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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Shay ·

Time Management PART 2


It’s apparently Time Management Tuesday over here!

Last month, I did a TIME MANAGEMENT post with Q&A and there were SO MANY QUESTIONS, that we had to make it two parts.  So, if you missed PART 1, you might want to go back and read that one again before today’s post…where I’m going to answer more questions plus give a little outline of my daily schedule (well, sort of…).

I just really love this quote.  I really do think most of what I get accomplished in a day comes from that darn routine.

Now, here was my biggest takeaway from the first post…WE’RE ALL STRUGGLING TO FIND TIME AND TO MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT WE HAVE.

I think about this silly quote ALL THE TIME and it ALWAYS makes me laugh because…why does it often feel like she has more time than me?!  RIGHT?!

Basically, I just want to reiterate that I’m over here on the struggle bus too just trying to be a good mom, good wife, good employer, good friend…good person who manages her time well.  So, I feel a little silly answering more questions, but if it helps/makes you feel better/gives you an idea/makes us a community, then let’s do it.  If you still have questions after today’s post, refer back to POST #1 because I bet I answered it there!

Sometimes…and I always regret it.  Anytime I tell myself “just 10 more minutes”, typically throws the rest of my routine off.  I really try hard to stay on task, but sometimes, I do try to squeeze in a bit more.

Oh for sure I do!  Years and years and years ago, my mother-in-law, and I were chatting about big families.  Andrew and I were each raised in a two-kid household, so the idea of having 3 or 4 kids was a little scary for us.  I clearly remember her telling me that yeah, you’ll have less time with twice as many kids but you’ll also get so many other blessings that you never would have had with only two.  YES!!!  Here’s what I can say, I do my best.  When I lay my head down at night, I know that I did the best I could with each of them under whatever circumstances were presented to me that day and that has to be enough.  Satan loves to make us feel guilty, but he’s the father of lies…God gives us grace and love and peace…and as long as I’m really trying to do my best, I should be proud.  Just do your best.  Whatever that is…I truly think if you’re trying your hardest and doing your very best, your kids will know that.

This question was similar so I wanted to answer it too…for me, I try and carve out time for my kids that is special to their personalities.  Kensington wants me to talk to her.  She’s very verbal and chatty.  Smith wants me to do something outside with him.  He wants to go for a run with me, go fishing, play basketball…he wants me outside with him, Ashby wants to “go” with me.  Ashby loves a trip to the grocery store with just mom.  She loves being the only kid in the car.  And Madeley wants to cuddle.  Mades wants us to turn on a show, sit down under a blanket and cuddle.  So, I know this about them and try to incorporate that into little daily things. For instance, every morning at 7:10, Smith and I go outside on the driveway and play fetch with Poppy and Yankee.  We don’t even talk about it anymore, it’s just understood that he’ll get dressed for school while I clean up the breakfast dishes, we’ll grab tennis balls and play fetch.  It’s our little time each morning.

Yes!  I still never wake up at 4:10…my alarm always wakes me up.  The hardest part is getting out of bed.  Once I’m up with a cup of coffee in my hands, I’m golden.

I love running in the morning because that’s just for me.  I also love reading at night.  Both of these things are easy daily ways to take time for myself.  I also love grabbing a Starbucks and walking through Target or Hobby Lobby when I have a minute…just taking that 10 minutes can really energize me for the rest of the day.

I don’t think it takes much to make yourself feel efficient in the morning.  Just waking up early and getting your workout in can make you feel so productive!  It really doesn’t take much to get a sense of accomplishment when it’s 6:00 AM and the dishwasher is empty and you’ve sat down with coffee for a few minutes.  I think I learned with kids that I need that time even more.

Ha!  Well for two reasons, one, it’s boring and two, it’s hard to hold the phone and take a pic while you’re cleaning!  I know some people think I’m flat out lying when I say this…but ANYONE who knows Andrew and me know…WE ARE CRAZY NEAT FREAKS.  Seriously, I’m sure one day, there will be four adult Shull kids lined up in therapy explaining how they have nightmares over their obsessively tidy parents from their youth.  We are just constantly picking up and cleaning around here.  My mom and mother-in-law are both the same way, so we come by it naturally.  My mom always wanted a house where someone could stop by and you have no embarrassment letting them on in.  That’s what I think too!  Sure, they might see a basket of laundry out or a homemade fort, but for the most part, we just clean up when we’re done and have taught the kids to do that too.  If anything, we’re over-structured and strict, and it’s not always our best quality…but we do have a tidy home.  Andrew and I both probably need to chill out a bit.

Yes!  I have a calendar for all of our family things, one for Mix and Match Travel Agency and then two for my blog content (see video from first post).  I like to keep everything separate verses all in one as it keeps me more focused and organized.

I’m a mean mom.

Ha!

My kids would probably say that some days.

Seriously, play and have fun but when you’re done, clean it up.  If you don’t clean it up, I’m not happy about it.  I don’t care how big your mess is…just whenever you’re done, clean it up.

I shower but don’t wash my hair…with certain exceptions.  For the most part, I don’t feel like I need to wash my hair after for what I do (work from home, hang out with four kids), so I can make do with my hair and save the time.  You should read my DRY SHAMPOO REVIEW 🙂 .

Okay, so many of you wanted me to write out my daily schedule for you…and I can give you the basics, but daily, I have to add in a bit of flex time for those random things you do that aren’t every day, but you need to incorporate them throughout the week (like grocery shopping, running a kid to speech therapy, a dentist appointment, etc).  Here’s a really rough outline for those of you who are curious!

4:10: WAKE UP, COFFEE, QUIET TIME, CATCH UP ON EMAILS/A BIT OF WORK
5:30: WORKOUT/CHECK EMAILS/BLOG ONE MORE TIME
6:30 WAKE UP KIDS, DO THE BREAKFAST/MAKE LUNCH/CRAZY MORNING THING
8:00 DROP OFF KIDS, SHOWER AND GET DRESSED FOR THE DAY
8:45 SIT DOWN AND WORK FOR THE REST OF THE DAY HOWEVER…
I often build in a few minutes on days to do these things: volunteer at my kids’ school, take to therapies, run by and grab groceries, get my nails done, meet someone for lunch, run to Target, etc…not every day, but when I do need to do something, I can carve out an hour during this time to do it.
2:50 CLOSE UP SHOP AND STOP WORKING (with the occasional phone call scheduled for later on some days)
3:10 PICK UP KIDS AND BEGIN THE AFTER SCHOOL HUSTLE OF HOMEWORKS, SPORTS, EMPTY DISHWASHER, DO SOME LAUNDRY, MAKE DINNER
SPORTS AND/OR FAMILY TIME ALONG WITH DINNER (which we’re having later these days…most nights at 7:00)
8:30ISH KIDS TO TO BED, I READ A BOOK
10:00ISH GO TO SLEEP

Obviously, this is just a rough outline, but I hope it gives you enough of an idea to help!  In the meantime, I love that we’re a community all trying to just do our best…even though we’re not Beyonce.  I just want to make sure you guys know, every single day, I feel like I could have done more/wish I had more time.  If you think you’re the only one struggling to manage everything you have to do along with things you WANT to do, just know, you’re not alone.

Okay, are there other routines in my life you’d me to blog about in the future?  Comment and let me know!  One very last thing…

…it’s Amazon Prime Day, so if you just want to take a look at all of my Amazon Faves (including some super cute sweaters), I have them all in one place right HERE. xo

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Comments

  1. Emily says

    Let’s talk about teaching your kids to clean up. At what age did it start to click? I have a 2.75 yo and a 13 mo old so there are toys all over the place if I don’t pick them up. I try to get my toddler to do it and he will help sometimes but not really. Drives me bonkers.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh gosh, God bless you. I’ve had two babies at home like that and it’s toy mania. I would say that it probably started clicking around four…but I am still surprised that some days, my 12 year old forgets to clean up 😉 . It’s a work in progress.

  2. Amanda says

    I remember about a year ago you said you’d started to wake up a bit later – like in the 5am hour rather than the 4am hour. Have you gone back because you just like having that extra time or was the habit just too ingrained?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Both…and because I used to workout every day AFTER I dropped off my kids at school, but about 18 months ago, I started working out before they even woke up (to maximize my work time during the day), so that made me wake up earlier.

  3. polly pover says

    I have always worked from a busy office all day, five days per week. With Covid, I have been working from home doing zoom meetings, etc all day. This started in March and looks like it will be the forseeable future. As somewhat who has has worked from home for a long time, what tips can you give to “separate” work from home? It’s hard to “shut my mind off” and leave work in the corner of the room where it lives. I have tried to still have a work routine….get up shower, dress in my work clothes (though everyone only sees me from the chest up!), break for lunch, but it’s still hard!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Head to my first post because I address that there. This is something I struggle with often but really “leaving work” helps me so much. I turn off my computer, turn off the lights and shut the door…I do not go back in there when my “work day” is over.

    • Victoria says

      try putting work away at the end of the day. That’s easier if you have a home office where you can shut the door but even if you work on the dining table or the bed, find a way to put work away. Into a drawer or cupboard or basket, or even cover it with a tablecloth or throw.

      If you struggle to get work out of your head, keep a notepad handy to jot down any reminders or urgent thing you’ve remembered and then forget about them until next morning, when you can check your notepad. You know you have written it down, and you know you have time aside first thing to pick things up, so you can let your brain forget about whatever it is til next working day.

      If you’re really struggling, you could try a ‘commute’. Give yourself 10, 30, 60mins at the beginning or end of work to walk, read, go into the garden and use that as your wind down time. You can include unloading work angst onto partner in that time too ? as long as you stop when your ‘commute’ is over.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I almost always take it outside with me around 7:15 when we’re playing fetch with the dogs. I’ll drink it as we either walk to school or I drive them and when I’m back, it’s done and then, I shower.

  5. karen l krieger says

    I think you get more done in a day than Beyonce! you are my inspiration for living a more organized, productive and fulfilled life!

  7. Bonnie Butler says

    I had an efficient manager once tell me that the reason he gets so much stuff done is because he only “touches” something once. Meaning, if something needs to be done, get it done right then. Don’t set it aside only to have to “touch” it again, and again, and again to finish the task.

    I find that if I complete the task (even when I’d rather put it off) it really is an easy time management “tool” for me!

  9. Dana says

    I feel like I says this with every post, but I especially love these! It always makes me want to jump up and do whatever it is you’re talking about. And sidenote-kids and cleaning. ??‍♀️ One of my least favorite things about parenting. It always makes me feel like a mean mom, yet leaving the house a wreck isn’t an option either! I’m still looking for that magic motivation for them…?

  10. Karah Stracener says

    I have loved these posts. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks. I think I need to be a meaner mom and make my kids clean up more. They have gotten better but there is definitely room for improvement. ha.

  11. Whitney MacDonald says

    An idea for one-on-one time with kids….we do “special nights” on the date of their birthday every month. On those nights, that child gets to stay up later and choose their activity. Usually something simple…just 30 extra minutes to watch a show or play a game with us. Our three boys were constantly fighting over who’s night it was for “special time” and this method has worked great for us. My husband and I both have the recurring monthly dates in our calendar so we never forget.

  12. Jaren says

    I always love seeing how you get it all done!! I am a big time list maker and could not survive without all the Notes on my phone!
    Side note…I went to my first Trader Joes in Houston last week!!! We were evacuating for Hurricane Delta (boo!), so I decided to treat myself. I LOVED it! I literally walked around the store with your Trader Joes favs posts, and bought most of them. My girls were laughing at me. I’m totally a fan of the Cilantro Dip and Corn Dippers now. And those Maple Almonds…oh my gosh are so good!

  13. Paige E says

    I struggle right now with finding ways to keep my kids connected to God. Church is a no go where we are since you have to reserve space ahead of time and wear masks the whole time and after the kids wear masks all day at school, I try not to ask too much of them with that on weekends. Also, neither of my kids have warmed up to youth group. They just aren’t connected to kids there and I’m panicking a little since that was such a huge part of my teens. Any idea how to keep Jesus in the forefront in our family during Covid? He is definitely a huge part of my life, but I’m afraid my kids aren’t picking up on that enough, or its not visible. Huge GUILT factor with this. This is the longest we’ve ever been out of church. 🙁

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh gosh, I’m sorry, Paige. I totally understand this situation. We have been watching sermons online for months now and even though we like it, it’s not the same as connecting one on one in person. I don’t know that I have any real suggestions, but maybe another reader will!!

    • Laura Fuller says

      Paige, I have 4 teens and feel your pain. I don’t have much advice besides 2 things. 1) If you’re not already start reading a devotion at dinner time. Find one that’s rich in theology & Scripture but short enough to hold their attention (New Morning Mercies or Streams in the Desert are my favorites). 2) Find a youth group your children enjoy. If it means you move churches, do it. Our family is in ministry and we attend a Saturday evening service in the larger town 45 minutes away. We’re considering a move to accommodate us attending a church where our children connect better and enjoy going. I hope this helps.

    • Melissa says

      Paige, My husband is a seminary professor (literally teaches pastors how to be pastors.) When our oldest was born his mentor told us his top parenting advice: when our kids reached teenage years allow them to take the lead on where their faith can thrive. He and his wife had been more rigid about their teens having to be at their church, in their youth group, with their theology. And it did damage. If he could do it again he said he’d let his kids go to whatever youth group they wanted, where they had friends, even if is wasn’t their home church or denomination. That was crazy advice with a six-week-old, but now that my kids are at that stage we’ve been having this exact conversation at our house lately. Our kids thankfully love our church, but they don’t go to school with any kids from church. As peers become more and more influential we’ve talked about how to reinforce friendships with people they see everyday that will encourage them in their faith, even if that means going to youth (or some other activity – younglife, cru, choir, ng3, fca, whatever.) Our three kids know we expect them to do a sport, an instrument, and a church activity, and allow all the flexibility we can within that. Also, an extra hour in a mask a week, if you really want your kids to see it’s a priority, is not unbearable.

      • Jennibell says

        I agree with this!! Our older two just always attended and were involved with our family church. All of a sudden, though, number three wanted to go someplace else. Then, #4 saw that we allowed that and chose a place for him. My husband and I try to visit “their“ churches about once every six weeks and always find time on Sunday afternoons to sit down with them and talk to them about what their sermons or messages were about that day. It is working for us, however, it’s a bit untraditional and some of our family thinks it’s strange that we are disjointed like this. I wish we all worshiping together (and we do for major things) but if this is what grows their relationship with Jesus then we are good with it

  14. Mary Anne Duke says

    In response to Paige…
    Perhaps getting each of your children a devotional book….age appropriate. Start having family devotions …maybe instead of church on Sunday. Then they could do their books during the week. After awhile your children might even want to participate during your family time. Get Dad involved if possible and don’t forget grace before meals. Anytime you can put God in the picture is a good time.❤️
    God knows your heart and will help you through this.

  15. Julie says

    I love these posts so very much-thank you for being so honest and open with us all and for being a source of positivity and motivation. I recently read ‘The Lazy Genius Way,’ and found so many useful tips about how to be productive and make the most out of what matters in your life. And I agree that getting up early (before my three kids!) has been life changing. I used to sleep until the last possible minute and get up feeling behind. Though I’m not a natural morning person (like, at all), I now get up at 6am and relish the quiet time I have to work out, meditate, etc. It’s everything, especially during covid.

    I would love to see a post about organizing clothes! What is your system for keeping stuff fresh, not over-stuffing your closet, donating, etc. What do you hang and fold? How often do you add to your wardrobe vs give away? Hope you have a good week!

    • Shannon says

      YES!!! I would also like to see this! Great suggestion. I also need to know what to do with clothes that aren’t necessarily dirty yet but have been worn. Mine sit around the bedroom… LOL. And how to actually do the whole laundry process. It’s like I move the clothes to the dryer, then eventually fold them and put them in the wash basket, and then we end up wearing them straight outta there. So hard to keep up!

  16. Joanne says

    I’m a bit of a neat freak too and have always tried to have our house “company” ready. Sure my husband and kids think I’m a little nutty but they definitely notice when I’m down and out and can’t keep up with my cleaning. I have trained them to clean up after themselves and they do an OK job of it too.

  17. Deena says

    I don’t think I’ll ever have a structured schedule and our kids are grown ups but I love reading about yours. It obviously works great for your family. ?

    This isn’t related but was thinking that you may want to check out the Road ID app for your cell for when you’re running, walking, or cycling alone. We got it after my husband had a bad cycling accident and he had a concussion. Luckily some good samaritans called me to come get him but not until he had wandered around in a daze for 45 minutes. With the app, someone you pick gets notified if you’re motionless for a few minutes plus they can track where you’ve been. I saw on their site that they also sell ID bands for kids and adults.

  18. Laura Arnold says

    Shay, I LOVE reading your posts about real life. It’s like sitting down with a friend and getting a big ol’ cup of encouragement 🙂 Thanks for sharing so authentically about life, especially life with four kiddos (we have an 8 year old, 6 year old, 3 year old, and 10 month old –and are homeschooling this year!). So grateful for you!!

  19. Danette says

    Thanks for sharing, Shay! I really enjoy it when you do these kind of posts.. and your videos! 🙂 I am curious to know how often or when you vacuum and wash your floors.. Do you do a quick sweep everyday when you tidy / pick up? Over here I feel like it’s a full time job keeping the house neat and tidy with clean floors! 🙂 Especially now that we are home so much more! Thank you for sharing these little details of your life, I love reading your blog!!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I vacuum up my kitchen floors every single day and then other floors as needed. You know how it is…sometimes, they stay clean, other times, the kids and dogs play outside and bring all of that dried grass in and I clean it more often.

  20. Victoria says

    While we have the same 24hours Beyoncé has, we don’t also have a cleaner, chef, stylist, nanny, hair and make up artist, chauffeur, personal assistant, housekeeper, personal trainer, dietician, masseuse, private tutors, travel concierge and business manager.
    Don’t beat yourself up for not being Beyoncé!

  21. Sharon Griffin says

    Love this post but….. I hate when people say things like.. you have as many hours in the day as Beyonce because truly 99% of us do not and I feel like saying that makes women fell terrible that they cannot accomplish it all. Pretty sure that Beyonce is not grocery shopping, cooking, taking her car for servicing, calling to make doctors’ appointments. She has people to do that for her,. I have more time than single moms do as there are 2 of us to take on many tasks. I have more time than a lower class worker who has to commute 2 hours each way to work in public transportation to get to her minimum wage job. Please let’s stop making women feel like they have to do it all!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Women shouldn’t feel like they have to do it all. I think guilt robs a lot of us women from joys…and comparison is the thief of joy. I think we’d all do better if we focused on ourselves/our own goals/our own happiness and not other people. That being said, sometimes, I do tell myself “Shay, why are you acting like you’re so busy, you’re not president, you’re not a brain surgeon or a single mom of 12 kids, you have plenty of time to do what you need to do”. I think it’s okay to give yourself a pep talk like that.

  22. jamie says

    i love this blog post! i was raised in a neat and tidy home, my husband was not. let’s pretend that andrew was not a neat freak like you and didn’t pick up his stuff, didn’t organize his stuff, etc. how would you handle that? i love your honesty on this topic— that maybe you’re a bit extra ? with your kids when it comes to tidyness/picking up {but i love your extra}!

    also— i had to re-read that you like to grab starbucks and walk around target or hobby lobby for ten minutes?!? TEN MINUTES? how do you do that? i don’t think i could ever just limit myself to ten minutes.

  23. carol says

    At one point in the past was it you who had the kids doing homework in the morning?
    Last year(?) you mentioned Smith was trying to get up earlier in order for him to be more organized (I believe,). Is he still doing that,?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I don’t know if it’s crazy 2020 or what…but this year, my kids don’t seem to have homework. Our school district is both virtual and in person, so I’m not sure if that’s why…but this year, they don’t have homework (I’m not going to complain about that!), and yes, Smith wakes up at 5:45 each morning and does his own thing. I wake up the girls at 6:30.

  24. Erin says

    Love this!!! Part 1 & 2! Thanks for sharing!! Time management is my weakness bc enneagram 1, I’m too dang perfectionist and hung up in perfecting my plan/strategy/system before I start something that I’m indecisive in the little things (like mela planning or making a grocery list) and things just take me longer than they should or that I allot for them. So I love hearing the methods of highly efficient people!!

    Next what I’d love to know, is how you organize your photos!! I take so many and know with all your blogging and four kids, you certainly do! Do you rely on your blog to provide al of yourborganization for the highlights of what you want to remember or do you do any photo books, slideshows etc for your family, individual kids, trips, etc. And if so, where do you fit those picture projects in??

    I agree with another commenter. I think you fit more in than Beyoncé! ?

  25. Joy says

    I love these post about time management. I need to carve more time in my daily schedule to work out. I get up at 6am every morning so my goal before the year ends is to get up by 5:15 am to workout at least 2 days a week.

  26. Tish says

    Shay, are you still running outside before taking kids to school with it being darker now? Or do you run on a treadmill? Love these posts and excited for hopefully a day in the life one soon! 😉

  27. Hillary Kinzel says

    I knew you way before kids and you and Andrew were always this structured and organized. I love schedule and organization but for me once I had kids and went back to work I decided I was just going to let my house be what it is and hope my good friends are there to see me and not my clean house. LOL Thanks for sharing your tips. Definitely good takeaways and I am impressed at how well you and Andrew do it. And love how God shook it up with those youngest two.

  28. Allison says

    Do you put creamer/milk in your coffee before you work out? I read that if you do, your body will burn the creamer calories that you just consumed rather than the stored fat. I can’t force myself to drink coffee black!

  30. Caroline Kohli says

    When my kids were super itty-bitty I started following you on Instagram and then reading your blog daily and it completely changed my routines- truly! They’re now 3 and 4 and I am in a good groove and I’m grateful for it and I found it through your blog posts of time management and routine. Working out every morning, writing out your devotional time- I used to just get to it in the day when I could and now it’s always what I do first thing in the morning and I’m half way through the one year Bible. What a change it’s made in me. I don’t think my routine would be what it is without your help so thank you! I look forward to your blogs every day it’s given me a lot of guidance!

  31. Rachel says

    Great posts! How do you organize your content on your computer and store photos? What camera do you use to photograph your recipe creations?

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