Do Not Disturb Tuesday - What I Do To Prepare

Well, here is another Do Not Disturb TUESDAY! I'm bending my rules a little this week. I was off the computer most of Monday so today I plan to stay off most of the day and only turn on the computer in the evening after the children are in bed and my dh is gone to a meeting.

Last week I told you that I would talk about what I do to prepare for Do Not Disturb TUESDAY.

Each day I print off 5 chore charts using Let's Clean Up. On Monday night I print off Tuesday's and Wednesday's list.

I started using this program a few weeks ago and I don't think I will be looking back. Yes, it takes some ink and some paper, but my children love it. They can't seem to start their day unless they have their list of chores. I entered in ALL the chores that need to be done, when they need to be done, and how often as well as WHO needs to do them. I have some of the chores on a rotating schedule so that each day a different child gets the chore. It works so well; there are fewer arguments about who is doing what; we have a better plan for the day. I've even included a "room" called Homeschooling List so that we are including the basics in our daily to dos.

At the end of each day, I go back into the program and mark each chore that was done. Usually, I just mark them all as done, so that things don't pile up and we get overwhelmed. I haven't been marking all of mine because I'm trying to get a few of them spaced out. (I didn't get put them in correctly and I'm not sure how to modify them, but I'll work it out!) I love this program. It's cheap (under 10 dollars US) and simple to use.

Another thing that I set up on Monday nights is a post just like this one and a couple more. If I get a couple done for later in the week I don't have to worry about those later.

I check our finances and make sure that we are balanced and know where we are at in this area. I don't want to turn on my computer to make sure there is enough money for groceries or to pick up some two by fours. (That happened last week, I think.)

So, with just a little bit of planning I can enjoy my Tuesdays away from the computer, have fun with my kids. I am finding that Tuesdays are a little stretching which is good, but I am also finding that I am enjoying my Tuesdays away more and more. And this is moving into more of my life; the pull to be here at the computer is not nearly as strong. I've come to realize that my online world can do without me.

So, jump in (or out) and join us. Pick a day; it doesn't have to be Tuesday, but that worked for Amber and I. Stay away from the computer (unless you have to for work or school). Enjoy and interact with your "real" life. Cut the strings so to speak. On Tuesdays, I try to stay away from the computer, as well as IM and twitter on my phone. I do get some text from family or other close friends and so I do respond to those as well as cell phone calls. Let us know what you did / do on your Do Not Disturb Tuesday.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,