Springtime is right around the corner and brings on many new sign-up activities for your children. Actually, those sign up sheets may be coming home as early as mid-January to late February. How are you proposing to keep your schedule manageable and doable?

Get your family organized today to ensure a rested, easier and more positive year. It may alleviate stress later. Many moms want to be better organized but lack the tools or motivation to do so.

Set systems into place that streamline days into making better use of time and allow for family activities. Begin by making this upcoming spring a more positive one by squashing the over scheduling dilemma today.

Here are a few good tips to get you started and help keep you from pulling out your hair!

1. Review individual needs: Sit down with your children separately and look over their activity schedules for the spring and even the summer. Ask them what they would like to do, instead of assuming. Just because you think they would like it or even if they participated last year doesn‛t necessarily mean they want to do it. Letting them choose is better in the long run, unless it is something they obviously need such as summer school for enrichment or for poor grades. Tell them why you are making a calendar and organizing so much. Let them know that getting organized will help everyone in the family with time management and will make you a happier mom.

2. Write it down for visual aid and better motivation: Although there are plenty of tools and aids on the market today to help busy moms, they are no good if they are not efficient and easy to use. A simple calendar will work, especially one of those larger ones with more writing room, or you can use some computer or Palm software. Plan your month day-by-day, trying to include various details that will make up the day such as meals, appointments, practices, games and etc. It sounds like a lot of work, but you will save so much time in the end because you will know what to expect for every day. Personally, I go with my computer planner/calendar. Many of today‛s computers come with a daily planner/calendar that can be filled in and printed out for a handy visual aid. If you need more space, the squares of each day can be adjusted to print out a little bigger. Make a copy of each month and keep it with you. Give a copy to your spouse and anyone else who may need it and hang one in an area for other family members to see as well.

To utilize a better charting system, use the first initials of each family member‛s name and color code it. For example, mom is orange, dad is green, son is blue, etc. If they want to check the family calendar for their daily schedule, they can easily find it by the specific color code. Just remember: The best-laid plans can and do go astray, so be flexible.

3. Have it all at a glance: In your plan, include columns for special help, other appointments and daily reminders for best success. Make a list of names, times, activities and locations so other family members can help out, even if it is just giving a ride. Manage time by going so far as to plan meals and other necessities on the same sheet. Keep a column open to write down meals and items needed for a specific meal, doctor appointments and etc, to help in planning what can be done on days of practice or game days.

Keep a space on the calendar handy for preprinted numbers of neighbors, child-care professionals, veterinarians and/or relatives for emergencies. For example, on Monday if you see that it takes 20 minutes to get to your son after school and another 20 minutes to get him to basketball practice and you know that you can‛t make it because you have to stop at the store, call someone from your emergency help list. Have them pick up your son or perhaps go to the store and pick up certain ingredients for dinner.

4. Chart family time with rescheduling: Schedule family time into each month. Be up front with family members and let them know that an activity may have to be changed or switched if it‛s not working for the family as a whole. Make family time an important time and treat it as a priority. If you see after a while that certain activities conflict with certain days, reschedule them. For example, if your daughter‛s dance class on Tuesdays creates a large overlap with a planned family activity and gets everyone in a bad mood every week, change it. It‛s not worth the hassle if everyone gets in a bad mood because of one day each week.

Remember that one day a week adds up to several weeks a year and resentment and blame will soon follow.

5. Make time for yourself: Don‛t think for one minute that moms don‛t need time for themselves. At least three times a weeks for at least three hours, do something for you.

Take a walk; go for a run; attend an exercise class. Consider joining a book club or visiting a nursing home. Do something - anything - away from kids.

Don‛t feel guilty about it - just do it. If you “FLS” (feel like screaming) - you will! As an old saying puts it: “If mama ain‛t happy, nobody is.”

©2007 Jodie Lynn