3 Best Tips For Being Productive At Home With Kids
Are you a mom who is struggling with how to be productive at home with your kids? From working as a freelance writer to running a business to just trying to keep the house clean, I’ve been there too! Here’s what I’m learning about productivity and motherhood along the way.
As a work at home mom, I entered this week just like I do every week – with a flawless, detailed plan. It’s true. I could show it to you on my Asana boards.
I had ample time to finish client projects for the week, and maybe even get ahead on a few things.
Some new work I’m really excited about came in. I just got this new blog planner that I’ve been VERY hyped to use.
And then, Monday afternoon we got a call from daycare. Nyah has a fever. There’s rampant sickness going around, so both kids MUST be picked up.
Now I’m sitting on the playroom floor, surrounded by Paw Patrol toys and baby dolls while my 1-year-old boycotts her nap and my toddler plays on an iPad.
While sickness is just one of many child care issues for working parents, there was a time when this disruption would have ruined me for a few days. But I’ve made a lot of progress in this whole motherhood thing.
Being productive at home can be a challenge, especially when you have kids to take care of. But with a few simple strategies, you can make the most of your time and get things done. Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or work from home, these tips can help you stay focused and productive.
1. Make a schedule that works for you – and stick to it.
If you’re a parent, you probably already know that nothing is certain, and everything can (and will) change at the last minute. Heck that’s not even just parenting, that’s life! But when you create a schedule with structure for your days, that helps not only you, but your kids too!
Our kids thrive off of having at least a general schedule and knowing what to expect. This helps you as a parent, too. If nap times, meal times, outings and errands happen at generally the same time each day, you’ll learn the best spots over time to get things done.
Because your kids know what happens next, they won’t need to rely on you as much for direction on what to do at every moment. When your kids are busy and happy, it allows you to be productive at home.
On the days where my kids are home for the day, if I have a lot of work to get done, I know I need to get to bed early, so I can wake up by 5:30 am. That gives me 1.5-2 hours before they’re awake for head down work regardless of how the rest of the day goes. If you have nap times, plan on that. Do whatever works for you and your family.
2. Learn as much as you can about time management and productivity.
Time management and productivity can both be words that cause some eye rolls initially, but I swear to you they make all the difference.
It’s hard to watch deadlines come and go as you change dirty diapers, make the 100th snack plate of the day and clean up another spill. In fact, it can sometimes feel like parenting itself is the enemy of productivity and real, purposeful progress.
But even when I’m struggling to complete my tasks, having them prioritized, knowing what steps I need to take and which ones are the most important makes all the difference in my stress levels.
I personally love to use an Eisenhower Matrix when I’m feeling super overwhelmed with everything I have to do. (You can find my free printable planner which includes one right here!)
This helps you to visually see the things that are the most important and the things that you can let go of. (At least for now.)
I also use a Golden Coil day planner to manage meals and my weekly tasks.
Then for big project management, on-going writing assignments, house management and bill pay, I keep track of what I’ve got going on using Asana.
It’ll take some trial and error, but try out a few systems and over time you’ll find what works for you. There are also some great books out there that can help you get int he right mindset for prioritizing and time management. I highly suggest The Lazy Genius Way and The Fringe Hours, both written specifically with women in mind.
3. Give yourself – and your kids – ALL the grace.
I’ll admit this has definitely been the hardest one for me. So many of us moms are very hard on ourselves. We have high expectations for our performance and our output. We also have high expectations for our kids – even our 3 year old who can’t say the word “Spaghetti” correctly.
But I’m realizing that a big chunk of my working mom burnout has often come from the heavy expectations not from my clients or my family, but from myself. This whole thing is about doing the best I can, making an income for our family, ensuring my kids are loved and that I am a whole person.
Oh yeah, and practicing lots of grace and gratitude.
This week I’ll admit I’ve bounced back and forth between being annoyed at our current situation and being grateful. Grateful that my kids are mostly healthy, happy and thriving. Grateful that I don’t have to ask someone for permission or use vacation days to be home with them. Annoyed that my plans have been thwarted.
But maybe, just maybe, there’s something for us to learn in the interruptions. Even the unwelcome ones.
Yesterday was not productive in a business sense. Neither is today. And tomorrow is yet to be seen.
But in the hearts and minds of my kids, maybe something productive IS happening.
Maybe they need this time. Maybe I need this time!
Maybe for a few days, productivity can wait.
With these 3 tips, you’ll be well on your way to at least a semi-productive week, at home, with your kids and all.
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