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My Daily Docket is a personalized form I made to help me manage my day at home. It’s my most often-used form in my Home Management Notebook, and it really works for me.
Photo by megabn
There’s a lot of info on the internet about scheduling your day as a stay-at-home mom, and I’ve tried to apply a lot of these different tactics. They never worked for me. For me, anyway, they were too rigid - a system would encourage me to write out a specific timetable for my day, and rotate weekly jobs set in stone on different days of the week. By writing this schedule out and hanging it visibly, I’d know what to do next.
It’s a great idea, but my life’s a lot more… unpredictable. When I tried to make Thursdays my Laundry Day, or One-On-One Time With My Daughter at 11 o’clock Monday through Friday, I was trapped. I was trapped because life happened - one week I’d have an abnormally large amount of laundry, so by trying to do it all in one day, I set myself up for failure because I just couldn’t do it all. Time with my daughter would get pushed back because we really needed to run errands at 11 a.m., or she needed an earlier nap and 11 just wouldn’t do.
I wanted to throw any semblance of routine out the window. But I really didn’t want to do that, because a routine helps me. I love checking things off a list. I’m visual, so it helps to see my day’s plan.
What has evolved as my Daily Docket is a marriage of scheduled routine and flexibility. It provides the skeleton for me to hang my agenda, but it allows for wiggle room because I fill out a new sheet each day.
Instead of a set routine for Mondays, I fill out a fresh sheet for that very day, using a Weekly Checklist as my resource (more on this soon). My week’s goal is to get everything done I need to do by that week, but I’m flexible as to when specifically I should do it..
Let me show you how this works.
First, here’s a copy of an empty Daily Docket (click to enlarge it):
The night before, I take one of these and fill it out for the next day. It helps if I fill it out in pencil because things are so unpredictable in our home that I have to be flexible.
The smaller categories on the page are as follows:
- My MITs - The three most important things on my agenda today.
- Current Scripture I’m working on memorizing/meditating over.
- What’s for Dinner? - When I write it down, I remember way in advance what the dinner plans are, and what I need to do in advance for preparation, so I’m not scrambling at 5:45.
- Health stuff - I’m trying to log my water and my food choices, so I like checking off that I’ve done that. And by writing down my work out plans, I’m more apt to do it.
- Blog and/or Graphic Design stuff - To-do items for my blogs and my graphic design business.
The bigger items are my day’s to-do list and my day’s general plan.
About my to-do list: I limit myself to 10 things, because I know I realistically can’t get more than that checked off. I’ve almost never gotten all 10 accomplished in one day. By keeping it short, I’m making success - finishing my list - more of a reality. If I remember additional things throughout the day, I jot them down in my notes section, possibly for tomorrow’s list.
About my day’s general plan: General is the key word here. It looks a lot more structured than it is, but I don’t write out every last thing I have to do that day. I only assign a time and slot to those things I want to get done at a time of day. I want to get computer work during my kid’s nap time, so I remind myself that it’s a 2 o’clock job. I want to get breakfast on the table by 8, so I make a note of that. And most importantly for me, I want to get to bed by 10:30. Seeing it on paper reminds me that it’s important.
Here’s an example of what a Daily Docket looks like filled out (click to enlarge it):
Application Time
Would a form like this help you manage your day? You don’t have to use a printed out ledger; maybe you prefer penciling in something like this on plain notebook paper. Whatever you use, I encourage you to keep it simple, easy-to-read, very easily accessible throughout your day, and thorough enough to manage your whole day on one sheet.
Please note: The Daily Docket is available in the summary conclusion of the Home Management Notebook series. Download and enjoy!
Here are some related posts from Simple Mom:
- April Link Round Up
- Today’s Most Important Tasks
- Home Management Notebooks are a great idea.
- Weekly Home Management, all at a glance
- Welcome to Simple Mom
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I would definitely be interested in PDF downloads! I need all the organizational help I can get.
I just found your site via Twitter, and I will be back!
Lynnaes last blog post..You Tell Me: What do you make from scratch?
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I would love a pdf of your form. I picked up a spiral at Target and made a to-do list with my three MIT on it. Working on those this morning. Motivation is always what I lack, hopefully this will get me moving! That, and some good ’80’s music!
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@Lynnae - I’m a huge fan of your site already! Thanks for stopping by.
@Leslie - Ooh, 80s music is the best while getting things done around the house! Unfortunately, my husband disagrees, so I stick to it when he’s not around.
Good to get input about the PDF idea, so thanks.
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I would love to have some PDF downloads! The most frusterating thing for me is seeing all the detailed calendars but not one that works for me. This daily docket looks like the ticket. I’m working on memorizing scriptures too and this would be so awesome have with me. Thanks for sharing adn I look forward to the PDFs. I LOVE your blog by the way!
Rean Day
Rean Days last blog post..Final test
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I’m a list person so something like this would be great to keep all my plans for the day organized. I’ve also been getting into GTD and think this would be a good way to sort out all my actions.
Marys last blog post..Making Bananas Last Longer
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@Rean Day, Mary - Glad something like these might help you. Sounds like I’ll be getting these PDFs out to you!
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Hi! I found your blog through the thesis theme website (which I have just downloaded too) Your customisation looks great!
I love all your organisation tips - I really need some help with this so PDFs would be great. Looking forward to more tips!
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@Guera - hi there! Isn’t the Thesis theme great? I’m so glad I found it.
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Great post! I love learning about how other people schedule their time.
Jessicas last blog post..Yummy Granola
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Hi Jessica - I remember your site from Today’s Creative Blog! Thanks for stopping by.
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I think part of my problem is I have a mish mash of management forms. I need to whittle my stuff down into something simple like this.
I found you through bloggy giveaways. 
Audra Maries last blog post..Bloggy Giveaway Hangover Anyone
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This is such a helpful post at the most opportune time. I’m usually organized but lately have been lacking motivation. I love the format you use (pdf please!). It has everything I care about, without the excess tasks that I’ll never get to anyway.
Rachels last blog post..Herb Parade
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I love this form!
Tamis last blog post..Winner! - How To Keep Your Kids on Your Team
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This is EXACTLY what I need! I, too, have struggled with the “set in stone” schedules some systems require. I get frustrated and quit. I need routine and I need flexibility. I would LOVE a PDF download of this docket (free or not). Great design and so workable!
Megan@SortaCrunchys last blog post..Another Way - Shampoo Free
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@Megan - Hope you found the PDFs! They’re at the Home Management Notebook main page.
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i am a FTM and a SAHM and a Christian and I like to tell people that I’m a graphic designer kinda like the way George Costanza used to tell people he was an architect.
so you pretty much had me at hello.
pdf forms? yes please!
Jills last blog post..22/30
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@Jill - I just emailed you. Love that George Costanza line! I wish I was an architect sometimes.
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Hello! My first visit and first comment–what a wonderful site you have here! I would love to have PDFs of your forms. I currently use a Planner Pad, but your Daily Docket looks a lot more like an at-home mother’s day. Thanks!
Amy G.s last blog post..More of the same!
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That is *exactly* the type of form I need! I would love it as a .PDF, but I would relish it as a spiral notebook or pad even more!
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Just found your site via tipnut.com and will be following you on twitter. I was super-organized as a single college student, but have been married 1 1/2 now (no kids yet) and still need to figure out how to organize and plan life for two. Thanks for the super resources!
Lori Anns last blog post..Crayon Fun
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I would love a copy of that pdf when it’s available! This looks to be a very helpful tool for all us stay at home moms.
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I would LOVE a pdf format. This would really help with by daily routine! (or lack thereof)
I, like you, do not like the others that are offered b/c they are too rigid. So having a pdf of yours would be great! Please let me know when it will be available. Thank you so much. God Bless!! -Ashley 
Ashleys last blog post..New Look
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This would be a very helpful tool. Thank you for thinking about us and the offer to share what works for you.
Susans last blog post..Retreat Thoughts Still Swirling
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Hi, new readers from Tip Nut - the Daily Docket is available on the summary post about Home Management Notebooks - see above! Thanks for your interest.
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wow - this really looks like a great resource for me - thanks so much - I have absolutely loved finding your site!
jodi’s last blog post…Giveaway # 1 has a winner!
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Thank you for some much needed help. I googled looking for something get my life in order and I found you! I am forever grateful.
Heather’s last blog post…A Day in Our Life
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Wow, You sound just like me- I love structure, but need flexibility. Thanks so much for your example and encouragement through this blog.
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Oh, I ADORE you for this post! I just found your site today and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love everything here. I was thinking about making a daily docket of sorts; I thought maybe that would be nuts but hey, whatever works, right?? This is great!
Michelle´s last blog post…Fun with Puffs
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