Welcome back to Part 2 of Managing Your Time without Losing Your Mind. In this installment, guest blogger Amy Stout shares some of her strategies.

Welcome back to Part 2 of the DifferentDream.com series about time management. In Part 1, guest blogger Melissa Gamble shared her three best time management tips. In this installment, guest blogger Amy Stout shares some of her strategies. Amy says it’s easy to keep herself organized, but things are trickier for her daughter Kylie, who experiences autism. Amy finds organization, routine, and proper expectations are keys to managing time and a child with autism. That said, here are five strategies Amy uses.

Strategy 1: www.cozi.com

Amy uses www.cozi.com to organize schedules of 2 respite providers and 7 respite caregivers who service her family. Cozi allows her to color code each one of them, put their specific information in her calendar, set up repeating appointments and also send them email or text reminders a few days/hours in advance of their work schedule!  It is awesome!!

Strategy 2: Routine, Routine, Routine

If Kylie’s routine – remember routine is so important to kids with special needs –  has to change or if Amy’s introducing something new, then she utilize a schedule. For an example, look at the x-ray example Amy included in this previous guest post. Amy says social stories can also be applied to this scenario.

Strategy 3: Remain Flexible

Amy tries to keep a proper mindset regarding flexibility. She doesn’t consider her own expectations as set in stone. Instead, her daughter is the most important priority.  If she cant handle what is required to complete Amy’s to do list for the day then that item gets moved to a new day.  (Example: If Amy need to pick up a few groceries but the lights and sounds in the store are really bothering Kylie that day, then Amy doesn’t go. Nothing is more important than her daughter’s comfort.)

Strategy 4: Work When the Kids Sleep

Amy does a lot after Kylie goes to bed and before she wakes up.  Amy calls them her golden hours.

Strategy 5: Multitask

Amy multitasks as much as she can.  She never just watches TV.  Amy will provide examples of how she multitasks, along with five more strategies she employs,  in the next post in this series. In the meantime, you can read more time savers at Amy’s blog, www.histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com.

Share Your Time Management Strategies

Now it’s your turn to share your time management strategies. Or leave a comment about which one of Amy’s tips you’re going to try or how you’ll modify it for your situation. Rest assured, your idea will help other parents trying to organize their time without losing their minds!

Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind: Part 1
Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind: Part 3
Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind: Part 4
Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind: Part 5

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