love to get done. Take a good look at what you do, want to do and do not really need to do, and you can find ways to feel a little less overwhelmed most of the time. You will go through times when there just are not enough hours in the day, even when you know your priorities, but you can cut down on the less important things and relieve a lot of your stress.