4Real Forums: Living by the timer

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Planning and Ordering our Days
4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days

Topic: Living by the timer

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SeaStar
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 5:56am \| IP Logged

Some people love their spreadsheets, planners and to do lists, but I have to admit: I love my timer.

I use my kitchen timer every day for so many things: kid's practicing instruments, school, even as a heads-up when it's time to get ready to go somewhere. If I know we need to leave in 30 minutes, I will set the timer to go off ten minutes before so we can be ready on time.

I find my timer to be so helpful and freeing. Once I set it, I don't have to keep looking at the clock or my watch. When it goes off, we all know it's time to move on to the next thing. The timer is really contributing to a more peaceful/less rushed atmosphere at my house, plus it keeps us accountable: when the timer goes off, you do have to put down your legos and get your coats and shoes.

There is also the added benefit of my not being so much the drill master, barking orders and deciding what to do when. The kids know that when they hear the timer, it means a switch is coming. They have done XYZ for the allotted time, and now it's time for something else.

So- I'm wondering if I'm alone in this or if any of you out there are timer fans as well. I would say it is my most important tool for staying organized.

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Maryan
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 6:38am \| IP Logged

SeaStar wrote:

There is also the added benefit of my not being so much the drill master, barking orders and deciding what to do when. The kids know that when they hear the timer, it means a switch is coming. They have done XYZ for the allotted time, and now it's time for something else.

So- I'm wondering if I'm alone in this or if any of you out there are timer fans as well. I would say it is my most important tool for staying organized.

Agreed! Except I wear a sports watch with a timer because it's not just at home that I need it!!

Math drills, chores, "just five minutes of handwriting" for my first grader, leaving for things, etc.

I have two kinds: a timer that counts up (we use that for math drills) and a timer that counts down (we use that for chores, etc.).

I often tell people my Timex Expedition watch is one of my most important tools!

The only BAD thing is if I time someone close enough to noon, I *might* forget to switch back to clock mode... and then the time ends up being close enough to the real time for me to be thrown off by fifteen minutes or more!!

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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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SallyT
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 6:43am \| IP Logged

I use the timer on my microwave pretty much daily, for math and reading and other schoolwork times, as well as for "take a ten-minute break and let's see how your mood is at the end of it."

Sally

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CrunchyMom
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 7:46am \| IP Logged

My timer on my stove doesn't work, my children broke my microwave (cooking a fork), and same children broke the magnet off of the kitchen timer I bought, etc... I've bought egg timers from Ikea, but they play with those constantly and lose them. My mom used the stove timer for *everything*, and she didn't even home school. It is hard to get into a time habit when you have to go looking for the timer. Maybe I need a watch like Maryan's???

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Servant2theKing
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 8:23am \| IP Logged

This lanyard timer and this magnetic easel timer have been very helpful for tracking and timing day to day activities. I bought them when we were having problems with the control panel on our stove (which dh has since replaced ~ yeah!). The lanyard version is nice when you're traveling about the house, or even away from home. The easel version tends to be chosen more frequently (probably for ease of use and visibility) and has already survived several mishaps in the year we've had it. A watch would probably be easier for individual use, but these timers are used often by everyone in our household for various and sundry tasks.

for using timers to manage your day!

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Erica Sanchez
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 9:06am \| IP Logged

Our stove timer is broken as well. :( This is a good reminder to get it fixed or find something else. I find the timer works especially well for my boys. Thanks, Melinda, for the reminder.

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mommy4ever
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 9:58am \| IP Logged

I use the time and alarms on my cell phone, extensively.

I have alarms for online classes, picking up dayhome kids, getting ready for out of the house routine activities. Karate, swimming, piano.

Timer on phone for timed items. Need to do more of it with dd10, so she quits dawdling so much.

Learned the timer thing with Flylady years ago. It works. Just 15 minutes can do accomplish lots. Even 5 minutes is all it takes to empty and load a dishwasher ;) But sometimes we think too much and don't get it done. Timer makes many things do-able.

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SeaStar
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 11:21am \| IP Logged

Yep-

Flylady was my big intro to the world of timers. I love setting the timer, doing whatever needs to be done, and then being able to stop because the timer went off.

I know that Angie Mc has mentioned that she uses a computer timer for her on line time. I have not yet tried that, but I think it's a very good idea for me.
I wonder if my computer has a built in timer or if there is software that will close down your session when your time is done?

Something to investigate...

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Maryan
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 11:53am \| IP Logged

mommy4ever wrote:

Learned the timer thing with Flylady years ago. It works. Just 15 minutes can do accomplish lots. Even 5 minutes is all it takes to empty and load a dishwasher ;) But sometimes we think too much and don't get it done. Timer makes many things do-able.

SeaStar wrote:

Flylady was my big intro to the world of timers. I love setting the timer, doing whatever needs to be done, and then being able to stop because the timer went off.

Ditto! And Lindsay, I have to have a watch that is attached with timer and glowlight! Watch for Nursing babies (just to know how many times I'm waking up?!?! I'm too blind to see the clock), Timer for running and studying boys... at any time and place. It's always right there attached to me! Otherwise I would NEVER know where I put a timer.

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Maryan
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motherheart
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Posted: March 27 2014 at 7:11pm \| IP Logged

Me, too! I started using timers after Flylady.

I set the timer for our school sessions, school breaks, time outs, time until something will happen, etc. My kids use our timers, too! We have two, plus the one on the stove. I love it when I hear, "where's the timer??"

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Mary

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Angie Mc
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Posted: March 28 2014 at 7:32pm \| IP Logged

Love, love, love timers! I'm on Focus Booster right now

Love,

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3ringcircus
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Posted: March 28 2014 at 11:04pm \| IP Logged

Well, I am feeling so inspired by this talk of timers! I love being relaxed about schooling, but hate being the big taskmaster when it's time to transition to activities the DSs don't like.

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Christine
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SuzanneG
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Posted: March 29 2014 at 8:57am \| IP Logged

Yes, love all of our timers too. We have two digital ones on the fridge, 2 in the kid-bathroom, our stove timer, my phone and my watch.

Use them ALL THE TIME!

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3ringcircus
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Posted: March 31 2014 at 5:32pm \| IP Logged

Just used a timer today! I had my dawdler go in 20 min. sprints on his work. When he got belligerent with me (as usual), I simply said he had to sit there until the timer went off. If he chose not to work, then that was his choice. The 20 (or 10 min) break would be coming up no matter what he got accomplished.

After some whining, he got down to work. If he wasted my time, I got up and started cleaning the kitchen while he sat there bored until the timer beeped. Usually though, he started working by himself after I walked away! He said he liked the new process and wanted to do it again tomorrow.

Since he has legitimate focus issues, I think the sprint mentality followed by a free-range break for us both might do the trick. It still was a long work day, but I have hope that things will tighten up and get more efficient.

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Christine
Mom to my circus of boys: G-1/06, D-1/04, S-4/10
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