Time management is a major source of stress for all. Learning to manage one’s time is quickly becoming a fine art, if it is not already. There just never seems to be enough time. We all have more demands and more constraints. Our environments are now more complex and more dynamic than they were a decade ago. There seems to be an endless supply of information specifically dealing with time management for the workplace and yet not as much about it for the home. The tips and techniques outlined in this article can help manage and maximize your family time.

Setting Priorities at Home
Certain questions will arise when attempting to manage time at home:
1. What kind of relationship do I want with my spouse or significant other?
2. What example do I want to set for my children
3. What is important in our quality of life?
4. What do we need to do to have the kind of life that reflects what we think is important?

The answers to these questions will be the foundation on what to do to better control of time.

Managing Priorities
Priorities should be kept simple. Everyone must pitch in and help (to the extent that they are able) with household tasks. No longer must the matriarch be superwoman and do everything, whether she is a homemaker or has another regular job as a professional. Of course, one must also know when (within reason) to be flexible.

Facing the Day
Mornings are usually tough times for most families. The following tips can be followed to start the day right:
1. Stagger waking times so that family members can use different parts of the house (such as the bathroom or kitchen) without conflict.
2. Take about fifteen (15) minutes each evening to go over the next day’s activities with everyone.
3. Decide on breakfast before the morning and share the responsibility for getting it ready. This was beautifully illustrated in the movie “Cheaper by the dozen” staring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt. In this family of fourteen (14), everyone had a separate task. One person made the toast, another made the eggs, another helped the smallest member to get dressed, etc. This was specialization of labor at its best. 
4. Make lunches the night before and let the kids help with this task too. This not only saves time in the morning but also helps family members to bond. It also reduces any argument that parents and kids may have due to different lunch preferences. Let the kids make their own lunch. Why not? Of course lunches need to be checked to make sure they are relatively healthy.
5. Make sure that everyone chooses their clothes the night before.
6. Beware of special needs for the next day, such as permission slips, doctor’s appointments, money for lunch if necessary, etc.
7. If some of the kids are slow starters then wake them up first and let them take more time to get ready. 
8. Write out instructions for the baby sitter, day care, etc the night before.
9. Of course, be flexible and have a Plan B.

Establishing House Rules
This involves changing the family culture. Family members should know the reasons for house rules. In fact, the entire family can get involved in this and can help set these guidelines. This way, they will make small changes gradually and stick to them without a constant reminder.
1. Let people pick tasks they want to do. After they pick them, they own these tasks.
2. Do not get into arguments regarding chores and do not get into blame games. Everyone is responsible for his/ her behavior.
3. Be consistent.
4. Be flexible and reasonable

Evening Survival
Evenings are also difficult periods for families. Almost everyone comes home hungry and there is pressure on the parent(s) to complete dinner quickly. The following items may be helpful:
1. Plan dinners ahead. There are many healthy meals that only consist of four (4) to six (6) ingredients. Take your crock-pot off the shelf and use it to make mixed rice. Any kind of pre-cocked peas or beans will work. Or how about a casserole or a Shepherd’s Pie with vegetables in between? (There is nothing wrong with using instant mash potatoes, by the way). How about frozen dinners for everyone?
2. Similarly with breakfast, give everyone some responsibilities.
3. Cook and freeze meals meant for later use during the weekends or whenever you have more time.
4. Plan your meals a week in advance and shop accordingly.
5. If finances permit, you can purchase some side dishes and prepare the easier dishes at home.
6. Do certain “prep work” ahead of time and have them ready. For example, pancake mixes, cut vegetables, pressure cook kidney beans or any “hard’ peas or beans. 

Beware of the Television
The TV is an enormous time waster. Many people put on the TV as soon as they walk through the door. Others do not even turn it off before they leave for work. TV watching should not become automatic but rather an active decision. Parents should monitor what their kids watch, when they watch and how much they watch. Adults should monitor themselves as well. Let the TV be the reward for completed assignments and other accomplishments. 

Not all the techniques and tips outlined in this paper should be implemented at once. All changes, including changes to personal habit, are stressful. Daily life habits are the hardest to break. There are those who will be discouraged from time to time and failure in some aspects may occur. If and when this happens, a gentle reminder to do better next time is all that is necessary to keep going. One must not give up. Slowly, the new way will become the right way. The solutions cannot be found in the in the behavior of others. We all need to be assertive with our time since it is not anyone else’s responsibility.