November is the lead-in to the holidays. However, we’ve got this! Say the word, “November” and breathe…take a breath and breathe it in! Can you feel the excitement? The smell of festivities is in the air! I love this time of year. It is a time to focus on being thankful to God for all he has given me, and then quickly move into preparing my mind, heart, home, and family to celebrate Jesus’s birth. What a blessing! I am praying this planner helps you to avoid the stress and instead allows you to focus on the big picture. This month’s planner begins with our signature ultimate organizing and planning tools! Each month, I am determined to make each edition of Organize-IT the best ever. I am so excited to present you with a planner that promises to help you organize this holiday season and your schedule.
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I wanted to find a way to incorporate the hustle and bustle and long list of fun things to do for the holidays with a homeschool mom’s never-ending list of to-dos! So, I started researching and
reading about block scheduling, I decided to try it and introduce it to you. You may be way ahead of me and already use this method, or you may think, “I have heard of it but don’t know
what it is!” Well, get your schedule primed and ready to work for and not against you. This will take you beyond the lists and to-dos. Of course, those have a time and a place, but what is a
well-thought-out list if you fail to implement it and make it past the first few items?
In this planner, we will begin with a list but end with a solid plan, a schedule that blocks off your time so you can have order in your life.
A purpose so clear, it allows you to focus all your efforts
on what is right in front of you for that small window of time; no need to worry about the lengthy to-do list because it will get done in due time. I am excited to offer you an organizing plan focusing on your day. As homeschooling families, I know you typically spend a lot of time jumping from homeschooling to household chores and back to schooling while taking care of the little kids and sometimes fitting in a side job.
In my family food is a priority, or I might have a revolt! I’m only partially kidding. ;-)Today, a friend asked what I do when I feel overwhelmed. I answered, “I do the next thing, right before me!” I don’t focus on being overwhelmed, because I can’t. I have too many people who depend on me. (A simple prayer of “Lord, please help me,” goes a long way as well!)
Of course, we all get overwhelmed at times, but doing the next thing has worked well for me and fits in perfectly with block scheduling.
Block scheduling is planning your day, not letting your day run you. I love that it utilizes your to-do lists but doesn’t make you a slave to it! Unfortunately (for me), it is not a way to cram more
into your day. Instead, it helps you to find more time! It’s a way of limiting distractions and procrastinating so you have more time to do what you want to do.
Look at your list. Do you have a project you’re dying to finish? Put it in a block. Are you behind on homeschooling a particular subject and need a day to catch up or review? Put it in a block!
Want to find time to exercise? Put it in the block. Do you see where this is going? In the following pages, I’ll help you schedule your time so that you can focus, thrive and accomplish. I was
pleasantly surprised by how well this has worked for me.
Take a look at your homeschool schedule, is there a way to pair down your commitments so we can embrace the holiday season?
By focusing on the meaning of the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons we are teaching life lessons. I typically stick to the bare essentials of school, like math, writing, and reading, so we have plenty of time to make crafts, bake, and enjoy the weather. The older kids can work on their school work separately to complete their assignments, especially in high school, and join in the fun as their schedule permits.
The goal is to organize your day, travel plans if you have any, and Thanksgiving bucket lists. The theme in all of the Organize-IT planners is balance. Pick and choose the forms that work for your
family—doing it all doesn’t always work. Balance is important. If a form doesn’t work for your family, skip it and move on.
Your holiday schedule should offer flexibility.
This allows children time to pursue things of interest. This is something that I feel is so important. Kids are burned out and often overscheduled. Hopefully, with this Organize-IT Planner, you can invest your time wisely.
Looking for more information?
You will find the topic of organization, as well as many others, on the UltimateHomeschoolPodcastNetwork.com, and Vintage Homeschool Moms.
If you are a long-time subscriber, you will find some of the forms the same as in past planners. This allows you access to the forms you love from last month’s planner. For example, you will receive
the blank calendars as well as the 4-Square Plan in each monthly planner, along with those on setting short and long-term goals.
Have a fantastic and Blessed November!
~ Blessings, Christina Moss
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Staycation Planning Episode 349
