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Have the "Time" of Your Life
As many of you know, we recently launched our Change Your Life Challenge Product line! You can view many of the new products on the right hand side of this newsletter. Or visit http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com/shop.htm
One of the items that Challengers really wanted to develop was a timer. This week, I posted the question: How do you use your timer to simplify your life? to our message board. The response was overwhelming! I thought this week I would feature those answers. Get ready to be inspired… you'll never look at a timer the same way again!
Ruth offered the following wisdom:
When I work in the basement, I can't hear what's going on with my laundry upstairs. So when I put a load in the dryer, I set my timer to match the amount of time it will take for the load to dry. Then, I have a set amount of time to work on purging and organizing the stuff that's stored in the basement. The same idea would work in any situation when you're working on a different floor from your laundry room.
Before we got unlimited long distance & local calling (We use The Neighborhood by MCI.), I used to use one of those 10-10- numbers to make my long distance calls. The one I used gave you 20 minutes for 99 cents. So I set my timer for 19 minutes and made my call. When the timer went off, I would tell whoever I was talking to that I would have to call them back. Then, I wasn't going past the 20 minutes to say my goodbye (those additional minutes were quite expensive). We still use the timer for the kids telephone calls in a similar manner.
I use another timer with my children. If their rooms become a bit too unmanaged for me to bear (meaning I can't safely walk in to wake them when necessary, or that their doors don't freely swing open and shut), I have them set the timer for 15-20 minutes and work in a specific area of the room. For instance, I may have them start with picking up all dirty laundry and sorting it into piles (lights & darks). If they finish before the timer goes off, they have the extra time left on it as a "break" before moving on to the next item. This encourages them to work quickly and efficiently, instead of moping about having to clean up after themselves.
Another way I use the timer with my children is with the "count up" feature. When school is in, they are generally required to read for a certain number of minutes each day (the girls are moving on to set numbers of pages or chapters, but I still use this for my son). When they first started having these assignments, I would set the timer for the number of minutes required, and they would read ... right up until the timer went off. Then, they would quickly throw in a bookmark and ask to play video games or something. So I started using the count up feature instead. I kept the timer with me, so they wouldn't be tempted to glance at it every minute or two, and when they began reading, I would start the timer. They began reading for longer and longer periods of time, depending on how engrossing the material was. Before, it hadn't mattered how much they liked the story. When time was up, it was up. Using the count up feature, they sometimes read for an hour or more (instead of the requisite 10 minutes).
Linda shared this timer tip:
One new thing I am doing at home is following a suggestion from Day 9...the Five or Ten Minute Time Sprints...I have begun to take small bits of time to complete many little to-do's that I have been letting pile up. For example, unloading the dishwasher, transferring laundry from washer to dryer, making the bed, wiping down the cabinets, cleaning a mirror, etc...take only 3 or 4 minutes. I find myself more aware of bits of time that I would have been sitting around fretting about getting ALL these things done. But in breaking them down and using small increments of time, it's less formidable. I was watching the news last night, and I would get up during the commercials and accomplish a task. By the end of the news cast, I had laundry folded, dishes placed into the dishwasher and mail sorted. The sprinklers were on the flower beds, too. Wow! That is a lot for me to do in that period of time, especially after work when I just want to plop down on the sofa and veg. But, now I think, okay.. just these few minutes won't go to waste and I can get "this or that" done instead of just sitting here.
Rose offered many timer tips:
My timer gets a real good workout. I use the one on the microwave all day long. I really enjoy working on the archives a lot so I often was getting lost in what I was doing and just not moving. So I set my timer for how long I want to be at the computer and then when it goes off I reset it to do something around the house.
I set the timer for 5 minutes every night for the children to do a 5 minute room pick up of their bedrooms.
I set the timer if I have an appointment and I think I might get lost in what I'm doing and forget to leave on time.
I set the timer to remind me to remove the clothes from the dryer and reboot the laundry.
I set it for my self to do 30 minutes of housework.
I set it when I have a naughty child that needs to spend a few minutes in his/her room
I set it for their TV/Nintendo/Computer/Game time (they only get 30 minutes per day of TV and 30 minutes of either Nintendo or Computer after chores are done)
I have also used the timer when I've called someone and they tell me to call back in xx minutes to remind me to call back
I set the timer when I'm real sleepy during the day and really have to have a power nap.
And of course I also use my timer to make sure that I don't burn whatever is on the stove that I'm cooking!
Sally shared a wonderful collection of tips as well:
When I was 15 and taking my exams at school, there was one in particular (geography), that I wasn't prepared for and I was TERRIFIED. I woke up at 5.30am to do some extra revision and realising that I didn't know enough had a panic attack and became quite hysterical (as hormonal 15 year olds do!). My mum and her wisdom came in to comfort me and said something I have carried with me throughout my life: "It's only two and a half hours out of your day. Two and a half hours out of your week/month/year/LIFE." When you think of it like that it's nothing. That has got me through so much. (Hey Brook, remember it when you go into the dentist's!). So back to the timer....I'm a great one for saying "I'll do it in a minute/later" I have now started to put the timer on and do 15 minutes there and then (15 minutes is not a lot out of your day/week/month/year). It's surprising just how much you can get done in that time. Before picking the kids up from school I'm always ready ahead of time (I would hate them to come out and me not be there). Instead of sitting down for 10 minutes with my jacket on mindlessly watching TV, looking at my watch every 2 minutes to see if it's time yet, I now put my jacket and shoes next to the door and set the timer to the time I have to leave. I've managed to hoover all of downstairs in that time! When I want to get a task finished without interruptions from my 3 kids I warn them that unless it's life or death they are not to call me until the timer goes off.
When I have that "can't be bothered" feeling I put the timer on for 15 minutes and say to myself that I will sit down for a "can't be bothered" coffee when I've done something useful for the time the timer is on.
All of this has been achieved since I started the Challenge (I'm on Day 16.66666666666666 recurring :o)). It's made such a change to my life.
Hope this helps! The CYLC timer will help me as it can clip onto my clothes. I keep putting mine in silly places and spending 5 minutes of my precious time looking for it.
Wendy had some creative ideas for incorporating her timer:
I use the timer for my 3 small children to go off after one hour is up, to let them know that quiet time is over.
I also, set it up for 2 minutes to make sure they get their teeth really clean.
And it works really good with homework too. When school was in, I used it for helping make the task of homework not so mundane. We would set the timer for 15 min. and the kids would work till it went off. Then they could have 15 minutes of free time. Then back to homework for 15. This really made homework less daunting for them.
Beth added...
We also use our timer for showers. The kids would spend all day in there, but I have them set it for between 5 -10 minutes depending on how long they have before they need to leave. It also lets us have hot water for our showers :)
Heather found a creative use for her timer:
My timer has really helped curb arguments between the kids. They will cry when I get em to take turns, but when the timer goes off, they gladly pass whatever it is over. I have even used my own "beep-beep, beep-beep" when we are away from home or timer, and that even works! (Most of the time! ;) )
Cathy has many ways she has incorporated the timer into her life:
Cooking and baking
Phases of laundry
15 minutes at a time when I DON'T want to do anything...you can do anything for 15 minutes.
When I really DON'T want to do anything, I get to do 15 minutes of chores and then 30 minutes of whatever I please. Timer is great to make sure I don't go over my 30 minutes.
Remind me to start getting ready for work.
Remind me to start getting ready for bed.
Remind me to get up, move, stretch, walk etc if I am studying for working on computer.
File, don't pile, 5 minutes a day and pretty soon, the mess is out of the way!
Remind me to take meds, vitamins, etc.
Remind me to take the dog out.
Remind me not to soak too long in the tub.
Hubby uses one to remind ME not to take too long in the store when browsing.
Remind me to leave on time for church.
Remind me not to be late for Sunday lunch at mom's house.
Remind me not to play games or surf too long on the computer.
Remind me not to quilt or sew too long.
Remind me to remind hubby to get ready for Dr. appointments, etc.
Remind me of favorite TV show.
Remind me to stop and walk and drink water when driving on long trip.
Gloria had an exercise timer tip:
I use my timer for exercising ala the 8 Minutes in the Morning program. I pick 2 strength training exercises and do each one for a minute rotating between them for 8 minutes (4X's each exercise). Also recommended is doing a 1 minute warmup before starting (I walk my dog every morning so don't worry about this) and a 1 minute stretch. Do this first thing in the morning and you'll notice a big difference in how you feel.
Lyn shared the following five tips:
1. For the washer (still since the conversation back in Feb I think LOL) since the washer always ends before the dryer and I can't hear it.
2. For doing 15 minutes on a HUGE project that I hate every day (Like Taxes or the company books)
3. Lately for the bath (Laugh if you will but being so pregnant I can read in the big bath for HOURS and then get upset because the day wasted away!)
4. EXERCISE, this is my biggy, I know I have to do 10 minutes 3 times a week so I set the timer to 5.00 and walk down the street and then when it goes off I turn back, makes it less painful.
5. I am going to start using it for computer time as well, hopefully I won't be on for 5 hours like the other day hehehe.
Diane offered three simple timer solutions:
1. When I have a job I dread, I set the timer for 15 minutes, or at the most 30 minutes. Surprisingly, it is often finished before the timer goes off.
2. To remind myself to take a break and drink some water.
3. To remind myself to get off the computer! LOL.
Carol offered an electronic timer tip:
I've been using the timer for 15 minutes of power pick-up time before you-know-who trudges up the steps from work. Since My PDA is really a partner to my CAN, and both go everywhere with me, I just found a free timer app for it online! Perfect! Click here for Carol's link
Wow... what a collection of timer tips! Way to chip in girls and support each other with ideas, tips and solutions.
YOUR WEEKLY CHALLENGE:
Choose 3 ways to incorporate timer techniques into your life this week!