How to Live an Organized Life with a Timetable

Make a table with eight columns. This table will represent your weekly schedule. The leftmost column will begin with the time you wake up and end with the time you go to sleep. The other columns will correspond to the days of the week.

• For example, if you wake up at 7:00 AM and go to sleep at 11:00 PM, the first row in the left column will be 07:00. Continue moving down the rows, increasing the time by one hour until 23:00.
• Try creating a personal timetable for each family member so everyone works in a more organized manner.

Record fixed times. Review your timetable and identify the time slots allocated for specific activities. For example, if lunch is from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, note it in your schedule. Other activities to consider include:

• Appointments
• Class time and study sessions
• Sleep time
• Church
• Meetings
• Children's activities
• Plans with your spouse
• Travel time
• Exercise

Schedule leisure activities. Leisure is just as vital for your quality of life as work and study. In fact, recreation is linked to health benefits related to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It reduces stress levels. Therefore, proactively plan leisure activities in fixed time slots. Some great recreational activities include:

• Recreational sports
• Activities at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
• Church activities
• Programs at local parks and community centers
• Consider scheduling family leisure time, as there are many family-friendly programs that can meet everyone's entertainment needs.

Prioritize events and manage sudden changes. You might have already scheduled time for an urgent task or an event that clashes with another. Don't panic—life is unpredictable! You need to learn to prioritize the most important tasks.

• Consider whether you can reschedule an event or task, and if it is crucial, can someone else take over it, etc.

Try following your timetable for one week. Make sure to monitor yourself and check if you've allocated enough time for specific activities. For instance, have you set enough time to travel to work and back? Or do you often find yourself running late or rushing to make it on time?

Adjust as needed. Modify your timetable based on the issues you’ve recorded during the initial schedule. This way, your timetable will be more accurate and reflect your reality.

• For example, if you consistently arrive 15 minutes late to work, you should adjust your schedule by adding an extra 20 minutes for travel time.

Determine your sleep duration. It's essential to choose your sleep time based on your individual sleep needs. One of the key factors to staying organized is waking up at the same time every morning. Let's face it: waking up late throws off the rest of your day. However, when you get enough rest, you'll find it easier to rise on time each day. Ensure you also pick the right bedtime for your child.

• Figure out how many hours of sleep you need to feel refreshed in the morning. Then, determine the exact time you should go to bed to be energized for the day. You may need to experiment with different sleep durations over several nights to figure out what works best for you.
• Remember, most healthy adults need 7-9 hours of sleep, and children require 10-14 hours depending on their age.
• It helps to start winding down about 30 minutes before bed. Try turning off electronic devices to create a quiet time before sleep. This is an excellent way to transition from daily activities to a peaceful rest.

Set your alarm clock. Many believe that the morning routine starts early in the day, but that's not entirely true. Setting your alarm the night before ensures you wake up on time the following morning.

• To avoid hitting snooze and disrupting your schedule, place your alarm far from your bed. This way, you'll have to get up to turn it off.
• Another method is to set two alarms at different distances from the bed. Set them about 10 minutes apart. Even if you fall back to sleep after the first alarm, the second one will help you stay on track.
• Make sure your alarm time allows you enough time to wake your child up on time. You may want to start waking them a few minutes earlier.

Set aside time for morning rituals. Many people enjoy performing certain rituals before starting their day. These rituals could include prayer, exercise, meditation, journaling, or simply spending quiet time with loved ones in the morning. Whatever your ritual is, incorporate it into your schedule. By planning time for your rituals, you can avoid running late.

• Set specific time slots to engage in your rituals. You could dedicate half an hour, an hour, or even two hours to them.
• Morning rituals can help clear your mind and increase productivity throughout the day. Light exercises can boost circulation and are an excellent way to enhance your focus for the day ahead. Simple stretches could be part of your routine.

Use a timer for personal hygiene. It's easy to lose track of time while showering, getting ready, or engaging in other personal grooming activities. Using a timer can help you stay on schedule. You can buy an inexpensive timer from most stores.

• Some parents prefer showering while their kids have breakfast, but others like to eat with their children.
• Showering the night before can also be a useful strategy to help you organize your morning routine.

Use your time wisely. Multitasking can be a great way to keep household tasks organized. For example, you can devise methods to complete chores and get ready for the morning. Having kids help out is also an effective solution. Here are some ideas:

• Put clothes in the washing machine before you leave for work, and you can toss them in the dryer when you get home.
• If you have a dog, ask your child to prepare for the walk while you shower. For instance, they can get the leash and "poop bags" ready. After you shower, you can quickly take the dog for a walk with your child.
• Older children can help younger ones get ready in the morning. Having a 10-year-old assist a preschooler in finding their shoes can really save time.

Have a healthy breakfast. Food is essential fuel for the body, so you need to establish a habit of eating a nutritious breakfast. If you tend to skip breakfast, try to identify the reason behind it. Maybe it's because you're in a rush or simply don't like breakfast foods. Whatever the cause, you're likely aware of it, and once you pinpoint it, you can work on developing a consistent breakfast routine.

• If you dislike typical breakfast food, try having lunch instead.
• If mornings are rushed, try going to bed earlier to give yourself more time in the morning.
• If you're not hungry in the morning, at least have a small snack. Remember, food is fuel, and refueling your body in the morning is key to starting your day right.

Leave the house on time. It's crucial to leave the house on schedule. Make sure you've accounted for all your stops along the way. Whether it's dropping the kids off at school or grabbing a coffee, ensure you allow yourself enough time to get there on time.

• Determine how much time you need to reach your destination, including any stops along the way. Try scheduling your morning realistically to estimate time accurately. Add 15 minutes as a buffer to account for traffic or unforeseen delays. Being late can mess up your whole schedule and leave you feeling disorganized.
• At the same time, try to gather everything you need the night before. This will help you save time and leave the house on time in the morning.
• Review materials for an upcoming test, practice spelling, or review math while you're in the car. It's a great way to make use of your time, especially if the previous night was busy.

Choose clothes for the next day. Picking out outfits for the following day while your child is getting ready in the evening is a fantastic time-saver. While they're in the bathroom, you can use that time to select their clothes so you're not rushing in the morning.

• If your child is very young, NEVER leave them unsupervised in the bathtub. Older children can pick out their clothes for the next day once they’re done with their hygiene routine.
• Make sure everything is ready the night before, including shoes, socks, and accessories like headbands and jewelry. Also, ensure that items such as combs, toothpicks, or hairbrushes are in their designated spots to avoid wasting time looking for them in the morning.
• You can also choose outfits for the entire week, including accessories, on Sunday evening.
• Ensure that jackets, hats, and gloves are placed in an easy-to-access location for those colder days ahead.

Prepare your bags in advance. Get your bags ready and place them in their designated spots before going to bed. This way, all you need to do in the morning is grab them and head out the door. The bags to prepare include:

• Your backpack for books
• Your workbag
• Lunch bags for the kids, yourself, and your spouse, with non-perishable items that can stay overnight. You can add perishable food and an ice pack in the morning.

Prepare breakfast in advance. Setting the breakfast table the night before will help you start the morning with less stress. Lay out napkins, bowls, spoons, and cereal the night before, so everyone can help themselves when they wake up. All you need to do in the morning is prepare milk and juice. This is especially useful if your family enjoys cereal for breakfast.

• You can put the dishes in the dishwasher right after dinner. This way, you'll ensure the dishes are clean and ready for the breakfast setup before bed.

Fill out forms ahead of time. Waiting until morning to fill out school forms is a nightmare. It will take a lot of time and you’ll be scrambling at the last minute, or even forget about them altogether. Prepare a tray to hold all the school papers your child brings home in the afternoon. After the child goes to bed, fill out the forms and place them in their backpack, ready for the morning.

Create a daily task list. It’s helpful to prepare a to-do list the night before. This keeps you organized and ensures you’re not forgetting anything. Make sure to check your calendar and schedule before creating the list to ensure you account for everything.

• A family calendar can be useful. Everyone, except for those with young children, should be responsible for adding events to the calendar. For example, Tuan could be in charge of adding the time for the upcoming dance or basketball game.

Establish a predictable daily routine. Set a specific time for each activity your child participates in, and try to stick to the same schedule every day. When both the child and the parents know what to expect next, it becomes much easier to follow through. Some activities you might want to include in the routine are:

• Bedtime, wake-up time, and naptime
• Bathing
• School or daycare drop-off
• Extracurricular activities
• Meals
• Scheduled activities

Keep the home organized. Children with ADHD often struggle with remembering where they’ve put their things. This can be frustrating when you’re trying to stick to a schedule but find it disrupted because your child can’t remember where they left their lunchbox. Make sure your home is well-organized to provide a clear space for your child’s belongings. For example, they could place their backpack in a bin by the front door or store their pencils in a drawer on their desk. Organize the home in a way that works best for everyone’s lifestyle.

Plan for homework. Allow your child to break their homework into smaller sections. Between sections, give them time to take short breaks. It can be helpful to use a timer to keep track of time and ensure they stay on schedule. Planning ahead can help make homework time more efficient.

• Provide your child with a designated space to do homework and store their materials. Keep in mind that every child is different. Some might need a quiet place, away from distractions, to focus, while others might require your presence to assist them with tasks.

Utilize written instructions. Use reminder notes to help your child stay on track with their daily routines. These instructions should be brief to avoid distraction.

• A checklist is an effective tool to help children with ADHD stay organized. Try posting the checklist at the door, in their room, or anywhere that will help them remember their schedule.

Offer plenty of praise. When you notice your child working hard to follow the daily routine, it’s important to offer praise. This will motivate them to keep practicing their good habits. Be sure to acknowledge not just the completed tasks but also the effort your child puts into sticking to the routine.

• Set aside time at the start of each week, preferably Sunday night, to create a work schedule for the upcoming week.
• Post a daily activity list on the fridge for your child. This will help you remember the specific activities happening each day. For example, Hùng has soccer practice on Tuesday, and Tuyền may practice for a choir performance on Wednesday.
• Plan the menu for the entire week on Sundays—this is an excellent way to maximize time and keep everything organized. By doing so, you’ll always know you have enough ingredients for each day of the week.
• Create a routine by designating a specific area for all the things you’ll need in the morning (like keys, backpacks, pet food, etc.).
• Reward yourself when you realize you’ve followed your schedule for the whole day.
• Whenever possible, offer praise when your child accomplishes a goal.