1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of my Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: Good Morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to leave a night open. Even a 4 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: busy family schedule can feel far more manageable when there 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: is one night without a lot going on. I have 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: five children, including four who are in school and doing activities, 7 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,279 Speaker 1: and so that back to school season is always a 8 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 1: time of intensity. I try to figure out a schedule 9 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: that works for each family member but also works for 10 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: the family overall. Some stuff happens when it happens, but 11 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 1: with other activities, we have a choice about which day 12 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: we go. So as much as possible, I try to 13 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 1: create one night with nothing going on. If that's not possible, 14 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,479 Speaker 1: maybe it's a night with just one short thing after 15 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:13,360 Speaker 1: school and the rest of the evening completely open. This way, 16 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: we know we have one night where we could have 17 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: dinner together. Kids will have one night during the week 18 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: when they can concentrate on homework or do longer school projects, 19 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:28,039 Speaker 1: or get caught up on instrument practice. People can relax 20 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: without running around anywhere. I have found that it is 21 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: worth being a little busier on the other nights in 22 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: order to keep one night clear. We have often aimed 23 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 1: for Wednesdays in our family as the open night, because 24 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: even if Monday and Tuesday feel busy, we know that well, 25 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 1: Wednesday is coming up and that will be more low key. 26 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: Then Thursday can be a little busier, but Friday tends 27 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: to be relatively relaxed as well. It all evens out 28 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,919 Speaker 1: whether you have children or not. I find it helps 29 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: to have one night per week where you plan to 30 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 1: be a little more relaxed. If you often work late, 31 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:17,320 Speaker 1: maybe you can choose one night where you consciously plan 32 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: to come home earlier. It might be worth working a 33 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: little later on the already late nights to make that happen. 34 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: You'll get more quality time with your family coming home 35 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: at four pm one or two days a week and 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: nine pm on the other days, then coming home right 37 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: when kids go to bed every single night. If you 38 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: have kid activities, having one night off from them can 39 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: change the entire rhythm of the week. In general, it 40 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: helps to think of our lives in terms of weeks 41 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: rather than days. When we keep one night open, we 42 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: are taking advantage of our lives. Having this weekly rhythm 43 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: rather than having something on every night. We experience time differently. 44 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: By having some longer nights and some shorter nights, we 45 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: get both intensity and rest. We can also manage our 46 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: energy through the week. A long day gets taken in 47 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 1: context because we know it is not the only kind 48 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:26,399 Speaker 1: of day. We have shorter ones coming up to. So 49 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: as you build your schedule or your family scheduled this 50 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: back to school season, try to keep this strategy in mind. 51 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: Look at when things happen and which nights seem like 52 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: they might naturally be lighter than others. Then see if 53 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: you can consciously move things out of the lightest night 54 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 1: in order to make it open. Then protect this time. 55 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: If someone wants to sign up for rock climbing lessons 56 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: and Wednesday is the open night. When you see lessons 57 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: happen on Mondays and Wednesdays, you know to push for 58 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 1: the Monday option. You can build the schedule more mindfully 59 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:16,599 Speaker 1: rather than making choices without any guidelines at all. In 60 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's 61 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 1: to making the most of our time. Hey everybody, I'd 62 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: love to hear from you. You can send me your tips, 63 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: your questions, or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, 64 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: Facebook and Instagram. At before Breakfast pod. That's B the 65 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: number four, then Breakfast p O D. You can also 66 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 1: shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeart 67 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: media dot com that before Breakfast is spelled out with 68 00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 1: all the letters. Thanks so much, I look forward to 69 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a production of I 70 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: heart Radio. For more podcasts from I heart Radio, visit 71 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 72 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:14,800 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.