Big Red, Holland MI

For me, if I don’t plan out what I’d like to do with summer, I get to the end and realize I didn’t do anything I had thought it my head to do.

So a few years back I created a summer list. I get together with the kids and take out last year’s list. We see what we didn’t get to that still sounds like what we’d like to do and put those on the list first. We also get out the summer guide in our newspaper that lists festivals, concerts, plays, art shows etc. that will be in the area over summer. We circle the ones that sound fun and add them to the list.

Then it’s brainstorming time – that’s where the headings in the summer list come into play. What holidays are coming up? What sounds relaxing? What physical activities would we like to engage in? Where do we want to go?

Things that need dates I put into the calendar. And then the list goes on the bulletin board. During my weekly planing I can pick some off the list to add to the week.

You don’t have to fill in every blank – that will just stress you out. Only add what comes naturally. We always fill up holidays/events, places to go and physical activities. But goals is only half filled as is home and garden. Everyone has different interests.

You can also use this type of list for whatever season you are going into.

You can print out a sample that the kid’s and I did this weekend and print your own:

Summer 2010 Sample

Summer 2010

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But, it seems those New Year’s plans don’t always happen. The funny thing is I look over my goals lists from a few years ago and those goals happened. They just took longer than a year. I think many goals that are important do take more than a year.

If we keep making progress towards our dreams and goals, we will eventually hit them. Just like the little engine that could.

A year is not some mystical number that all goals must be reached by. The year mark is just a train stop on your life journey.

We have full lives. Most of us can’t work on our goals 24-7.

So what goals have you made progress on last year? What do you think your life would look like if you continued working on them this year?

Your other choices are beating yourself up about not completing the goal yet, giving up, or making a myriad of excuses why it’s not possible. Yuck!

***

Photo by Aussie Gal

If you are looking for a way to break down your goals and plan a simpler year you can check out my Simple Annual Plan

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So how can you go about simplifying a project? How about…

• Ask yourself, "How important is this project to me?" If it’s not important anymore can you let it go? Allocate time based on how important it is.
• Ask, "What is the most important part of this project?" Make that your focal point. Make that part the best it can be and then anything else is a bonus.
• Decide on the minimum project requirements and get those done first.
• Do only part of the project. Redo the kitchen cabinets instead of the whole kitchen. Do one class instead of a series of classes. Create something that does one thing well instead of multiple things semi-well.
• Bring in someone new to look at the project and see where it can be simplified.
• See if someone has done your type of project before and has a checklist or template you can follow.
• Get help from others, especially people who have done this type of project before. Hire someone, get an assistant, get help from a friend, find a mentor.
• Ask, "What’s superfluous in this project?" or "What is unnecessary?" You can add things later, but if you feel overwhelmed with your project weeding out what you don’t need can get things moving again.
• Write down basic steps as you think of them or find them out by research. Don’t keep a project just in your head. Things always seem clearer once you write it out.
• Make the deadline further out so you are less rushed. Why do we create unrealistic deadlines, even if they are our own projects?
• Simply ask yourself, "How can I make this project simpler?" and write down your answers.

Don’t let an overcomplicated project keep you from moving forward.

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1) Decide what the top 5 priorities are for the next few months. Then when opportunities come up you can decide if they will fit or not.

2) Create a new routine for a new season. (I can’t do the same routine year after year or I go batty.) Plus things change with school and activities being renewed.

3) Put some seasonal activities you’d love to enjoy on your calendar. Adding fun activities makes you feel more alive – and that’s good for everybody.

4) Change up your self care. Maybe you need a different moisturizer. Maybe you are heading outside again for exercise after a hot summer. Maybe you pursue different hobbies each season.

5) Ask questions in a notebook or journal. "What would make this season great?" "What am I most looking forward to?" and "What stresses can I prepare for?"

6) Finally take a look at your calendar. Can you take anything out? Are there any deadlines or events coming up that you can plan for? If your calendar makes you miserable when you look at it, make sure it includes enjoyable activities and seeing your favorite people.

When are you going to do your seasonal thinking time? 

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Photo by House of Sims

Don’t wait until the last minute to get prepared for back to school. Use this checklist to start school organized and confident. Start about 14 days before school starts.

 Day 1 Start having everyone go to bed earlier (including you)

Day 2 Make hair, doctor, immunization appointments

Day 3 Go through kid’s closets with them and get rid of clothes that are too small, take them directly to goodwill

Day 4 Make a list of supplies and clothes that you will need this year

Day 5 Shopping day with the kids

Day 6 Shopping day without the kids

Day 7 Goal Planning Day for self and kids, ask kids questions about their goals for the school year and write them down, plan your own 3 month goals

Day 8 Plan your morning routine and practice it

Day 9 Plan your evening routine and practice it

Day 10 List different lunch ideas and tape into a cabinet (I have some lunch ideas at Meal Planning )

Day 11 Make and post a daily schedule for the kids to follow and make your own daily schedule

Day 12 Decide on a paperwork system and schedule daily and weekly times to go through paperwork

Day 13 Figure out where your launch pad will be for the backpacks, boots etc. will be

Day 14 Rest, catch up, have some summer fun

Day 15 Send the kids off to school with a special breakfast

Day 16 Get your extracurricular activity bag ready

Day 17 See how your routines are doing and redo if necessary

Day 18 List kid’s strengths and your own

Day 19 Do a fun activity as a family

Day 20 Start a 21 day self-improvement challenge

(Or shop online at Amazon through this affiliate link)

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Photo by midnightcomm

I just love to plan summer. A few months of warmth and possibilities. In this week’s Simplicity Tips I put in a .pdf to help you plan your summer:

Summer Planning

I thought I would let you browse what the kids and I planned for our summer last year:

the Dargis Family Summer

Now, don’t think that just because we have a bunch of things listed that we will get to do them all. But, because of planning we will get to do most. Once a week I take a look at the worksheet and see what will fit nicely into the week. A couple things on the weekend. Maybe a lovely afternoon. And an evening or two.

Whatever doesn’t get done this year, I will put into my summer planning folder to add to the top of the list next year. If we still want to do it next year.

Structure

I like to add a little structure to summer. The daily routine is a lot looser than in other months, but the kids and I are both home and we could fritter the day away. (And some days we do.) But, usually there are chores to do, books to read, work to be done before we get to play.

I find summer is a great time to involve the whole family in volunteering. There is a big garage sale for a local charity this weekend. Next week we can help plant a rain garden through the city. And often non-profits need lawn care.

Space

And we also have quite a bit of space for the kids to just be and think of their own things to do. Or just lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling.

Don’t go overboard with your planning. I read of summer planning expos in March for all the day camps, athlete camps, computer camps, education camps, etc. Kids need time to lay low for awhile too. Not just learn and perform.

More things to do this summer

You can also find more things for the kids to do this summer here:

101 Things to Do in Summer

and for you:

Summer To Do List

Enjoy!

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Declutter

The first step is decluttering. I know crafty types like to keep everything because it may be used in a project at some point in time. But you are limiting time and space for current and loved projects.

And if you have partly finished projects, finish those before going on to another project or decide you are no longer interested in the project and give the material away. (Yes, it’s ok not to finish a project.)

Hiding Your Supplies

Find out what storage space you have. Separate the area, even if it is just with a screen to corral some of the mess.

There are art bags that can hold things like scrapbook and card supplies, quilting, sewing, knitting, etc. Keeping it in one or two bags will keep it from taking over your home. Then when you want to create you can wheel it over to the kitchen table.

A closet with doors that close can be good for keeping it out of sight.

You can also try an armoire or stand up cabinet and add shelves to it for your craft supplies.

Those four door plastic carts can hold things then wheel into a closet until you are ready to use it.

We use a long thin basket for our newspapers that goes under the couch. You can see if you can fit a current craft project in one. And some ottamans open up and you can put things like knitting projects in them. End tables and coffee tables often have places to store things as well.

Other storage ideas at Country Living

Craft Room

Norma Nack’s Sewing Room

For people with more space, they might want to convert a room or part of the basement into a craft center. The most important thing is to keep like with like and label everything. What groups of things do you need to organize for your craft room?

My daughter has an old table in the basement and corrals things with a cabinet and various shoe boxes, a plastic drawer system and a few big boxes under the table for material.

It’s not necessary to buy expensive organizers. Most people have boxes, baskets and containers around their house that can be used.

Try a pegboard for crafting tools.

Bookshelves lined with boxes for craft supplies work well.

Hang things on the walls like in Ali’s fantastic scrapbook room.

And see if you can find some tips at DIY Maven’s simple craft room.

Maintenance

Don’t browse hobby stores and pick up something cute you might want some day if space is an issue for you. Buy by the project.

How do you organize your craft space?

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http://www.mysimplerlife.com/blog/?p=816

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Something I have started recently that is working well for me is to reconfirm appointments.

One of the last things on my work day schedule is to reconfirm appointments. So I email clients confirming our call or chat the next day, call friends if we are getting together tomorrow, or call any other appointment I may have.

The only exception is the doctor. I call the office not long before my appointment to make sure the doctor is on time and that he isn’t in emergency surgery.

Not only does confirming the appointments help them remember, it also helps me plan for the next day and reminds me of what is coming up.

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http://www.encouragingcoach.com/articles/Christmas.htm

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