Our family isn't the greatest with time management; my husband is always late, I'm a chronic procrastinator, and the kids are always going somewhere. But with so many people in our home (my husband, me, our 2 year old, my 10 year old stepson 50% of the time, and our 15 year old niece 98% of the time) and so little time to get everything done, we had to up our time management game.
It's possible, I promise.
0 Comments
I'm sure you've heard about The Elf on the Shelf. It's a super popular Christmas toy and the gist of it is this: each family's elf (or elves) are sent from Santa Claus to watch the kids and make sure they are good, before they get presents on Christmas. The elf moves around every night and some parents have taken it to great extremes; Elf on the Shelf Shenanigans would definitely be an event in the Motherhood Olympics.
My husband bought our family (well, more specifically, me) an Elf when I was pregnant with Olivia, who is now 2. 2015 was Elfincia's first Christmas with us (yep, you get to name your elf) and we've played along with moving her about, although I've never emphasized the whole "You're being watched" thing. This year, I wanted to do something different. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you real information about the mompreneur life. Working from home is the dream - wearing your pajamas, Netflix on your breaks, setting your own hours and no one ever drinks all the coffee before you can fill your cup. However, it can also be incredibly difficult to stay motivated and undistracted when you work from home! So, here are some simple tips to help you stay productive when you work from home. 1. Write To-Do ListsWhether you are an entrepreneur or a work-from-home employee, you need to be clear about what you need to get done and when you're going to do it. Personally, I write a to-do list for the week; then, every day I write the top 3 things I want to accomplish for the day and I schedule my entire day with a time-blocking schedule. (Want a copy of my printable daily schedule? Sign up for my free resource library here!) I also recommend utilizing the eat that frog principle. Mark Twain once said, "If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it's your job to eat two frogs, it's best to eat the biggest one first." Basically, do the thing you're dreading from your to-do list first. If you'd like to learn more about this practice and beating procrastination, check out Brian Tracy's book, Eat that Frog. 2. Get Up earlierI talk about this a lot - but especially if you're a mom, getting up before the rest of your family will do wonders for your productivity. I schedule my coffee maker to start brewing at the same time my alarm goes off. Then, before anyone else is awake, I organize my to-do list and schedule for the day, make note of any appointments or meetings, answer emails, and organize my social media. Another option is to use that time to relax, especially if you work long hours as a mompreneur. Take a long shower, drink your coffee, read a good book - fill your cup. You'll be happier and more positive, which will only help your productivity for the rest of the day. 3. Do a 30-Minute Mad CleanOk, so you know when it's 30 minutes before company arrives at your house and you do a mad clean and you're shocked at how much you can accomplish in half an hour? Do this more often. I struggle to focus completely on work when my house is a mess (and I have a toddler so it's a mess 97% of the time). So, I set a timer and clean like crazy for 30 minutes; the mental break from work AND the benefit of having a tidier home helps me to refocus on my business. 4. PrioritzeOnly answer emails that need to be answered. Only respond to messages that need your response right now. If you're a work-from-home mom, it can be easy to become glued to your phone. But here's the thing. Being productive? It means that sometimes you actually stop working. That you are present with your family. That you step back from your business and be with the people you love or you do something that you enjoy. Trust me. You'll be more focused when you do work if you can prioritize when needs to get done immediately and what can wait. 5. Meal PrepYou can set yourself up for max productivity by prepping lunch and snacks ahead of time. I love to make jar salads - it's the perfect pre-portioned meal that I can dump in a bowl and eat at the computer. Right now, I'm loving this Burrito Bowl Jar Salad. There are so many resources on Pinterest for meal planning and prepping; you can read my own strategy here! 6. Ask for help. Hire help if you have to!For us, that looks like this: My daughter goes to my mother-in-law's for a couple of hours every day during the workweek so I can focus 100%. We hired a company to pick up the dog poop in our backyard and someone to come clean our house a couple times a month. Our kids do the dishes and clean the bathrooms. You don't have to do it all by yourself. Do you work from home? How do you stay productive?
I know, I know. Everyone and their mama is talking about the importance of self-care for mothers. Well, guess what?! Everyone and their mama is right. It is really freakin' important. And it's not just spa dates and shopping trips and expensive Starbucks coffees (although it can be those things #treatyoself). So, what's a mom to do when she's short on cash but in desperate need of a little self-care? Check out the list below for 44 self-care strategies that won't break the bank!
What simple strategies would you add to this list?
1. get up before the kids (if you can) Ok, this is an obvious one. It might require you to go to bed earlier or to put your alarm clock across the room so you can break up with the snooze button. However, give yourself some grace. If your baby wakes up at 5am everyday and the idea of getting up at 4 is literal misery - give yourself some grace and adapt your routine to include the kid(s). 2. Gratitude is the opposite of stress If the first thing you do when you wake up is look at the (super depressing) world news or stress about your list of things to do - I want you to stop. Right now. If you can take anything from this list and put it into practice, I hope it's this. "Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance." - Eckhart Tolle Now, you can incorporate gratitude into your morning routine in a multitude of ways and I encourage you to find the way that works for you. Some people turn their alarm off and immediately think of 5 things for which they are grateful. Some might meditate on their gratitude, while some will focus on what they are grateful for while brushing their teeth. Some prefer to put pen to paper, listing every single day their grateful hearts. It doesn't matter how you do it; it just matters that you do. And if your kids wake up early with you, include them in this practice. Imagine focusing every single day from childhood on all the things you have to be thankful for. That's a pretty freakin' cool gift to give your children. 3. Exercise Look, you don't have to run 10k or even do a full workout if you don't want to. Your morning exercise routine might be 10 minutes of yoga (or, heck, even 1 minute of yoga). You can stretch or you can do intense cardio. You can do some push-ups and sit-ups or you can do a full strength-training workout. Whatever you do will set you up with more energy for your day. Plus, who doesn't want a healthy dose of endorphins first thing in the morning? 4. Write your to-do list Some people prefer to do this before bed; I like to do a brain dump of everything I need to get done during the day when I wake up. I take a fresh piece of paper and write done everything I can think of that I need to accomplish, whether it's work tasks or wife tasks. And then, I pick 3 things. Yep, just 3. I reflect on what might be time-sensitive (a blog post that needs to go up or a living room that needs to be cleaned before people come over tonight). And I focus on getting those 3 things done during my day. If I accomplish more? Yay, go me! And if not? That's ok. There's always tomorrow. 5. Read (or listen to) something inspiring Put down your phone, avoid the newsfeed and the news, and pick up a good book or plug into an inspirational podcast or audiobook. (As a mama of early-rising kids, you might find that listening to books is the key to getting in more "reading.") I always advise my clients to avoid business-related information first thing in the morning; hang out in a positive space when you wake up and you'll feel more ease when you get to your work-related tasks. 6. Give yourself some grace You're a mom; this is pretty much my advice for anything. Didn't get to write down your to-do list? That's ok, maybe writing it down before bed will be a better fit for you. Didn't get to read before the kids woke up? Cool, turn on a podcast (find my favourites here).
Always, always, always give yourself grace. Don't ever beat yourself up for pressing snooze or skipping your workout. You're human. There's over 7 billion of us; welcome to the club.
And I've learned that leaving doesn't get easier. My heart aches and my guilt levels rise when tears are shed. But I've also learned that leaving is good for all of us. It makes me a better mother when I take care of me. It makes me a better wife and role model of a healthy marriage when I spend solo time with my husband. It makes me a better person when I'm not solely existing to take care of other people and actually doing things I'm passionate about (like traveling!) When we leave her, my daughter learns that she can live without us; she learns that we will always come back. So, while it may never be easy, I can be as prepared as possible - and I can make sure my daughter is, too. So, here are my top tips to ditch the mom guilt and travel kid-free. 1. BE PREPARED Being prepared is crucial staying calm and reducing anxiety after you leave. Whenever we travel, I leave:
2. make it special for your kids On our first long trip away (7 days!), my mother came to stay at our house with my daughter. Before leaving, I went to the dollar store and spent about $15 to get a small present for each day we were gone. They weren't extravagant presents - Play-Doh, bubbles, a puzzle, a toy dinosaur, a book, etc. Every day, my daughter was able to open a present from us; it helped me feel connected to her and made us being gone a little more fun for her. 3. Say goodbye I know, this one seems obvious. But even if your flight is at 6am (meaning being at the airport at 4am), it is so important to tell your kids you are leaving and remind that that you will come back. Don't spend a ton of time saying goodbye - drawing things out might make it harder on you and them. 4. Take advantage of technology Check in regularly - for us, that meant Facetiming with our daughter every day. We quickly learned that a couple of minutes was the perfect amount of time for us to say hi, tell her we loved her, and chat with her caregiver about any questions they had. If we talked any longer than that, she would get upset and cry; it's a live and learn thing, so adjust your timing as necessary! Another bonus of our wireless world is that home is able to contact you immediately in case of emergencies, so make sure that they know the best way to reach you (text message, phone call, Facebook messenger, etc.) 5. Fill your cup, mama Remind yourself: being away from your kids is ok. Taking care of yourself is ok. Investing in your marriage is ok. In fact, all of these things are incredibly important. You were a multi-faceted person before you became Mama; you need to take care of those parts of yourself as well. So, even if it's difficult, remember: you are doing a really good job. You deserve this trip. You've got this.
1. Abandon the 9-5It's time to ditch the idea of a typical workday and start thinking "nap-to-nap." You don't need to sit down for 8 hours to get your work done; I mean, isn't that the beauty of being your own boss?! Your business can be built before your kids wake up, during nap times, and after everyone is asleep. Of course, there are certain appointments or activities that must be accomplished during the day, but don't feel like you need to accomplish everything in the traditional 9-5 structure. 2. Schedule, Schedule, ScheduleI've said it before and I'll say it again: What gets scheduled, gets done. And I'm not just talking about your business, I'm talking about your entire life. That means, when you're planning out your daily or weekly tasks and goals, include non-work related items like when you're going to workout, when you're going to take a bubble bath, and when you're going to have family time. For me, that means scheduling weekly games nights and mid-day time to play with my daughter. Even if we have no structured plans, having that scheduled time reminds me of my priorities and helps me step away from my business to play my most important role: being her mom. 3. Meal plan and PrepNope, meal plans and meal prep are not just for weight loss! They're also great to help save the busy mompreneur's sanity. Having a plan and being prepared will save you time, save money, and save yourself the 5pm madness of "Shoot, what's for dinner?!" Here are some tips to get started (you'll find TONS of great sample plans and even more recipes on Pinterest!)
4. Find (or Create) A villageIt takes a village to raise a child. So don't try and do this parenting thing all on your own. Communicate with your partner about how they can help you -- after all, you are juggling two full-time jobs. Figure out how to parent and how to share the household duties so that you're on the same page. Also, make sure you tell him how grateful you are for all his help!! (Hey, remember that scheduling thing? Schedule a date night!!) Let's say your spouse is less than supportive, works out of town, or maybe isn't in the picture. What's a girl to do? Honey, it's time to create a village for yourself. Go on Facebook for groups of moms in your city and look for a mama to swap childcare or stressful stories with. Hire a cleaning lady to come once a month or every 2 weeks to help around the house. Find a church, a mom group, or a book club help you survive. This article lists, in more detail, 7 ways to find and create your own village as a mom. 5. Take care of YOUYour kids need a happy mom, not a perfect one. And the only person who can truly give them the happy mom they need? It's you. Remember, there will never be enough time in the day to get everything done. It's pretty much impossible. Your inbox will be full forever, so just accept it. You house will be a little messy and that's ok. You have to take care of yourself in order to take care of your family and your business. So, schedule your workout, take that bubble bath, and find time for a drink with your girlfriends. Trust me. You'll be a better mama and mompreneur for it. Now, Ditch the guilt and get out there, mama!Looking for your village, a community of women who embrace self-care, choose to grow, and just want to make life better every single day? Come join our free group on Facebook here!
|
Categories
All
Archives
September 2018
|