I decided to break it down for a typical week/work day based on this last school year.
I wake up at 4AM and head to the gym. Yes, really. I learned several years ago that I must workout if I want to stay in shape and physically able. I think it also helps my self esteem. Unfortunately, my only choice is to go at 4AM because there is just no other time to go.
As soon as I get home I change into my rubber work boots, take the dog out, feed the goats, and open the coop doors. The youngest chicks get freedom to range all day and the laying-aged birds get freedom into the chicken run.
The goal is to be in the shower by 5:30, so if I can get inside before 5:20, I will make myself eggs for breakfast.
From 5:30 to 6:30 I take a shower, get dressed, put makeup on and dry my hair, make lunches (since we don't often get it done at night), getting the boys up, nagging them to get ready, packing up my computer nad work bag, and sometimes making them breakfast. The boys get up at about 6, so if they are dragging their feet then I don't have time to make them breakfast and they get granola bars and bananas or something else I can grab on the way out the door.
I drop the youngest at daycare and then make the hour drive to work. I get to work around 7:30, and the students show up at 8:45. I leave work at 4:05, the moment that I'm allowed to leave and I head straight to daycare to pick up the youngest.
On a good day, I get him at about 4:45 and we are home by 5. As soon as I get out of the car, I change into my rubber boots and head over to open the coop door that will let the laying hens free range, feed the goats, and let the dog out.
As soon as I'm inside the house I figure out dinner and get to work.
The youngest goes to bed at 7, so after the animals are taken care of I only have about an hour and a half to make dinner, feed everyone, clean up from dinner, get him to clean himself and hopefully have him make his lunch, and put him to bed.
Once he's in bed I head outside to count and lock up the birds and let the dog out one last time. I try to finish the dishes and then I set my gym clothes out (I wear my gym pants to sleep so it's one less thing to do in the morning), check my email one last time, and go to bed.
The goal is to be in bed by 8, although I don't usually get to bed until almost 9, and at times it's later than that.
I am a firm believer that getting 8 hours of sleep is important to maintaining health, so that's what I try to get and I try to get the youngest son into bed so that he gets as close to 11 hours of sleep as possible.
This schedule has worked except during the swimming lesson or cross country season where we will have 2-4 nights of practices so that 90 minutes of time with the youngest son before bedtime also has to include driving to and from a 40-60 minute lesson or practice. This also doesn't include the times that I need to clean out all of the animal water dishes and refill them or deal with other random issues like refilling feed chicken feed bins, luring goats back into the pen when they've gotten out, taking care of sick animals, etc.
On the weekends I play catch up and clean the water dishes, clean the coops out, pick up the dog messes, and do all of the household chores.
This has been the schedule for two years and since I am switching jobs next fall I am hoping that things will go smoother and I will have more time in the afternoon to get things done. Hopefully I won't be getting up at 4AM anymore.
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