How to Easily Manage Your Home Part 1: Creating A Daily Block Schedule
Welcome to Part 1 of my How to Easily Manage Your Home series, where I will be walking you through how to set up simple systems and routines that will basically Put Your Home on Autopilot.
This will essentially be a Home Management 101 Minicourse. So if that sounds like something you would be into, be sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss any content!
If you want to be sure you stay up to date on all the routines we will be creating along the way, you can grab my Easy Home Management Checklist and check each routine off as you create it.
And if you prefer to watch your content instead of reading, feel free to follow along on YouTube:
So let’s go ahead and get started with the First Step to easily managing our homes, and that is to create a Daily Block Schedule.
Why Should Every Mom Have a Daily Block Schedule
I know that’s a pretty bad statement… but yes, I think EVERY mom should have a Daily Block Schedule!
Why?
Because Block Schedules will give you the structure that you and your kids crave while giving you the flexibility that will work for real life!
How to Create a Daily Block Schedule:
Ok, let’s get started!
1) Choose Your Weapon
To create your block schedule, you will need a piece of paper, or a notebook to write everything down on.
I would just recommend that you have a notebook or a binder that us a dedicated Home Management Binder.
Then you will know exactly where all of your routines are located and you will be able to easily find them when you need them.
Or if you’d like, you can grab the printable Home Management Binder that I created for you called the Autopilot Workbook. That has everything you need to set up routines and systems that will have your home running smoothly.
2) Set Up Your Template
If you are using the Autopilot Workbook, you can skip this step.
But for everyone else, you will want to turn your paper so that it is horizontal instead of vertical.
Then grab a ruler and a pencil or pen and draw the outline of your template.
You will want your template to have 4-6 long columns with 2 small horizontal boxes at the top of each column. It should look something like this:
3) Decide How Many Blocks Your Day Will Have
I recommend using between 4 and 6 blocks in your day.
If you have any fewer than 4 blocks, your day will feel too flexible because your blocks are too long. But if you have more than 6 it will be too rigid.
Anything between 4 and 6 blocks is just a personal preference though so choose what you think will work best for you.
My template has 6 blocks, but if you are creating your own you can draw in as many as you’d like.
If you aren’t sure how many blocks you should have in your day, just keep reading and it should be more clear. 🙂
4) Choose the length of your blocks
Some people like to have blocks that are exactly the same size (like having 4 blocks that are all 3 hours long if you are basing your schedule off of 12 waking hours, or 6 blocks that are all 4 hours long if basing your schedule off 24 hours).
But my day just isn’t quite that neat. Almost all of my blocks are different lengths based on what I am doing in each block.
So choose whichever will work best for you!
Once you decide how long each of your blocks will be, write down the start and end time of each block on the second line of your block schedule (see the example above if you need a visual :).
5) Name Your Blocks
Once you have the time for each block figured out, decide what you would like each block to be called.
Don’t worry about being too creative here, my first Block of the day is just called Morning Block.
But naming the blocks will help you decide which items should go into each block.
Your block name will go on the first line of your Block Schedule Template.
6) Divide Your Daily Responsibilities
Now take all the things that you might do in a day and organize them in the proper blocks.
As you do this, keep in mind that you won’t do all of these things in the same day.
For example, in my Out and About Block, I have going to the dentist, going to the doctor, going grocery shopping, going to the park, going on a hike… you get the idea.
But I definitely won’t be doing all of that in one day!
Dividing our duties on our block schedule helps us put some organization and structure to our day.
And anytime you need to make an appointment or schedule a playdate, or anything like that, you will know exactly what time you should schedule it.
My Updated Block Schedule
So if you saw my last post on Creating a Daily Routine When You Are Stuck at Home, you are going to notice that there are a couple of changes in this Block Schedule.
And since a lot has happened in the last year, was time for me to update my block schedule too! So I did it right alongside you when I created the video that goes with this post.
I think it is a good idea to revisit your Block Schedule every year or so because it is natural for your life to change and shift especially as your children get older.
But if you’ve already Put Your Home on Autopilot and have the Autopilot Workbook, all you should need to do when you update is re-print the template, make minor updates, and then get on with your life 🙂
So here is my updated Block Schedule if you’re curious to see it!
Block 1: Morning Block 6:00am- 10am
- Mom’s Morning Checklist (I’ll be showing you how to create one of these in a later post)
- Kid’s Morning Checklist (I’ll be showing you how to create one of these in a later post)
- Mom’s Workout Time (checkout this post to see how I find time to workout.)
- Start the Laundry
- Make Breakfast
- Unload the Dishwasher
- Eat Breakfast (check out this post for easy, healthy breakfast ideas!)
- Family Worship
- Cleanup Breakfast
- Cleaning Chores of the day (check out this post for my weekly cleaning routine)
- Switch the Laundry
- Practice Violin
Block 2: Out and About Block 10:00am- 1:30pm
- Play in the backyard
- Go on a hike
- Doctor appointments
- Dentist appointments
- Play dates
- Grocery Shopping
- Eat Lunch
- Clean Up Lunch
Block 3: Naptime Block 1:30pm- 4:00pm
- Get Ready for Nap/Quiet Time
- Nap/Quiet Time
- Phone Calls
- Mom’s Work Time
- Mom’s Personal Time
Block 4: Evening Block 4:00pm-8:00pm
- Fold Laundry
- Prepare Dinner
- Play in the Backyard
- Outside Time
- Music Lessons
- Swimming Lessons
- Eat Dinner
- Clean up Dinner
- Family Worship
- Kid’s Evening Checklist (I’ll be showing you how to create one of these in a later post)
Block 5: Mom’s Work Block 8:00pm- 10:30pm
- Mom’s work time
Block 6: Sleep 10:30pm- 6:00am
- Mom’s Evening Checklist (I’ll be showing you how to create one of these in a later post)
- Sleep
Ready to Start Easily Managing Your Home?
If you are ready to get organized and make a plan that will help you run your home without stress, check out my course Put Your Home on Autopilot!
This course walks you through the steps to get your home practically running itself!
In Put Your Home on Autopilot, you will learn how to set up effective cleaning systems, set up your day for success, and start making time for the things that matter most.
In just one month you will go from feeling overwhelmed to in control. And if you have any questions along the way, I’m only an email away!
I hope to see you inside the course!
(Or if you are more of a do-it-yourself kind of gal, you can just grab the Autopilot Workbook and work through it yourself. 🙂
