| What
does this title indicate? What is a "Key
Time?" A Key Time is a pivotal point in
our day. It is a time when we change direction. It is
usually repeated day after day. There are generally five
of them. They are: arise
and retire,
leave and
return,
and meals.
If we gain control of these Five Key Times, the rest of
our days will go much more smoothly.
It works well when we have a routine
for each of these Key Times. As we follow the same routine
day after day, we build skill and speed. Pretty soon,
we can enjoy creative thinking while we are busily engaged
in our routines.
It helps even more to have Happy Habits
worked into each of these routines. Some of the Happy
Habits I inserted into my routines are: breathe, stretch,
posture, drink and smile.
Once we solve the question of what is to be included in
a routine, we would do well to memorize
each one. This is easiest when we cluster "reminder
words" into groups of three. For example, here is
my current arise routine: Stretch-Breathe-Pray
+ Bed-Spot-Drink. "Spot" means a short workout
on trouble areas. "Drink" means a glass of lemon
and water. When I was younger, I first included tennis
and then aerobic dancing in my arise routine. Since I
became a senior, I walk (shuffle?) and do spot work instead.
Here is my current retire routine: Walk-Phone-Plan
+ Journal-Groom-Pray. Armed Forces personnel follow routines.
Hospital personnel follow routines. Missionaries follow
routines. Why shouldn't we?
Note that activities engaged in once, twice, or three
times a week are not labeled as Key Times. Instead, they
are blocked out on the Weekly Schedule form. Only activities
to be repeated daily are listed as routines in our Key
Times. It works best to know how much time each routine
takes and block it out on the Weekly Schedule. (I block
30 minutes each for my arise and retire
routines.)
In some stages of our lives we are bombarded with interruptions.
We need to take these into account when we allot time.
It will ease much of our stress. When I was raising our
six children, they first dawdled and took too long to
groom for the day. We made up routines which they memorized.
When they became detoured, I asked them where they left
off. They mumbled their routine until they caught up and
soon they were back on track again. Getting ready for
the day then took only a fraction of the time it used
to. I hope this LIL helps busy parents and homemakers.
5
Key Times
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