What Can Get Done In a Day

At the start of the new week when I’m planning what it will hold, the possibility seems almost boundless.  168 hours!  I can get so much done!  Managing my own expectations of what I can get done in a day has been huge in creating a sense of forward momentum.

When every day ends with a long list of things that never got crossed off the to-do list, it’s hard to feel like anything is being accomplished.  For her daily list, Mystie uses index cards, and Jessica uses a 3 inch square sticky note.  I have gone micro and use 2 inch sticky notes.  In the picture of my September calendar spread, there’s a larger sticky note that I got from the library–I had to section it off so that I didn’t get carried away!  Even with my small handwriting, there’s only so much I can fit on there.  There are real limits to how much I can put on the list.  I’ve got a physical reminder to give myself margin and grace because there’s always more that needs doing.

On the homeschooling front, on days when school is going well, it’s always a temptation to push a little more, to cover more ground.  Instead of a daily list, I keep track over a week.  We need to hit math 4 times a week, but it doesn’t matter which 4 days.  Having a weekly checklist let’s me see at a glance if we really need to push on.  I also like having a record of all we’ve accomplished.  Even though we do short lessons, I can clearly see our progress over time.

What do you use for your daily list?