I want to know how you balance things.

How do you fit in your workouts? This is a big question for me.

I'm trying to think ahead to what it would be like to work 10 hour days and still balance things at home and get in my workouts. I realize I may not get to workout daily, but if I could 4 times a week, that would be OK. (can't do it early a.m. since that time is already committed)

How do you balance healthy meal prep?

Dh and I were thinking we'd need to make a huge chore chart where each child had something they were responsible for each morning and also each evening when they get home from school and rotate jobs? (I'd put myself on the chart too)

What about just getting to the grocery and to the bank and all those things that I am now doing in the afternoons? (I am teaching part-time right now so have afternoons and every Friday off)

I guess I'm really thinking about this and would benefit from your experience and what has worked for you. My first application in response to a full-time teaching job is going in the mail this morning. It is at a school about 40 minutes drive from my house, so my commute would be about 15 minutes longer than it currently is. Monday, I'll send off my 2nd application to a district 30 miles commute from here. I do like my commute time since I listen to talk CD's on the way and it is a good personal time for me. (but in the winter it gets a bit dicy driving around here)

Give me your top tips????? Top 10 or more?

Also, and I'm thinking of Barb here since I know she went full-time (but others may recently have also)......how did you manage the huge income jump balancing being able to do those things you've always given up with paying down debt and being responsible with the increase in income?

Thanks,

Michelle

Well, first, I only have 4 kids. AND I did NOT see a jump in income b/c I own my own business, and in fact haven't been paid a DIME. So I'm working for free. It blows. And I'm away from home 40 hours a week. Not getting paid. I think I'll quit (harhar).

I don't work out and have given up trying.
Dh ends up making a lot of meals.
I have to leave my biz a little early to get to the bank or grocery. I have missed customers (business) doing so.
I bring the kids with me a lot, so we don't pay for too much preschool.
My oldest two have picked up a lot of slack, tidying up, putting clothes away, doing laudry and dishes.

All in all?
Totally not worth it.

Ack! I don't blame you for saying it is totally not worth it. I'd feel the same way in your position.

All my children are in school all-day and...I think, a bit older than your group.

Giving up working out is not an option for me.

Edited to add: I thought I read that it takes 5 yrs or more for a business to turn a profit? You may be right on the verge of turning a profit for all your hard work and time. I know I could not run my own business.....mostly because that is not my gift and call on my life. (teaching is mine)

Ok....anyone else? :)

Michelle

Well I guess it would be slightly different for me since I work fulltime from home as a computer system analyst and design..but...

- my 14 year old babysits the younger ones after school until I am done at 5:30 and usually feeds them a good dinner too
- this means that when I am done work I spend an hour bathing them, spending time with them, and putting them to bed
- then around 6:30ish my older kids and I make our dinner and watch some tv or work on homework or whatever needs to be done
- my 14 year old will often call on her cell phone as she passes the grocery store on the way home to see if I need her to pick anything up for dinner. Her bank acct is joint with me, so if I need anything, I go online to transfer $ into her account so she can pay for it
- I shop once per week at basically one store for speed and convenience. It is also a very inexpensive store - I avoid the mall and Walmart like the plague
- I run on my lunch hour
- I cut out all kids activities that happened M-Thurs and also cut the kids activities in half - now they have piano Friday night, swimming Sun afternoon and usually we hit the library sometime in there as well
- I pay ALL bills online, don't even read junk mail, and cancelled all extra services that I didn't need so I didn't have to waste my time (or money) remembering to pay them
- I delegate like you wouldn't believe. Every member in the family has responsibilities. I shoulder nothing alone.

I don't know if four counts as large- but I have four children and I with driving I am gone 10-11 hours a day five days a week.

How do I balance.
Hmm, good question.

"How do you balance healthy meal prep?"
I would not say all of our meals are healthy as they could be anymore.
But that is ok, we are healthy and we are fed.

"What about just getting to the grocery and to the bank and all those things that I am now doing in the afternoons?"
Saturday and Sunday

Tips, I don't know.
I know somehow we all manage to be where we are supposed to be each day.
The older three HAVE to clean up after themselves and help around the house.
It helps when we lay out our things for the next day the night before.

Workouts- not as intense as I would like right now.
When I get off of work I take the baby jogging or walking for about 30 minutes.
(Thank you daylight savings!)

Hope