How do you all manage your time?

[KylieFan]

Hello All,

I'm starting to get bogged down with work, general house work(boring). I also have two allotments, well my partner works one and I kinda work between the two, the one we have had for four years and although we are getting better organised we are still fighting the weeds. The second plot I thought it would be a good idea to have for fruit, we have had this one a year and it was never dug by the previous tennant, so as you can imagine it's tough going.

Now my problem is time I don't seem to have enough hours in the day. I go the the allotment twice a week but really need to go more. How on earth do you all manage to keep on top of your plots? With all the other things in life to do like kids,work and keeping a house that doesnt look like a bomb has gone off.

Thanks for reading my moans,

Kylie Fan.

[Flummery]

Retiring made things a lot easier!
Also, I will do anything to avoid housework, so even the rough digging appeals. I procrastinate a lot (on the vine mainly!) but I get done what I want to because I want it enough.
Don't suppose that's much help if you aren't retired!

[KylieFan]

Sadly I'm not retired, I'm only 33 and work weird hours, so I suppose that doesnt help.

Kylie Fan.

[FionaH]

Im not retired though I do only work part time. I just say "stuff the housework" Plenty of time to hoover when its raining

[Capsid]

I make To Do lists and then stick to that. If I don't have a plan I'll feel that not much gets achieved.

[scarey55]

... Also, I will do anything to avoid housework, so even the rough digging appeals. I procrastinate a lot (on the vine mainly!)

Flummery, I think you're right - we must be twins

[deezyb]

I'm fairly organised at work to be honest (gold star for me )....but at home I manage my time badly!! Planting seeds and staring out of my kitchen window seem much more appealing! I think I just try and make sure that a bit gets done every day I suppose....kitchen is generally clean as is bathroom and living areas. As long as these parts of the house is okay, I don't feel guilty so much about doing the things I enjoy!

Kylie Fan - maybe when you get done fighting the weeds on Plot 1, things will ease up! Keep upbeat!

D x

[jacob marley]

I am retired but what don't get done today might get done tomorow or the day after it is no use rushing and worrying all that bring's is ulcer's .
My take on life is as i tell plenty of people that are complaining about being late or have not got time is when you are sat down eating your evening meal you will have caught up so don't worry....jacob

[Marthaclematis]

Can you make a list of all the things that you would like to get done in the next two weeks (some will have to be done and some can overrun to week three). Then allocate each task to a day and a time-slot. Next to the task write down the name of who will do it - and it doesn't always have to be you! I don't know how old your children are but could they take part - taking laundry back to their own rooms and putting it away, or helping at the lottie if they're big and strong enough. I enjoy doing this sort of thing, my lists have turned into works of art stuck to the fridge at times - in the weeks before Christmas especially. I have colour codes and everything! (I know. I'm a bit anal). Anyway it does seem to help but what you must NOT do - if you don't accomplish everything is feel guilty - feeling guilty is BAD, you won't accomplish everything but you will get more done than you would have without planning and its a great feeling when you tick things off one by one. Go on, call the kids and get the crayons out!

[Snadger]

I work full time but still go to my two allotments every day!

I have to go to sort my chooks out, but always find something gardening related to do. I think I'm starting to resemble some of the old 'weed watchers' at the site as I can't find a weed to feed my chooks with.

The best weedkiller is the gardeners shadow! (or a chook!)

[Growem]

Working odd hours might work to your advantage. That means you might get a chance to slip in half an hour here and there when the kids are in school and such. Probably best if you actually schedule and plan it in to your life, rather than vaguely saying, "Oh, I'll head down there after work".

[sewer rat]

I don't make lists but I have them all in my head. All Ican advise is that once you start one job, finish it - don't jump from one to the next - all that happens is you end up with loads of jobs half done.
Time just flies, even when you're full time at growing veg - the only answer is to invent a 36 hr day !

[RedThorn]

All I can advise is that once you start one job, finish it - don't jump from one to the next - all that happens is you end up with loads of jobs half done.

Best bit of advice I've heard in a long time and so true!!!

Time just flies, even when you're full time at growing veg - the only answer is to invent a 36 hr day !

don't do that! My company will want their piece of it too!!!

[KylieFan]

WOW, thankyou all for your replies. I feel a lot better about the huge amount of work that faces us but I will try and take things in my stride. Since my last post I have done quite a bit around the house so that will help for tomorrow.

Thanks again fellow plotters.

[weekendwellies]

My house looks like a bomb has gone off permanently. Kids are old enough to tidy up but won't. Its all i can do to get them to wash the dinner dishes every other day and that takes a load of nagging. Usually they get done around midnight! (sometimes the next day) and I refuse to do it as this is the only chore they are required to do.
I just got an allotment which is basically an overgrown patch of unuse land at the back of some garages that the council have decided to make into lotties. I dug the first 1m x 3m patch this weekend and made a raised bed with decking boards (on offer at B&Q £2.50). Put in some spuds that the one and only other existing lottie holder (what a gem) kindly gave me. There are other lottie holders but they are at roughly the same stage as me ... all newbies.