I’m all for being the lazy one and being in the lazy era, and having cozy nights in. I’m a gamer mom, engineer, content creator, homeschool mom for crying out loud. BUT my best days, are the ones where I feel the most accomplished. I have days where I play the sims or Dream Light Valley all day (trust me, it’s so much fun), but I always end up feeling drained, or wished I spent my time differently.
Being a stay-at-home mom is my 2nd full-time job that involves managing a household, caring for children, and somehow finding time for myself. It can be overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you best believe I try my hardest to balance my responsibilities and still have time for personal self-care.
Here are my top 10 productivity tips to help you stay on top of everything:
1. PLAN PLAN PLAN
If there is ANYTHING I can tell you, it is to plannnnnnn the hell out of your life. I’ll talk more about time blocking later. HOWEVER and this may sound contradictory, but don’t plan to prioritize the plan. Things are going to get crazy, things are going to get wonky, things are going to get out of wack. Plan so you give yourself padding within a time frame you need to get your tasks done.
2. SCHEDULE Priority Tasks
Not all tasks are created equal. Identify the most important tasks that need to be done each day and tackle those first. This way, even if your day doesn’t go as planned, you’ll know that the essentials are taken care of. We schedule them so we have enough time to get through them.
3. Incorporate Cleaning into Your Daily Routine
I swear by the “power hour” technique. I have daily tasks that I utilize during my power hour. These include doing the dishes, making the beds, cleaning the cat box (ew, I know.), and trying to clean all the surfaces in the house. One day a week I focus on deeply cleaning or thoroughly cleaning a room. Mondays I clean the living room and those entails mopping and vacuuming the couches, and then Wednesdays for example, I clean the master bedroom and kid’s room. I don’t spend more than 1.5 hours on these projects.
4. Meal Prep
Cooking can be time-consuming, especially when you have little ones to look after. Save time during the week by meal prepping. Chop vegetables, marinate meats, and even cook a few meals in advance. This way, you can quickly put together nutritious meals during the week with minimal effort.
5. Use Time-Blocking Techniques
Time blocking involves dedicating specific blocks of time to certain tasks. For example, set aside an hour in the morning for house chores, another hour for cooking, and a block of time in the afternoon for personal projects or self-care. I even come as far as scheduling in things like gaming and engineer projects. This helps me stay organized and focused.
6. Delegate Tasks
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Involve your partner, children, or even a cleaning service to lighten the load. Teach your kids to help with age-appropriate tasks like picking up toys or folding laundry. Sharing the responsibility not only eases your burden but also teaches your children valuable life skills. My kids are responsible for trash duty, feeding our animals and mopping.
7. Use Technology to Your Advantage
Take advantage of apps and tools that can help you stay organized. Use a digital calendar for scheduling, a meal planning app for organizing recipes and grocery lists, and even smart home devices for managing your household more efficiently. I use Notion, and Google Calendar. I use a physical planner for daily planning and notion to have routines jotted down and easily accessible.
please note** some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. When you click on and make a purchase through these links, I make a commission at no additional cost to you. I thank you so much in advance.