Time Budget

Image: Found on Fast Eddie, Origin: Unknown

For several years now I have tried to follow a schedule.  I simultaneously crave and rebel against structure.  Last year, I came across a flexible scheduling practice that has helped me greatly.  It provides enough structure to make me feel organized and yet it has the flexibility to allow me changes without feeling like they're failures.  It's called Time Budgeting.  It's similar to budgeting money (you don't schedule when and how you're going to spend every cent, but rather how much to spend in an allotted time - like a week or a month).

I have two Time Budgets - one for a weekday and one for an entire weekend.  I prioritize the important things like sleep.

Weekday Budget 24 Hours Total:

• Sleep - 8 Hours
• Hygiene - 30 min (10 - teeth & face, 10 - shower, 10 - misc.)
• Food - 1.5 Hours (prep and consumption - 20 - breakfast, 20 - lunch, 50 - dinner)
• Commute - 2 Hours (audio books make this "reading time")
• Work - 7 Hours (+ 60 min lunch break; 40 for walking and a blog post)
• Walking - 30 min (during lunch break)
• House Care - 1 Hour (30 - chores/pick-up, 30 - unpacking)
• Couple Time - 30 min (allotted to talk, snuggle, snog)
• Screen Time - 1 Hour (T.V. or computer)
• Grace Time - 2 Hours (nothing goes as planned)

Weekend Budget 48 Hours Total:

• Sleep - 18 Hours
• Hygiene - 1 Hour
• Food - 3.5 Hours (menus, shopping, batch cooking, in addition to regulars)
• Walking - 1 Hour (split up or longer walk)
• Blogging - 1.5 Hours (prepping posts for later)
• House Care - 3 Hours (playing catch-up, working on improvements, unpacking)
• Couple Time - 2 Hours
• Screen Time - 6 Hours (cooking shows, reader-catch-up, movies, etc.)
• Free Time - 8 Hours (games, visiting with friends or family, garden prep, etc.)
• Grace Time - 4 Hours

With this budget, I'm able to get a lot more done in the day without worrying about when I'm getting something done.  Once I hit 30 minutes of laundry or cleaning the kitchen, I leave it alone and pick up tomorrow.  The same goes for screen time or blogging.