By Donna Otto

Basic Overview:  This book would fall under the category of home management books, but what I particularly liked about it is how Donna included some great tips regarding how to think about your work and how to make wise decisions regarding how to use your time.  Her goal is to help you get rid of clutter, simplify your life, be "on time" more often, and create great moments with your family.  She includes tons of ideas on how to organize a dayplanner, get rid of extra "stuff," keep track of your papers, involve your children in work, and bringing your life into focus.  Some people do this naturally, but I needed training, and this book was great for that!

The Parts I Liked Best:  There were several things I loved about this book--I'll include a list below of the points that meant the most to me.

(1) What really makes you tired?  The things you don’t do, not the things you do!  Procrastination—worrying about the things you need to get done, or putting them off because you dread them, makes you tired—not the actual work itself.  Now, whenever I start procrastinating, I think, "I'll feel better once I just get this over with!"  (and I always do).

(2) Donna has a First and Fast Rule:  Do the chores you don’t like first in the day and quickly.  I have thought of this almost daily since I read the book, but I forgot that this was where the idea originated.  Whenever there is a call I don't want to make or a project I am hesitant to start, I remember this rule.

(3) Know when you are too busy, tired, or irritable.  Never undertake more work of any sort than you can carry on calmly and quietly without hurry and flurry.   I have to admit, I laughed at this when I first read it.  I was taking care of three very young children at the time, and if I chose not to undertake work that could not be carried out calmly and without hurry, I would never get out of bed in the morning!  I had to adjust this to fit my life, but it reminded me that if I need to simplify, then so be it.  The hurry and flurry isn't worth it most of the time anyway.

(4) You affect others when you are enthusiastic. "There is nothing more contagious than enthusiasm.  It spreads like wildfire."  Well said.  As long as I've had my daily nap, I'm all for being enthusiastic.

(5) You can bring your life under control.  Start slowly and take one step at a time.  To master your time is to master your life and make the most of it.  This idea gave me hope.  It's no fun to be out of control, but we can pick one area at a time in which to improve, and eventually we'll get there.

(6)  A goal is something you want in life that you can accomplish, that you have complete control over.  Eighty percent of the people who write their goals down accomplish them.  If we simply want something that is out of our control, that is a wish--not a goal.  And if we don't write down our goals, we aren't demonstrating to ourselves that we are really serious about them.  Yes, some people can reach their goals without writing them down, but with what I know about statistics, I'd rather be in the camp with the 80%.

(7) Donna presented the idea of couple planning session:  Go over your schedules, desired accomplishments, and improvements you want to make in your marriage.  We started doing those regularly, and it began a habit of deeper, more purposeful discussion.  Thanks, Donna!

(8)  Ask yourself, “Can someone else do it?”  before adding any new activity to your life.  I was talking with a group of friends one day, and one of those wonderful ladies was telling us that she was the room mother for the school and the team mom for a sports team.  She's also the president of our church's children's organization.  She's such a go-getter, and we're glad that people like her are in our community, but we suggested she might want to start learning to say no.  "We're all saying no...that's why you're the one that gets stuck with everything!"  we laughed.  Actually, though, we can all take turns.  One person doesn't need to do everything.  She's a great sport!

(9) I must warn you, this book has TONS of lists and forms to help you make a "superplanner."  I got some great ideas for the forms, but I ended up just putting everything into an Excel spreadsheet.  It's about making a system that works for you.

(10) The very best idea I implemented from this book was her filing system.  I haven't had a pile of unsorted papers in three years.  Here's how it works:  In my kitchen, I have a tray of file folders in a cupboard right by the phone.  A temporary holding file (for things I'll use or toss within 30 days), a file for each child, and a file for each month of the year.  Stuff to save from the children I put in their file (to be put in their "keep" box later), invitations or papers I'll need for a specific month go in that month's file folder, and then "action-item" papers stay on the counter by my planner until I do them or set a time to do them (and put them in a file of "to do" stuff).  She explains it in more depth, but seriously, my paper woes are over.

How this book impacted my life as a mother:  Moms juggle lots of stuff.  I want my home to be organized and clean, and I want my head on straight.  If everything isn't perfect, that's fine, but as long as I have a general idea where everything is and what needs to be done, I can breathe easier.  I'm happier when I feel on top of things, and as hard as that is sometimes, there are so many tips that seem small but make a huge difference.  It's worth the investment of time to read these type of books and make a system that works for you.  Good luck!