How does everyone schedule "car time"?

TrevorK · 11-20-2009, 12:13 AM

So my projects have been moving along, but much SLOWER than I would like. It seems like with the demands of work, family and life in general the cars don't get as much time as I would like to move them ahead towards completion. Every so ofter I get a good spurt in when I can get out to the garage for a few days in a row and make some progress, but then I can go serveral weeks or even months without getting anything done. I usually work on the cars on the weekends, but there always seems to be other stuff to do. I've done a bit during the week, but usually by the time the kids are in bed I'm too bagged myself to turn the heat on in the garage and spend a couple of hours out there. I also find that in order to make real progress, I need to spend at least a few hours in the garage and preferably a whole day - if I can only get out for a 20-30 minutes it hardly seems worth it.

So what about everyone else? How do you schedule your time? One morning on the weekend that is sacred and nothing else comes first? 30 minutes a day every day? Book a week off work and spend the whole time in the garage?

dennisgill · 11-20-2009, 01:03 AM

I dont like to go out there unless I have a few hours. I have a busy life with 2 jobs, a 2 year old, and school so finding time is hard. THere are weeks where I just dont get a chance to get out in the garage. Lately I have been dedicating a day (usually wednesday) as mustang day. I make no plans that day and warn everyone to leave me alone. I can get a solid 6-8 hours out there and I get alot done.

JonK · 11-20-2009, 03:08 AM

I'm only home every other week so I try to do even an hour each night and get something nagging small done, morale builder. Daughter in bed by 8:30p, watch and hour or two of TV with the wife, she gets tired and I head to the garage but it's not that cold so 1/2 hour of a space heater and I'm good to work.
It's harder for me to get back to it if I stop for 3 or 4 days in a row, weekends are a few hours during the day but family stuff is weekends. I focus on doing at least an hour a night 4/5 nights week, by Sun. should have 8 hours that week into it w/o neglecting family. I order my parts while I'm gone so they're there for the next weekend.
Jon

Alaric · 11-20-2009, 03:17 AM

My fianceé is a nurse that works night shifts so my car and I have 3 nights a week all to ourselves.....and then if she works on a Friday night, I have all day Saturday while she's sleeping...it works out pretty well.

mavken · 11-20-2009, 09:21 AM

I schedule time to work on the car on dates of Venus inferior conjunctions with the Sun. At least it seems that's as often as I get to work on it.

Seems like when I do set aside "car time", something else pops up. I have to work that day, something needs repair around the house, or some other "emergency" occurs. Sigh... I'm not discouraged though, I just keep trying till I get it done. "Never give up! Never surrender!"

**obsidianspider** · 11-20-2009, 09:22 AM

My fastback has been in a state of "cut up in the garage" for years now. I really don't schedule time for it, which is probably why it's been taking so long.

ALEBEAU415 · 11-20-2009, 09:38 AM

People thought I was nuts but I would get up at 5:00am and work on the car for an hour before I went to work everyday! Then on weekends I would schedule a day with family and friends to help and get a solid 10-12 hours in the garage. My friends would always be surprised how much I got done during the week. We completed a nut-and-bolt frame-off resto mod in 14 months.

zray · 11-20-2009, 09:47 AM

I work while others sleep. Arthritis & other assorted joint and muscle ailments keep me from getting good sleep, so I've adjusted to not missing it.

Z. Ray

slim · 11-20-2009, 09:59 AM

I work or "play" with my Stang when I feel like it and it doesn't interfere with family or jobs around the house. I'm pretty relaxed...don't really care
when or if it gets done!!

musgofasta · 11-20-2009, 10:05 AM

Simple - have a 40 hour job and a wife with a 60 hour job. Instant car time.

pretzel · 11-20-2009, 11:27 AM

lose your job like I did and all the time in the world

Maxum96 · 11-20-2009, 11:36 AM

I'm lucky, my wife and I are empty nesters. So that eliminates the child issues. But I do have to be careful not to spend too much time in the garage and not spend time with the Mrs. Unless I'm doing something that is going to be 30 minutes or less, I try to make sure that the wife is busy with something, at work, or gone for the day before I hang out with my mistress (Mustang).

Teambenya · 11-20-2009, 12:01 PM

I schedule everything in my calendar, weeks in advance! If I didn't, the project would end up sitting for weeks on end, and I'd never get her back on the road!

79cobraII · 11-20-2009, 12:14 PM

i take it as i can get it.

Only took me 3 months to get my transmission back together

dobrostang · 11-20-2009, 08:18 PM

The only thing I can suggest is EVERY time you get in the garage, pick up something and do it IMMEDIATELY. You would be surprised how much you can get done with 20 min sessions if you get disciplined about the time you spend. It usually takes at least 40 minutes before my kids or wife realize I gone and go looking for me. When you have to stop, leave the tools and everything in place for next time. Make every moment count - its better than nothing and over the course of a winter you can actually accomplish something. Disposable gloves help! Gotta stop staring, dreaming and wishing for more time - DO SOMETHING...

Best,

M