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      Put On Your Pants & Shoes
      by Crystal Collins on August 27, 2010
      Hawaii On My Shoes

      photo by vadude5

      I woke up last week and was immediately bombarded by the daily tasks that I needed to face. The kids wanted breakfast, my husband couldn’t get out of bed because of a migraine, the sink was still full of dirty dishes from the night before, the chickens needed to be fed as did the dog, and I needed to get my morning blog posts up for the day.

      Suffice it to say I never made it out of my pajamas and I ended up sitting on the couch with my lap top while the kids watched a movie.  Somehow I had managed to make sure everyone was fed, my husband got some Excedrin and it was time for “work.”

      I think that was the day that I barely got any work done on my blog, even though I had the computer open for a full 8 hours (yes, I am a full-time blogger).

      With time being so limited, and family life pulling me every which way, it’s important that my time online and in the home is spent productively. I’ve been making it a point to get dressed, brush my teeth, wash my face and grab a glass of water before I do ANYTHING else in the morning.  This is besides of course handling the occasional dirty diaper in the morning, which sometimes warrants immediate attention.

      I find that by doing this I am much more focused and ready to face the day, and this means I get more work done in less time. I also try to make it a habit to avoid taking the lap top into the living room. Working in a designated space also brings focus to my life.

      So first thing tomorrow morning, put on your pants and shoes and see if you find that your day becomes more productive.  Try to get that teeth brushing in as well!  What are some of your tips for better time management and productivity?

      Crystal blogs at TheThriftyMama.com where she’s constantly trying to hone her focus and become a more productive homemaker and blogger.

: Leave a Comment

  • Kristie on August 27, 2010 at 8:24 am
    { Reply }
    Such simple but wise advice!

    Thanks for reminding me of this as I sit here working away in my PJ’s. I think I’ll go take a shower & get ready for the day right now. I know I’ll be much more productive that way. Whenever I have an appointment first thing in the morning I get so much more accomplished throughout my day and I know it is because I was up and ready to go!

    Thanks again for the gentle nudge to let go of the lazy habits I have acquired over the summer.

  • Geek.Girl.Wife on August 27, 2010 at 8:32 am
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    I found that I needed to do create a routine as well, or I would find myself in (whatever) I fell asleep in the night before! Blogging is a job — let’s start giving it that respect and treating it as such! We wouldn’t show up at “work” in jammies, would we? For myself, I get up, grab a glass of ice water, take my meds, shower, dress — THEN I get to “work.”
  • Saidah - A Proverbs Wife.com on August 27, 2010 at 10:34 am
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    Another thing that works for me in addition to having a designated area, is having one with a door. The family knows that when the door is shut mom is working but when it’s open I am not.

    Sometimes I’m on the computer but just surfing and I want them to feel free to disturb me when they see the door open.

  • Kelleigh @ Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs on August 27, 2010 at 11:10 am
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    Hee, hee! Thanks for the reminder! I wasted SO much of the day yesterday, and I’m determined NOT to repeat that!
  • Jennifer @ Saving & Giving on August 27, 2010 at 11:56 am
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    I have to have a shower before I can even function in the mornings, so I get where you’re coming from! I don’t usually do the shoes in the house, but I did the other day. I was surprised at how much more professional and put together I felt. Funny that a little thing like shoes can do that!
  • Laura on August 27, 2010 at 12:37 pm
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    How very FlyLady of you! This is exactly what she says to do at the beginning of every day – it’s a habit I definitely need to develop.

    If you’re not familiar with FlyLady, here’s a link to the website: http://www.flylady.net

  • Elizabeth@GoodnessAdded on August 27, 2010 at 1:24 pm
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    And excellent reminder! I have made getting ready in the morning a priory as well. I wrote about it here. http://goodnessadded.com/2010/04/15/whatever-happens-today-at-least-my-hair-is-clean/ I really find it helps keep me balanced. It is bad enough to be tired and stressed – at least I don’t have to look it. = )
  • Priscilla-The Wheelchair Mommy on August 27, 2010 at 7:43 pm
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    Fabulous. I totally agree. I’m dressed every day before Hubby leaves for work. Always have :D
  • mallery cowan on August 27, 2010 at 7:49 pm
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    I agree! If I have errands to run I won’t open the computer at all! I have a boat load of emails when I get back but at least I got the household stuff done. That’s my tip!
  • Lua on August 27, 2010 at 7:53 pm
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    sound advice! :)
    it’s amazing how many days i’ll look at the clock and it’s past noon and i haven’t eaten or anything!
    it’s important to make a ‘point’ of doing these things….

    <3 have a wonderful day!

  • Amanda @A Few Short Cuts on August 27, 2010 at 9:53 pm
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    This is so true. Now, if I could just make myself do it. I am a homeschooler on top of it all and some days it is just too much! :) I am going to have to get better about taking care of myself in the process!
  • Franticmommy on August 28, 2010 at 9:28 am
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    So true! “Look sharp, feel sharp”.
  • Courtney(WomenLivingWell) on August 28, 2010 at 9:17 pm
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    My morning routine before blogging consists of waking before the rest of the family at 5:30am and going for a run on the treadmill or doing a Pilates DVD, then opening my Bible and visiting with Jesus in prayer and emailing my “Good Morning Girls” (http://www.goodmorninggirls.org ), then coming to my computer at around 6:30am to proofread and post the blog I wrote the night before and web surf, facebook, twitter, email etc. until breakfast time at 7:45 and then there’s chores and homeschooling to begin – with web checks all day long :-) And then writing in then writing the next days blog post at the end of the night before I hit the hay.

    I put my daily schedule and weekly cleaning schedule here just last week:

    http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/08/our-back-to-school-daily-schedule.html

    Time management is something I have been working to master so I can accomplish all my priorities in the day. For me discipline and accountability are two keys to keep me motivated!

    Keep up the hard work – it’s not easy with little ones in diapers!
    Much Love,
    Courtney

  • Bree @ BreeUnscripted on August 29, 2010 at 5:16 pm
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    So true! Anytime, you work from home, getting dressed, is a good idea. Great post.
  • Christina Baita on August 29, 2010 at 11:58 pm
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    I most certainly find that if I get dressed in “real” clothes, I am more productive. I also think that working at a desk (or at least a table) helps versus having the computer in my lap. If I find that I am not working well at home, I go to the coffee shop, where they have lots of different types of working surfaces and fresh java if I need a pick me up.
  • Patti on August 31, 2010 at 8:11 am
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    Thanks for this little reminder! I might add that sitting at my computer all day makes me dang tired and doesn’t do anything for the figure, you know? So, what I suggest is not only getting dressed in the morning but getting dressed in your workout clothes and shoes. That’s what I have found makes a real difference.

    I hop up off my desk chair 2 or 3 times a day and do floor ball exercises, lift weights, or do squats for 10 minutes each time (usually in front of tivo’d Anthony Bourdain shows). Or I take a quick walk around the block. I’m dressed and ready for action!

    Yup, that’s the answer for me. Put on workout clothes, shoes, wash face, and oh yeah, brush teeth. Thanks again for this great blog post.

  • Carolee on August 31, 2010 at 8:01 pm
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    LOL- I often find myself still in my “scruffies” into the afternoon hours.

    You can certainly lose several hours working on the Internet and not even realize it.

  • Tiffany on September 13, 2010 at 1:08 pm
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    Getting dressed is an absolute must for me. If I don’t do that, I don’t seem to do much of anything all day. That would be my #1 tip for a successful and productive day, for sure!