Did you catch my post at Simple Scrapper today?  It’s all about budgeting your time and scheduling your week.  I’m experimenting with some new ideas, and would love to share them with you.  If you haven’t checked out the blog post, please head over to Simple Scrapper to see it!

I write a lot about time management, mainly because it’s one of my greatest struggles.  Juggling a young family, a full time career, and Sir Scrapalot Designs is hardly easy, and I am always looking for ways to save time and get things done in a more efficient manner.  Often times, like today, I don’t get to sit down and engage in the internet until early evening, and spend a good amount of time playing catch up.  Ever wonder what my typical day looks like?  Today I’m going to share with you one day out of my crazy life.

• 5:00 am – Up and on the treadmill.  This is something that I’ve really just started doing again, but it’s getting my day off to a great start.
• 5:30 am – Showering and getting dressed for the day.
• 6:00 am –  Breakfast, a quick email check to delete or deal with anything that can be done quickly.  If I’m lucky, I get a chance to scan     my Google Reader and see what’s going on.
• 6:30 am – Help get everyone else ready to leave, get things together for the day, make coffees for my wife and I.
• 7:00 am – Departure.  We all load into the car, and head down to drop me off at school.
• 7:15 am – At school (what a commute!).  I check my mail, and then head to my room to get it set up for the day before my friends arrive.
• 7:30 am – Morning Meeting in my classroom (actually, this is just my friends gathering to chat and get ready for the day)
• 8:00 am – School Starts – My first class starts at 8:15, and my second class starts at 9:30.
• 10:45 am – Prep and planning period.  This is usually for meetings, time to work with my grade level co-teachers, or plan upcoming lessons.
• 12:00 pm – Lunch.  Another meeting in my room, during which my friends and I all try to talk, eat lunch, and check our phones for messages.
• 12:20 pm – Third Class begins.  Yup, you read that right.  I have a 20 minute lunch.  It’s not so bad since I have prep and planning right before, but the other teachers truly have 20 minutes to eat.  And that’s on a good day.
• 1:40 pm – Last class of the day.
• 2:52 pm – Dismissal.  Otherwise known as “my favorite time of day.”
• 3:00 pm – Office Hours, Extra Help, and After School.  If it’s a down day, I have a little time to check in on the internet and see what’s going on.
• 4:30 pm – Leave School.  Run to the grocery store, and return home to get dinner started.
• 5:15 pm – Dinner.  Discussions about what happened during our days, what we’re looking forward to tomorrow, and general conversation.
• 5:45 pm – Family Time.  Watching TV Shows, going for a walk, playing Barbies…whatever else the little ladies want me to do.  I also do the things that I’ll need to get done for the morning like ironing and packing my bag.  Occasionally, I get a little time to catch the news or start hopping online.
• 7:00 pm – Online Time begins.  The girls are usually in bed, and I can get started with the stuff that I need to get done.  Some nights, I am great about this time, and I’m really productive.  Other times, I sit here starting at the same websites, getting absolutely nothing done.
• 8:00 pm – TV/Online Time.  I have a few shows that I watch religiously, so usually around 8:00 is when I watch them and work, or I leave the computer and just watch TV.
• 9:00 pm – Back to the computer to wrap up whatever I’ve been working on for the night.  I usually try to get the things that I need to get done the following day together, and do another round of checking in before I head off to bed.
• 10:00 pm – Bed.  I usually read a little bit before bed, but if I’m really tired, the reading is usually short lived.  After that it’s lights out, and sleep until the next day starts again!

One thing I want to work on is making my night time online time more productive.  In a day, this is usually the only extended time I have online, so I need to make sure I am really making use of it.  While this is important, I also want to make sure I am taking time to do the things I want to do, like watching TV shows, and not spending all my time working.  And so, the battle rages on…maybe one day I’ll learn how to balance my time and get stuff done!

What does your day look like?  Let us know in the comments!

In the past, I’ve talked about how I use Google Reader to keep up with the blogs I read.  There is no way I could ever keep up with all of the, around 80, if I didn’t have Google Reader to put them all together in one spot.  Like anything else, however, Google Reader can get cluttered up and needs a good Spring Cleaning.  A few weeks back, I learned of a really easy and effective way to clean my Google Reader, and I wanted to share it with you today.

If you look at the left sidebar on your Google Reader homepage, you’ll see the tag “Trends.”  I had never clicked on this tag before, and I had no idea what a powerful tool I was missing.  When you click on the “Trends” tag, a screen comes up that details all of the trends that Google Reader has noticed in what you are reading or clicking.  this is really interesting to see what blogs you are really reading, and what ones have items you are clicking on.  You can click up to the Top 40 blogs you are reading, and easily see what ones you aren’t reading at all.

Also included on the Trends screen, are you Subscription Trends.  This tells you which blogs are frequently updated, which blogs are recently inactive, and which blogs have the least followers.  When I am Spring Cleaning my Google Reader, I usually check through the blogs that are recently inactive and see if there is any that I need to unsubscribe from.  If I find one that I do want to unsubscribe from, all I have to do is click on the small trash can on the right of the blog name, and it will unsubscribe from that blog.  It’s easy.  I don’t often unsubscribe from a blog, but if it’s been a long time since they last posted, I usually unsubscribe – it’s part of that if you don’t need it, let it go mentality.

Do you use Google Reader?  Is Spring Cleaning your Google Reader something you think you’ll need to do?

• If you are consistently just deleting it, do yourself a favor and unsubscribe from the newsletter.  If you’re not reading it, it’s just extra noise that clutters up your inbox.
• Set up a folder for them, and filter them directly to the folder.  In gmail, you can set up filters that will automatically label the emails and send them right to the appropriate folder.  By doing this, the emails are bypassing the inbox and you can go in and read them when you have a few minutes.
• See if you can change your subscription options.  There was one newsletter that I was getting everyday, and it was just overwhelming.  I took a minute, and went in and changed it to a weekly email, and I really haven’t lost anything.
• If they do make it to your inbox, read them immediately, and take any actions that you need to.  I try to do this every time, I quickly read the email and decide what action I need to take.  If I can do it in less than two minutes, it gets done then and there.  If I can’t I add it to my task list, and move on from the email.

Email subscriptions are great ways to stay in touch and find deals and information about the things you like.  What’s key is making sure you keep them from overpowering your email inbox and making you crazy!

Do you subscribe to email newsletters?  How do you keep the clutter down?  Are you subscribed to the Sir Scrapalot Designs Newsletter?

One thing that I know I am using “the cloud” for right now is backing up. I have been backing up my files to offsite for some time now. I had been using Mozy, but since their enormous price increase, I have switched to Backblaze. Backblaze takes all of my files from the computer and backs them up to “the cloud.” That way if anything insane happens here, my files are backed up “in the cloud.” I also started backing up my blog using a WordPress Plug In, and sending it to my Dropbox account. Again, I am taking my files and backing them up to “the cloud.” Recently, I’ve been looking for ways to back up my email to “the cloud” as well.

So, I guess while I don’t know exactly WHAT “the cloud” is, I am using it to my advantage.

Are you using “the cloud”? How are you using it?

Do you ever feel like getting better at your time management is a battle?

A while back, I wrote about fighting the Energy Eater over at Simple Scrapper.  Lately, however, I’m starting to see that the path to better time management isn’t about fighting one enemy, but a larger ongoing battle.  One that takes time, one that will go on for a long time.  Sometimes, I’ll be winning the battle, sometimes I’ll lose.  Right now, I feel like I’m on the losing end of the battle, and here are some things that I am planning on doing to start winning this battle again.

• Stop watching all TV in “real time” - The invention of the DVR is a wonderful thing.  The ability to watch a show at a later date, while fast forwarding through the commercials and boring parts is really one I need to take more advantage of.  Some shows need to be in “real time” (how would anyone survive without my weekly American Idol Facebook/Tweet Along?), but others can definitely be saved for later and watched in a much shorter amount of time.
• Prioritize – I love making to do lists.  They make me feel like I am working towards something.  However, a to do list is only as good as the action it promotes.  One thing I want to start doing is creating a master to do list, and then drawing from that master list to create specific “Things that I Need to Do Today” lists.  By prioritizing what needs to be done on that given day, I keep myself from trolling my long to do list for easy tasks or tasks that are fun, and focus on what really needs to be done.
• Doing tasks now – I am famous for putting tasks off.  For example, I’ll get an email asking me for an image, or to share my ideas on something and instead of getting that done right then and there, I add it to my to do list and move on.  This is great for tasks that require sustained attention, but for something like sending a graphic or responding to an email, I need to just do it in that moment.  One rule of thumb that I’ve read about is if you can do it in less than 2 minutes, do it.  If it can’t be done in less than 2 minutes, add it to the list and move on.

These ideas may seem simple, but in reality they are the things that are keeping me from winning the battle for better time management.  The reality is, I don’t know the definite answer, I don’t know of the “cheat code” to win the battle for better time management.  The best I can do is try as many different things that I can think of, and take you along for the ride.
What strategies do you use to win the battle for better time management?

Have you seen Pinterest yet?  Ok, well let me tell you, I have found the ulitmate time waster.  With Pinterest, you create your own “boards” that you pin things too, like having your own personal bulletin boards on the computer.  See an outfit you like at JCrew.com?  Go ahead and “Pin It” and it will be on your board for you to go back to.  Pinterest will “Pin” the jpg to your board, and leave the link for you to go back to it.  The possibilities for this are endless.  My boards along show the variety of uses for this.  I have a board for clothes for me, clothes for my girls, food and recipes I like, design inspiration, color inspiration, and a list for Disney stuff I like.  Now, as I surf the web, I have a place where I can put together all the things I see that I like.

What really makes Pinterest special and work, is that it’s largely a social network as well.  You have the ability to “follow” other people, and their boards, so not only can you see what you are pinning, but you can see everyone else’s pin as well!  Then, add to the mix the ability to “repin” (very much like a retweet), it almost becomes more fun looking at what other people find than finding things yourself!

So as of right now, I realize that Pinterest is a big time waster in my life.  I get that….I am justifying it though by thinking that I am “researching” for future projects….yah, that’s it.

The only drawback to Pinterest right now is that it’s by invitation only.  Let’s open up the comments: if you are looking for an invite, let us know here…if you have invites to share, let us know too!

Two weeks ago, you and I talked about how planning was going to be a big focus of mine this year.  I am happy to say, I’ve hit the ground running, and I think I’ve discovered a secret.  I think I’ve found a way to be on top all the time, and better use my time.  It’s something that’s been under my nose for ages, but I never really thought it would be possible..but it is, and I am going to share it with you today.

Right now, I’m planning a month ahead.  I know, who knew it could have been so easy?  I feel like I’ve seen the light though.  Back when I was taking some time off during the holidays, I spent a little time getting ahead of myself.  I got new things designed, I planned blog posts, I secured new avenues for me to share my thoughts.  By the first week of January, I had posted ALL of my January products for my CT to work with.  That’s right…all month I’ve know what was coming out.  What a change!!  In the past, there have been times when I didn’t know what would be coming out that week until right before release.  It means I’ve had to sit on a few new products (you will go Gaga for the February 4th release), but it’s been totally worth it.  I also outlined most of the blog posts for the month of January.  I’m not going to lie, I didn’t write them all, but I at least had a starting point so that when I had a few minutes, I could expand on it until the post was complete.  It was easy to do, yet I had never done it before.

The rewards are two-fold.  Sure, I’ve had a great month knowing what was going to come out and what was going to happen.  I like order, I like having an idea of what’s going to happen.  It’s also made it easier to deal with the unexpected things that come our way.  I had free time, so I was able to work on Brighter Days Ahead.  Had I been worried about coming up with a New Release, I may not have been able to do it.  Secondly, with the free time I’ve had in January, I’ve actually used to get stuff ready for February!  You may not know what you are doing on February 25th, but I could tell you what is going to be released that day, as well as the blog post that will come the day before (I’m not telling you though!).

So what does this mean for you?  Start looking at your life…what things can you prepare in advance?  Maybe you want to sit and make a meals menu for the whole month…how great would that be?!  Maybe you want to schedule your classes at the gym, or play dates, or weekend plans, or everything for the whole month…that would be pretty amazing.  I know some of you are saying, “Well yah, but what about real life?  I can’t really plan a month out.”  You’re right.  You can’t plan for sure.  Real life is unpredictable, but if you’ve planned even a little bit, dealing with life’s unpredictabilities is a much easier task.  You’ll have less stress, and feel more relaxed knowing at least what should be coming next.  I know I did, and I wanted to share that with you.

Do you think that planning out a whole month could work for you?  What things can you plan out for the whole month?

Image by romanlily via Flickr

One of the most  common questions I am asked in interviews, chats, and general conversation is how I make time for it all.  I’ll be honest – juggling a teaching career, a young family, the demands of digi designing and scrappping, as well as still having some kind of life is not easy.  Not at all.  Some days, it makes me want to bang my head against the wall.  Over the last few months, I’ve learned a lot about how I deal with my time and my responsibilities.  One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that prioritizing is key.

For me, prioritizing works on two levels.  First, when faced with a list of tasks that need to be done, I need to sit and prioritize the list and start working on it in that order.  This may seem obvious, but I am infamous for looking at my to do list, and instead of picking the most important task, I gravitate to the easier, smaller tasks.  Sure, I am getting something done, but at what cost?  What ends up suffering is the most important tasks – they get left for the last minute, or the end of the night when I am getting tired.  So, if I take a minute and prioritize what is on my list, and work on it in that order, the most important tasks get the “freshest” me, and they get done.

Secondly, I have started really looking at the things going on in my life and prioritizing them.  What is the most important to me?  What deserves the most attention right now?  That list isn’t static, it changes depending on the time and what is going on in my life (well, my family is always first, but everything else changes).  Really thinking about what things are most important to me at the time really helps me frame what needs to get done and where to focus my energy and time.  Prioritizing the “big picture” helps me to remember what is truly important in my life.

One thing I am looking into starting is making a priority list for my computer time.  My school day is pretty scheduled, but when I sit down at night, I often find myself distracted by a million other things (have you SEEN Pintrest?!) before I actually get anything done.  I am figuring that if I set a list of things that I have to do when I sit down at the computer each night, before I do ANYTHING else, I will be able to get more done.  My wife and I have a similar list for the housework, and we have had success with it.  Hopefully I’ll be able to see success creating a similar list for my computer time.

I know I have too much going on in my life…the funny thing is, I like it that way.  If I am successful in prioritizing the tasks I have to get done as well as prioritizing the “big picture” of my life, I am able to manage all the things going on in my life.

How about you?  Are you prioritizing your life?  What strategies do you use to manage your priorities?

Guest Designer at Log Your Memory – this is already in full swing, and I am so excited to be the January guest designer at LYM.  I love what LYM is about, and have had so much fun exploring around.  Plus, everyone’s so nice!!  You can pick up my kit by participating in the LYM Challenges, and make sure to stop by the Guest Designer Chat this Thursday at 7pm Mountain (9pm Eastern).  You never know what will happen!

Featured Designer at Me So Scrappy – I am so excited to be part of this site as it takes off!!  Full of fun articles and great resources, Me So Scrappy is a happy place to keep up with the digi world.  Be sure to watch for my Featured Designer post coming later in the week.

Teacher at Masterful Scrapbook Design – I am very excited to announce that I am one of the February Teachers at Masterful Scrapbook Design.  If you haven’t checked out the site, you really should.   For a small fee, each month you get classes that focus on one theme from a variety of teachers.  Teachers that include Anna Aspnes, Jenni Bowlin, Debbie Hodge, and me!  February’s theme is titles, and there are tons of great stuff planned.  I hope you’ll check it out.

Monthly Guest Posts at Simple Scrapper – That’s right, I am going to be a monthly regular at Simple Scrapper now!  Look for my posts about time management and keeping my head above water on the third Wednesday of every month.

The Paperclipping Digi Show - I had so much fun recording episodes of the PDS last summer with Steph and Izzy.  Remember when I got to “meet” Katie Pertiet?  Steph, Izzy and I are working hard to find a time to schedule me in for another episode…darn day job.  Soon, though, soon.

Guest Appearance on Glee – ok, ok, that one is a joke…but srsly..I would love to.  I don’t even have to sing.  Are you listening Ryan Murphy? Email me…I’ve got ideas.

As always, you can find me at Funky Playground Designs, on Facebook, or on Twitter.  You can subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss out on anything, and you can sign up for the newsletter for special news and offers.