People often ask me, how can you plan so much?  Doesn't it take the fun and spontaneity out of everything?

Actually, I think that good planning allows you to be more spontaneous.  If you keep up to date with your household chores, you will be happy to open your home to last-minutes guests.  If you have a well-planned pantry, you can toss together a quick dinner for friends or a small party in a matter of hours.  If you do the must-do things well in advance of the deadline, you won't be faced with the choice of what you must do (a work assignment, an errand) versus what you want to do (a concert, a lazy day on the hammock). 

If you aren't stressed and have control of the basics, all the extra little surprises and pleasures become much, much easier.  You won't find yourself buying a wedding present on the way to the reception.  You won't be packing for vacation at 4 a.m.  You won't have evenings and weekends so full that you can't enjoy good weather.

Now, that kind of freedom doesn't come without some effort.  You do need to use small pockets of time well.  Do indoor chores during thunderstorms.  Use your lunch hour to pay bills or run errands.  Group similar errands together to accomplish them faster.  Keep a grocery list handy so you always have the basics on hand.  Schedule one or two tasks a day to always stay ahead.  If you find yourself with a few spare moments, get ahead of the chart.  If you have to put something off to take advantage of an opportunity, catch up as quickly as possible.  Get the whole family involved in taking care of the basics: 

• If you mess it up, clean it up.
• If you take it out, put it away.
• If something is running out, put it on the list.
• If you find yourself with a small pocket of empty time, use it well.