Summer schedules can free up many hours. Here’s how to harness that time.

Time is strange. Sometimes one hour seems like forever (like when you’re sitting in the dentist’s chair). Sometimes an hour passes in a flash (like when you’re deeply absorbed in a good book). In all cases our task is to maximize time and use it wisely. And so the question arises each summer: “What can I achieve in this period of time?”

Summer Ambitions

Many people look forward to the summer as the time when they will finally be able to get things done. In some ways it is like the post-Pesach period when life resumes and projects are possible once again. However it can be even better than post-Pesach in that for some people the responsibilities of child care may be lighter than usual. Children who live at home during the school year may now be away at sleepover camps. Others who come home from school or yeshivah throughout the day for meals may now spend their entire day in camp. Some little ones may be having their first experience away from home in the care of others.

When changes such as these occur many homemakers plan grand projects in their minds: “I’m going to paint the house” “I’m going to write a book” “I’m going to attend daily shiurim to prepare for the New Year ” “I’m going to start my exercise program ” and so on. It all sounds credible and fabulous. And yet at the end of summer many will lament: “I didn’t get anything done! Where did the time go?”

Life Happens

As we said before time is strange. It plays games with us. The sun is shining the children are in school or camp or otherwise out of the way (except for the baby) — everything seems possible. Today is the day that the toy room will be organized. But first a few routine chores must be done. Oh my goodness it’s already lunchtime. No problem. Make serve eat clean up lunch. Answer the phone. Husband needs a small errand run. Oh dear; it’s 3 p.m. But it’s okay — everyone will be home late so there’s still time. But maybe I should make supper so that’s out of the way and then I can concentrate on the toy room. Cut chop dice — oops. No eggs. Go borrow some. Not nice to just grab the eggs and run. Have to stay and chat awhile. Back home now — it’s getting late. Baby is crying. Has she got an earache again? Better run to the doctor quickly. Hurry pick up antibiotics and get home before the kids arrive. Toy room? Try again tomorrow.

Progress Happens

Despite “life” there are some people who always manage to accomplish their goals. How do they avoid getting derailed by the unique demands of each day? Here are some of their top strategies:

• Set small reasonable goals. The summer is a short period of time and you still have plenty of regular obligations. Setting just a few small goals can help you feel the pleasure of success and accomplishment by the time school starts again. If you find you can do more enjoy the bonus!

• Schedule daily time in which to work on goals. Don’t try to “find” time for your special summer goals. Pencil it in to your daily planner. Consider blocking off an hour first thing each morning BEFORE doing other tasks. This way you’ll know that you will arrive at the end of the summer with something significant accomplished.

• Be prepared to start and stop accomplishing goals steadily over the entire summer. Break projects down into small steps and reward yourself with praise and acknowledgment as each is completed. For instance instead of expecting to “do the toy room” on your first available day just go into the room and look around to see what needs to be done. The next day work with one small corner or box. Continue working on small areas until the whole room is completed. Be patient. It’s fine if it takes the full two months!

• Encourage yourself by achieving even a tiny step each day. Many grand projects are completed one tiny step at a time. You’re a busy person with many responsibilities. You can’t put everything on hold in order to accomplish a special summer task. However you will eventually finish something that you start and work at each day for however long it takes. Move forward by moving forward.

When summer ends there will be a new time frame and a new beginning for new goals. Fortunately the old summer strategy will work just fine.