How to Get ALMOST Everything Done

We all have those days that feel overwhelming. They feel like “treadmill” days. You are running and running until you are exhausted all the way through but you still aren’t making it to the bottom of your to-do list. We are having a lot of those days lately . . .

Everyone told me how hard the first year would be with twins but honestly, I think it’s the second year that’s going to do me in. I have one twin walking now (the other walks around weirdly on her knees but she’s oddly fast) and I can’t turn around without them finding something on the floor to eat or climbing halfway up the stairs. With older kids who all have different school schedules and a 3 year old who thinks the world revolves around her (in all fairness, it kind of does) I’m worried about my ability to get everything done.

The truth is, we never get EVERYTHING done, do we? There’s always something that we miss.

I went to a beautiful baby shower thrown by a friend who also has 6 kids. It looked Pinterest worthy. I can’t imagine pulling something like that off but when I said just as much, she responded with, “Oh you know how it goes. You get one thing done but something else always suffers.”

I love that. Not because I want someone to drop any balls but because I was tempted to go down that path where I compare my worst with someone else’s best and wonder why I can’t manage to keep it together and pull off fantastic parties too.

Her words stopped me and reminded me that I don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have to do everything. I don’t have to compare my worst with someone else’s best. Her beautifully thrown party likely meant that she had dirty dishes in the sink. There’s always something.

[Tweet “I don’t have to do everything. I don’t have to compare my worst with someone else’s best.”]

I’ve learned to aim for balance. Think about what it looks like when you juggle. A ball is always being dropped. The key is to not let it drop too far before you throw it in the air again. Life is a bit like that. We are always dropping the ball somewhere but as long as we don’t let it drop too far it’s ok. My goal is to make sure I don’t let the important balls drop.

On busy days I remind myself that I can do anything . . . but I can’t do everything. So I aim for getting ALMOST everything done.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, here are my best tips for getting the most out of your day:

Delegate

The fact is, we cannot do it all but stuff still needs to get done. That doesn’t mean you have to do it all yourself. Kids can do an amazing amount of stuff. Give them a bit of responsibility and you may be surprised at what they can accomplish. Not sure where to start? Check out our printable chore chart.

Have a family meeting and decide who is going to take on which tasks. This can be super helpful on those extra busy weeks.

Take Advantage of Wasted Moments

Most days are filled with wasted moments. You may lose 5 minutes waiting for your kids to find their shoes before you head out the door or 15 minutes waiting at a dr. office. Use that time. If you need a few ideas, check out our list of 5 Minute Jobs you can do when you have a few extra minutes.

Don’t overwhelm yourself though. Don’t try and pack in as many tasks into your day as you can. Maybe you have a goal of reading more but can’t find the time to do it. Use those found moments to catch up on a book. I always keep a book in my diaper bag so I can read a page or two when I have a spare moment. That recharges me and even if it may not happen quickly, I’m gradually reading the books I want to read.

Save a trip. Buy in bulk.

Don’t waste your time going back and forth for things you’ve forgotten. I shop with a very detailed list but there are always things that I forget. Fortunately I keep my pantry and freezer well-stocked so I usually have extras if I forget to buy something on my regular grocery store run. This works

Limit your To-Do List

This may seem counter productive but I’ve found I get more done if I keep my to-do list simple. Put the most important tasks on it. If you finish those, then you can add the less important tasks. You’ll feel much more accomplished at the end of the day if you finished the things that were the most essential.

Plan Ahead

We waste so much time when we don’t have a plan. Just this morning I forgot that 3 of my kids had dentist appointments until 10 minutes before they had to be there. Something that should have only taken a few hours out of my day turned into an all day thing because I had to drop everything, rearrange other things I was trying to get done during that time and coordinate everyone’s schedules. Check your calendar every night before you go to bed. If you are coordinating multiple schedules keep a family calendar that everyone has access too (I love Cozi for this).

Start your Morning Well

Have you noticed that the mood of your morning can effect the rest of your day? I know if I have a rough morning the rest of the day is going to follow suit. I’ve been going through Crystal Paine’s Make Over Your Morning Course and I can’t say enough good things about it. She lays out all the things you need to do to make a HUGE difference in the quality of your mornings and as a result, the quality of the rest of your day.

I have 7 things I like to do every morning that make all the difference in the world for me personally. When I slack off on those things, the rest of my day suffers.

Follow a Routine

So many of the things we have to do everyday can be turned into habits. Set up morning and evening routines and you’ll essentially automate those things. Each of my kids has their own routines and they know which chores they need to do every morning.

Settle for Good Enough

Don’t get caught up aiming for perfect. There’s a time and a place for that. When you are in the midst of raising kids and keeping up with work/school/life you need to just do what works. That may mean you let your kids do their chores imperfectly and remind yourself that they are learning instead of jumping in and “fixing” the job they have done. It may mean you throw a frozen pizza in the oven when you need to. Whatever good enough looks like to you, it’s okay.

Be Gentle with Yourself

You won’t get anything done if you are overwhelmed. Be kind to yourself and look at all the good that you do each day.

How do you get ALMOST everything done?

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