A Flexible Schedule

I have found both in my single life as a daughter at home and my married life, that having a schedule is very important, but being able to be FLEXIBLE with my schedule is even more important. If I don't have a schedule I tend to run around doing things all day without really getting anything done. Sometimes I feel like I'm running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, for lack of a better metaphor. :-) I know also from my life before I was married that at times there is just so much to do that without a schedule it is overwhelming and you don't know where to start. Now that I'm married and there is just the two of us at home, and our home isn't very big, I don't have nearly as much to do. That will come though as we ( Lord willing ) start a family. I need to make sure I get in the habit of being on an orderly schedule now so that it's not so hard when I have little ones running around.

However, having a schedule can be more of a curse than a blessing if it is not flexible. Some days the schedule works out perfectly, but sometimes, "life happens" as they say. Things come up, your husband needs you to help him with something or go somewhere for him, or sometimes it's as simple as your husband ( or father ) would rather have something different for dinner than what you were planning to make.

Sometimes I'll have my whole day planned out the night before and in the morning Josh will say, "Would you mind coming to work with me today? I could really use your help." POOF there goes my plan. I say, "Sure I'll come with you!" but meanwhile my mind is racing as I try to figure out what I can make for dinner since I won't be home until dinner time or later, and I'm thinking of the cleaning I wanted to do that day and now won't be able to do. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE going to work with Josh. It means I get to spend the whole day with him, and what could be better than that! And Josh understands that when I go with him the house isn't going to be cleaned up when we get home and dinner might be late. I have to learn not to panic about it. It's really pretty simple. Josh needs ( or maybe just wants :-)) me to go to work with him, so the cleaning will have to happen tomorrow, and I can either put something in the crock pot for dinner or think of something fast to make when we get home (which is why it's also good to have things on hand for making fast easy meals, something I need to get better at!). Schedules are important to keep your day from being crazy, but if you are too strict with it and area unwilling to bend it a little (or change it completely) it will add more stress than it will take away.

I am curious to see if anybody reading this has any thoughts on the subject and if you agree or disagree with my opinion. This has just been on my mind for the last few days as I was thinking about keeping the house clean and inviting, and Josh has had me come to work with him for two days in a row now. :-) It's been really nice to spend so much time with him!