I will have to say there is one good thing that came out of the pandemic- and it’s that so many businesses have realized that people can work from home, and they can do it successfully. As a working mom with two kids, working from home has been an obvious game changer. Not only do I get to walk my kids to/from school, I can also help with homework, cook meals throughout the day and so much more.
Getting adjusted to a work from home schedule was not the easiest though. It takes time to figure out what works with you and your schedule. However, once you get into the swing of your schedule, your kids’ schedule, etc., you can actually end up with a whole lot of more flexibility.
I am all about working smarter, not harder. Time is precious and I want to focus on getting my work done so I can spend more time with my kids. Get organized and simplify your work load with these easy tips.
Utilize a daily planner
I absolutely LIVE for my daily planner and I write every single thing down. Tasks for the blog, my work, the kids’ schedules, appointments.. you catch my drift. I would be lost without my planner and if you don’t have one, it’s time to get started now. Getting everything on pen and paper versus digitally makes it so much easier to remember things and who doesn’t love the satisfaction of crossing something off your to-do list.
If you’re shopping around for a new planner, here’s the link to the exact one I use. It’s undated, which I love so you can start it at any time. It has a goal-oriented approach to planning so at the end of each month, you can write down your goals for the following month and check off if you were able to achieve them. It’s great for self-reflecting, planning and staying organized.
Another way to stay organized is through a daily print-out planner. There’s a bunch of free ones you can find online or you can click this link to customize this daily planner before printing. You can even customize this one for grocery lists, shopping etc!
Wake up earlier
It sure sounds nice to roll out of bed at 7:55 AM and start working at 8 AM, but in reality this can prove to be much more stressful. I like to wake up at least 45minutes before the girls do every morning to get caught up on all my e-mails, follow-up with anything that may have required action the day prior, and review what my schedule looks like for the day. If I have time to cross something off before the kids wake up at 7:30, that’s a major win in itself.
I like to get out of work earlier and don’t work the traditional 8-5. Early bird gets the worm and that first hour in the morning always seems to be the most productive for me. It can help cut your time during the day too! You’ll also get a jump start before most people get work done so you can get your tasks done without any distractions.
Want more early morning tips? This blog post I wrote a few years ago has been the #1 post on my blog for quite some time. Click here to read 7 morning habits to set your day for success.
Avoid distractions
Stick to the task at hand and avoid distractions if you want to work smarter, not harder. I keep my phone in the other room when I am working on important tasks that I want to accomplish to avoid getting distracted with a text message or Instagram. Run through your to-do list and start with the most daunting or time- consuming items on your list. It may seem like a struggle to get started with this but it will make things so much easier throughout your day knowing you got them done!
Revisit your goals
Feeling un-motivated or in a funk? It’s time to revisit those goals. We all have something that motivates us and I like to remind myself of my goals every single morning by revisiting my vision board and dreaming a bit of the possibilities. This motivation reminds me why I do the things I do and helps me kick-start my day. I keep my “vision board” in my planner and you can find out how to make one here.
This is a good Monday morning task to help you get into the work week. It’s also nice to revisit your past goals to see how far you have come since the last time to set a new goal. It’s rewarding and a huge boost of encouragement.
Take breaks
I’ve heard a lot of people raving about time blocking these past couple of years and while I am not entirely sure it’s what I focus on, I do incorporate a bit of it into my daily routine.
Time blocking is a practice that essentially blocks out every minute of your day into different “blocks” in order to help you increase productivity and stick to the task at hand. It’s very effective for a lot of people, but as a mom of two, sticking to a schedule like this is nearly impossible.
I essentially work really hard at my tasks while my kids at at school. From 4-12, I have four hours of super productive time and try to get the majority of my work done here. Remember I’ve already gotten in an hour of work before my kids woke up so by the time 12 p.m. comes around, I should have completed all of the “must do’s” on my list. At this time, I take a break to spend time with my little one who is now out of school and we do lunch together. Once I am done, I catch up on any e-mails that may have come up.
By the time my oldest daughter gets out of school at 2:15, I am ready for another break and take the time to walk home with her, talk about her day, etc. Since I’ve already had several hours of productivity, I schedule my work in between helping with homework, snack time, after school, activities, etc.
Do what works for you
Everyone’s schedule is going to look differently and what works for me, may not work with you. It’s all about finding that balance between work and personal life when you work from home. It can be really easy to get distracted and on the other end, it can also be really easy to overwork if you don’t know how shut off.
Staying productive requires key times during the day when you need to be hyper-focused, but also requires breaks for our sanity. I hope you find whatever balance works for you and your family’s schedule. If you put these practices to work, I am sure you’ll find yourself more productive and feeling more balanced than ever!
