Where DO you get the time?

By: Stephanie Foster
Why does it so often seem like you turn around and it's midnight when you're raising your kids? It seems like no matter what you do sometimes, there's still a lot more work to do by the time you are ready to go to bed. What can you do? The first thing you need to do is figure out where your time is going each day. Try making notes one day about what you do and how long it takes. If you're feeling really ambitious, you can try this for a week, since every day is going to be different, but even one day will give you an idea as to where you're using up all your time. It may feel like you're wasting time writing these things down, and they will slow you down a bit for that day, but it can be a big help. Take a look at what you spent your day doing. Now assign a priority to each. How much time would you prefer to spend on each? Now if you add all these up, you'll probably find out your day is more than 24 hours long if you include time to sleep. That's how it is being a parent. The first thing you need to do is figure out what items can be done less often. Can you stand a little mess in the house? Can everyone else? Can you get more help from your spouse and the kids in keeping the house clean? You'll have to decide which solution is right for you. What about time spent surfing the internet or watching TV? Give yourself time limits on each of these. If you have a Tivo or a VCR, try recording your favorite shows and watching them a little later, skipping the commercials. Not only does this allow you to choose the time you watch your shows, it can cut down their length. Sometimes it can be hard finding enough time in your day to be with your kids, yet most parents will call this a priority. Just remember that time with your kids isn't just about having fun. Even small children can help out with making dinner, which can be a great time for talking with kids of any age. My three year old daughter has been helping make salads since she was two. The lettuce ends up in either rather large or very small pieces, but she has fun helping and we get some great time together. Older kids may or may not appreciate this time, but it's good for them to help out. I definitely do not recommend cutting back on whatever meals you insist on eating as a family. This is a great thing to do as a family, and if you aren't making time for family meals, find a way to do so! Even if it's just dinner one night a week together, no activities or sports to run off too, your family needs the time to relax together. Finally, are there things you can cut out all together? If you feel as though you've been pushed into doing things for others because you're at home and "have time," don't feel guilty about telling people that you do not have the time to do things they want you to do. Your family comes first. If you really want to volunteer, think about either cutting back the number of hours when you need more time for yourself or your family, or volunteering for something you can do as a family. There are only so many hours to a day, and so many things you'd love to get done. Take a good look at what you need to do, want to do and don't really need to do, and you can find ways to feel a little less overwhelmed most of the time. You'll go through times where there just aren't enough hours in the day even when you know your priorities, but you can cut down on the less important stuff and relieve a lot of your stress.
Author BioStephanie Foster is the owner of Home with the Kids, a site for stay at home parents. If you want to learn more about time management as an at-home parent, please visit www.homewiththekids.com/time-management/
Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

A Person is Only Limited by the Thoughts He Chooses

By: Daniel N Brown

Many of the circumstances in a person's life are often produced by him, or her self.
I believe we each create our own luck, whether it be good or bad. Consciously, or unconsciously, we may have at some time or another, produced our own conditions, desirable, or undesirable, either in our bodily health or other circumstances.
Many of these conditions in our lives, whether they be favorable or unfavorable, are largely determined by our beliefs.
You may not accept that. You might be like a lot of people that I have encountered that make excuses. Making excuses and casting blame only make us out to be the victim. There is absolutely no power in playing the part of a victim.
I know we each experience our own individual successes and failures because of our beliefs.
Our beliefs definately determine the quality of our lives. The amount of money we earn is determined by our beliefs. We each earn the income we do today because of the beliefs we maintain. Simply because it is the amount we have limited ourselves to earn. We possibly could earn five, ten, twenty times, or more if we did not limit ourselves through our beliefs.
Don't believe that's true? Surely you know people who earn much more than you who don't have your education, your skills, or your intelligence. So why do they earn more than you?
It is a fact that one's belief system is ultimately responsible for whether they live a successful life or not. So, it would do each one of us good to get an understanding of our individual beliefs.
It starts with our thoughts. Our thoughts are what our belief system is composed of, and it is our beliefs that ultimately dictate the outcome of every area of our lives.
Your true beliefs are a sum total of all of your accumulated experiences over the course of your life. They create your expectations for future experiences, and your expectations are really nothing more than your current pattern of thought.
Your thoughts have brought you to where you are right now. But, you are not limited to the life you now live. It has been accepted by you as the best you can do at this moment. Any time you're ready to go beyond the limitations currently in your life, you're capable of doing that by choosing different thoughts.
Since there are tremendous reservoirs of potential within you, you are quite capable of doing anything you set your mind to (as long as it's within God's will for you). All you must do is decide that you can. And once you have made your mind up that you can do it, it's amazing how your mind begins to figure out how.
The "how" is the easy part. It's the "believing" part that trips up most people.
Jesus said in Mark 9:23, "All thing are possible to him who believes."
You are only limited by your beliefs, and it is your thoughts that make up your beliefs. Therefore, it makes sense to choose better thoughts. It's completely within your control. Choose thoughts that contribute to success and not failure, or a "settle for" attitude.
If you sincerely want to move on with your life, you can if you decide to.
Make a decision today to take full responsibility for where you are. Decide from this moment on that you will choose thoughts that contribute to a life of success and dismiss all thoughts of doubt, fear, and unbelief. God's Word says, "Whatsoever things are just, honorable, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, and praise, think on these things" (Phil 4:8).
Your thoughts are critical to the quality of your life! Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, "According to your faith, let it be done unto you."
Author BioDaniel N. Brown is an entrepreneur and teacher of biblical success principles. Get your FREE report entitled, "How to Receive from God" when you sign up for your FREE weekly newsletter. http://www.secretplaceonline.com/
Article Source: http://www.articlegeek.com/