by Pat Jacobs

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 18, 2009

Got a lot of errands to run, while juggling work and daily chores? Does it seem like you're constantly shopping, cooking and cleaning with little to show for it? Do you crave more family time? (This can include not only hubby and kids, but wife and kids, just wife, just hubby, just kids, your siblings, your mother, father, or other relatives staying with you or that you're taking care-and this can be non-relatives-close friends, domestic others, you name it.)

It's possible to regain five hours in a week. How? By knowing which tasks we do most efficiently on which days. It all has to do with the right brain/left brain chemistry that makes us more logical on certain days, more imaginative on others (It's the right side that controls creativity and solves problems). Research has shown that if you do those tasks then, you 'll get them done more quickly and you'll gain more family time.
Here's how:

Mondays Are Perfect For-Anything That Requires You To Be Creative, Such As Writing Out A Business Plan, Menu Planning, Or Brainstorming Ideas For An Upcoming Project. Why? Because you've just spent the weekend in a right-brain, creative state of mind (gardening or tending to plants, relaxing, watching TV, playing with the kids and/or pets, etc.). If you try to tackle any left-brain tasks, like accounting or bookkeeping, you're not as likely to be productive (Most of us-at least 75%-are not very efficient on Mondays; No big surprise there, huh?). Your brain has to activate its left side, which can sometimes take up to six hours.

Pick Tuesdays To Pay Bills, Do The Accounting Or Bookkeeping, For Reviewing Or Editing Current And/Or Upcoming Household Or Business Projects. Did you know that this day is the most productive of the week? That's because your left side of the brain has kicked in now and is raring to go. You'll be totally focused on working well.

Wednesdays Are Great For Running, Errands (Such As Grocery Shopping) And Making Appointments.

At midweek, your left brain needs a break from the regular work you've been doing. And supermarkets tend to be less crowded on Wednesday (The weekends are the most crowded, but sometimes if you shop early morning- before 12 noon-on Sundays, you can get in and out quickly).

The Best Day To Do Vacuum Cleaning Or Laundry Is On A Thursday. Why?
By now, your left brain's getting tired; doing some physical tasks will give your left side a break. And your right brain's kicking back into gear, coming up with any work-related solutions that may have been bugging you. By doing physical things that require little concentration, you'll give it a chance to work out!

Never Sweat The Big Stuff On Fridays; Focus On The Small. This may come as a surprise to some of you, but Fridays are the least productive days; you're tired!

So just take care of Little Details, Or Short Easy Tasks, the things you didn't have a chance to do earlier (like simple filing or sewing buttons back on clothes). You'll feel productive, yet conserve your energy (which in turn will give you extra strength).

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