3 Achievable Daily Routines to Boost Success as a Working Mom
I don't know about you, but if I do not have a routine set in place, things will not get done. It’s a simple concept really…but why does it seem impossible to follow through on?
Having ideas and making them is easy, but following through is the hardest part. Schedules and routines are great, but I like to view my day as a rhythm. Like in music, the beat stays steady and notes are flying all along the page, but the rhythm of the piece gives that constant expectation of the next moment. I like to structure my day in this way for a few reasons.
When chaos appears (and with little kids, let’s be real, isn't there always chaos brewing?), I can handle it better knowing I accounted for these high-flying notes because my rhythm is a constant flow of the day.
You can boost your productivity and success by creating these consistent daily routines. When spontaneous adventures or opportunities come up, I can adapt because I know that my rhythm allows for change when I keep my 3 beats lined up.
I want to give you 3 consistent beats to carry you through your day regardless of what comes up:
Early Morning Routine-
Yes, I am here to tell you that getting up before your kids is REALLY important. It is possible to be successful without this step, yes, but it is KEY in creating and setting your best foot forward. At this time, I block from 5 am-7 am as MY morning block. This is my time for a quick sweat sesh, a shower, getting ready for the day, drinking my coffee in peace, journaling, reviewing my to-do list, and listening to a podcast while I get breakfast on the table. This way, when those little feet hit the floor, I am up and ready to pour into the “kiddo block” without any guilt of not finishing tasks or getting myself ready to go. I also find that doing this gives me MORE energy throughout the day.
2. Mom’s Work Block-
This one is relatively self-explanatory. Work can mean many different things. Maybe your work for the day is organizing a closet. Maybe it's going to the grocery store. Maybe you are doing your client calls or working for a client during the time your kids are at preschool. Regardless, during this block, this is when you put the phone away, stop scrolling social media, and plug through that work block until the task is done. I recommend scheduling this block during a time you know that you will have a few hours to make some progress on your project. Naptime? Preschool? After bedtime? When you know that this block is scheduled, it gives you the freedom to go about the rest of your day stress-free because you know your work will get done during its designated time block.
3. Night Routine Block-
This one is REALLY important and one that is too often overlooked. What would your mornings look like if you set yourself up for success the night before? Some of the things that I recommend adding to this block would be: Putting all dinner dishes from the day in the dishwasher and turning it on, folding that load of laundry, setting out clothes for the next day for the kids, pushing start on the robot vacuum, making and packing the kids’ lunches for the next day. Heck, maybe even pulling out something from the freezer for dinner the next day! (Hey, look at you being prepared!). You can take this a step further and load things needed for the next day up in the car.
I hope that this is helpful to you in figuring out how to manage to work at home and be a mommy! It’s a double-time job!
Following the beat through the rhythm of your day helps you stay on track, get more done, and enjoy more of your time guilt free!