*Note: Copied over from Morning Pages journal vol. 14, personal journal vol. 11, dated 9.26-27.2024*

So yesterday you started to hypothesize what the timetable, in practice, could look like to allow you to work on multiple projects at once.

The future is open, especially as the hectic schedule your family has starts to settle. Soon, the twins will be in Kindergarten, Baby C will be in preschool full-time, you’ll have volunteer days, sure, but a lot of days where it’ll be just you and one kid at a time. Space can be found. You’ll just have to capitalize on the time and space offered. You already do that in the mornings. Think about it. 5:20a to 7a is sacred time.

And this leads to something you’ve been scared of putting together for so long.

A schedule.

A concrete, iron schedule for you and the boys, since that’s where most of your anxiety comes from, that dictates your day. I’ve halfheartedly done one before, but only followed it halfheartedly.

This would HAVE to be followed. This would GIVE me more writing time during the waking hours. Pitching? Querying? More time for story development or an extra 500-1000 words? This. This is how.

I guess I’ve always been afraid of a schedule because my teaching life was dominated by them. Helpful, yes, but for a couple years here (4 1/2? Wow. My boys are getting old. Not needed a teaching schedule since 2020.) it was nice being free.

Or, what I thought was free.

Now, with us providing in-home care for my ailing mother-in-law, the boys’ school lives, my volunteer dates, the doctor’s dates to help with my long-COVID, and now my wife’s music gigs, there’s suddenly a lot going on with our lives.

And I’d like to know when I am and what I’m doing.

So. Schedule.

Let’s subtract preschool dates, out-of-house appointments, and try to consider flexibility. What are the key most things you need to get done in any given day?

Daily House Chores – laundry, dishes, vacuum

Special House Chores – bathroom, dust, litter box

Play with Boys – designated activity, building LEGOs, pretend play

Individual Play – they play alone, tablet time

Nap Time – Baby C nap

I believe it’s during those last two that I may be able to find the moments I need…

Thanks for reading,

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