How Are You Using Checklists?

Checklists are like that chore list your mom used to give you. To-do lists can help keep you on task when you want to accomplish many things in a small time-frame. Lists can also help you start and maintain new daily routines. Putting the power of time management systems to work for you. Whether you need to get yourself packed for traveling, develop a healthier lifestyle, or cut down on the family mayhem. When you work out a routine for developing habits for time efficiency, the outcome becomes predictable. Teaching your kids this skill set will enable you to hand off some of those household to-do lists. 

Get Packed and Out the Door

Getting ready to head out of town can be stressful between making sure you secure your home, pets are taken care of, and your bags are packed. Having a system to get you on your way helps reduce stress and uses your limited time effectively. A method to secure your home while you are gone, another for your house/pet/plant sitter and a system for packing what you will need for your trip. If you have a household binder or management files, you can add your printed checklists. If you do not have one, consider putting one together. Having a pre-made list to check off what needs to happen makes everything run a little smoother. You can also delegate things to other people with confidence.

Healthy Routine Checklists

One thing you cannot delegate is your health. Only you decide what level of commitment you will invest in a healthy lifestyle. You already start each day off with a routine; whether it is intentional or unconscious, you do the same things usually in the same order every morning. You may only need to add one or two small things to reap the benefits of a healthier you. Using your personal goals as a guide, pick a few simple changes to your morning routine that will add health to your life. For example, putting a bottle of water by your bed a night and drinking it first thing in the morning is an excellent start to the day. Consider taking five minutes and stretching out before you get dressed. Let it be your warm-up for your busy, stressful day ahead.

Look at your daily habits or routines and write down the morning routine that sets you up to conquer the day!