“Taking the Struggling Out of Juggling to Increase Productivity”

(If you’ve been seriously considering a home business, you may want to listen to the Homeschool Biz Expo, a downloadable conference featuring homeschooling entrepreneurial experts Bob & Tina Farewell, Jim Cockrum, Sarah Cook, Terri Johnson, Steve & Kerry Beck, Cindy Rushton, Debbye Canon, and others. Learn how they juggle home, school, and business without losing their sanity!)

These are my notes from the first Homeschool Biz Expo Interview:

“Taking the Struggling Out of Juggling to Increase Productivity”

by Debbye Cannon- Business Mom Mentor

Prompted by friends to share her organizing systems and techniques, Debbye has taken her experiences as a mom who was struggling with juggling family and business and is now the BusinessMom Mentor (aka SMARTcut Expert). Her passion is helping independent business women create a thriving family life while growing a prosperous business.

MY NOTES: (not word-for-word)

Debbye created a system to accomplish more. Friends started recognizing that she was having success in
accomplishing more in her home and with her family. She had learned Prioritizing without Agonizing.
Her methods included steps that go beyond Organizing through cleaning out Clutter. She shows other
women how to find good ways to do tasks, but to be realistic about it

But how do we find balance. We often feel frustrated, guilty, or we have feelings of failure for not doing a good job. We desire but can’t get balance so that we can feel that all things are taken care of and are going well. But, the truth is, things are not equal. Trying to be balanced will cause stress.

The good news is, we can find rhythm. Good days, bad days, same things, routines. We can make a simple changes. We can create flexible plan. Don’t look for balance, but seek and maintain rhythm. Seek
the ease of regular flow, routine, with a rough (general) schedule with planned flexibility.
Get up at a certain time; get to to bed at a certain time

How can we have time for the meaningful things in life?

Debbye Shares Her Three Step Process: Clear, Contain, Continue

1. CLEAR

Visualize-get specific about what you want the outcome you desire. Visualize with senses:how will it
feel!!! look, sound, smell, touch.  How can you make life peaceful, creative, lovely,what do you want? Cut
out pictures to express it.

Part of clearing is de-cluttering. Most people only use about 20% of their stuff. I’m not saying to get
rid of 80% of your possessions, but sorting out 10 or 20% to give away or throw away will give you
more peace. It is a fact: Clutter adds stress

(My note to self:  Plan to use up what I have in sewing and craft supplies, Clean out homeSchool files, make up scrapbooks-work on them a few hours a week,take pictures and throw some of the saved homeschool papers, art, etc away. Minimize scans and print for scrapbooks/portfolios.)

Back to Debbye:
If you get rid of something that you need later, just buy another.
We think, “I might need this someday”…there is not a day called someday.
Saving for the kids. Usually, they don’t want your stuff. Keep less.
Keep what is valuable at this age and stage, for right now,not for later.

2. Contain

Create a flexible plan-part of the beauty of the life that we live homeschooling is flexibility.

Ask yourself, “What can I do to contain it?”

–Physical Order:

Measure your space and buy containers that fit your space.
Containers for School Stuff that fit the need and the space.

–Contain your time. Schedule blocks. Contain your Tasks with a Plan and a Schedule:
Plan your days to contain accomplishments,  schoolwork,  chores,  hobbies,f amily time.
Contain school tasks  in time allotted

(Example: Debbie’s family pursued Year Round Schooling)

During traditional school year, schoolwork was done on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday. Thursday and Tuesday were their independence days delegated to contain play, science experiments, music, laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping. Mom and the kids did their own things on Tues and Thurs.

During traditional school’s SUMMER TIME, the family flip-flopped the schedule: MWF were independence
days and Tues. and Thurs. were school days. The schedule/plan contained the tasks that were needed or
desired. In their case, a great advantage was that the Kids learn to be flexible and to make decisions
to get work done.

–Contain Yourself.

If you are a creative person, you probably tend to be overwhelmed with so many choices and things that
you need to do or want to do. Contain yourself. Don’t leave the area when you are trying to accomplish
something like cleaning out a closet of room. Contain your time. Don’t suffer from “Attraction Deficit
Disorder” …being attracted to spend time doing something different before you finish your first
task. Find simple tools that help you accomplish your goals.

3. Continue

Find ways to automate.

IDEAS such as Chore charts, master grocery list, menu, Year-round school plan,
Ideal menu plan.  Find things that you can repeat

Create a school templates for GETTING WORK DONE-create a plan to shoot for.
Templates Examples:
Steps for writing a book report.
Requirements for keeping your room clean.

Have a plan for a SUPPORT SYSTEM:
What happens if Mom is sick. Have a back up plan. (auto pilot school, youth to be mother’s helper if
you don’t have someone in your own family, babysitting coop-exchanging babysitting help)

Keep up your motivation:
Find ways to celebrate. Think of things that are valuable celebration to you. Going to the library, Going out to get an icecream. Celebrations are as individual as families. Just think about what your family enjoys most. When a task is completed, celebrate with a reward.

[I’m not lazy, but I want to find the most productive ways to get things done so that I have time to
enjoy the best things in life…family]

Be productive. Homeschool is like a Home Business

Out for a walk: Holga-ish
–Creative Commons License photo credit: di_the_huntress