Productivity Tips

A key to staying on top of things, especially as a mother, is staying productive. Nothing feels better than getting to the end of the day and feeling that sense of accomplishment for how productive you were. Working moms, stay at home moms, mothers of multiples or a mother to just one child, we all have those days where we look around and it looks and feels like we have done nothing. But keeping our children alive, fed and happy is an accomplishment in itself, so give yourself more credit!

Our to-do lists may feel like they are never ending, and likely they are not, but crossing off those tasks can feel exhilarating. It can give this adrenaline rush to keep going, get more done. There will be days where our little ones need more from us than other days, and that is our key responsibility, so this other stuff can wait. But on those days where our children can play independently or take an extra long nap, we really should be taking advantage of those moments.

Here are some tried and true tips for having an incredibly productive day.

Have a schedule and stick to it

I thrive off of a schedule. While I may also rebel and go off course tackling things out of order, having a schedule keeps me responsible for certain tasks on certain days or at certain times throughout the day. This is almost securing the fact that I will get it done. I keep a cleaning schedule as well as a master “Mom Schedule”. My cleaning schedule helps me keep track of specific cleaning that should be completed before the end of each day. If I skip a day or can’t complete it due to other schedule conflicts, that task is moved into the next day, doubling up my chores for the following day. My “Mom Schedule” contains all of my tasks, habits, work, and personal items to be accomplished each day. This just keeps me in line for achieving my own personal goals while managing my home and maintaining a work-life balance.

Set a timer

We all have those tasks we have put off for far too long simply because we don’t want to do them. These can be small, mundane tasks like emptying the dishwasher, up to larger tasks such as organizing the garage. When we set a timer, we can do this 2 different ways. Set a specific time in which you must be done before the timer goes off and watch yourself fly through the task. Or set a stop watch and see how quickly that task can be done and you’ll be less likely to put it off next time realizing it really doesn’t take that long.

Wake up before your kids

This one can be very hard, especially if you already have early risers, or if your pregnant, because pregnancy fatigue is real! While this doesn’t always work out in our favour on the off days, the majority of the time it can be a beautiful thing. My son typically wakes up each morning between 6 and 6:30am. I get myself up at 5am to gain an hour to myself. I workout, I meditate, sometimes I read or write in a journal. Whatever your goal may be, provide yourself that extra time to start your day off how you would like versus being woken up by your kids and having to get right into Mommy mode.

Plan as much as you can

I am a planner at heart. If motherhood has taught me anything, it is to become more flexible with my plans. By having a rough plan can help you not forget anything and give you a sense of stability. Meal planning, events, activities, naps or quiet times, you can really plan anything. By having a basic plan set, you know what needs to be done in order for something to be achieved. Circumstances such as sickness, or teething or lacking sleep can put a damper on these plans, and then we just need to adjust and roll with it. But with a plan in place, we are more likely to get out of the house on time, we are more prepared for the unexpected and we can get more done in our days.

Prioritize

Prioritizing our tasks is very important. Knowing the difference of what needs to be done versus what we would like to do, can really change our attitude on how our day unfolds. It can also help wonderfully with our reactions and responses to the unexpected and allows us to go more with the flow of life. We may need to prepare meals and bottles and clean up the kitchen, but mopping can wait. Balancing our attention can be so challenging, but recognizing when it is needed is so helpful.

Make lists

A list can be a wonderful thing! Grocery lists, birthday lists, to-do lists, goal lists, they all have a place in our lives. These can save our time, budgets and our sanity. Packing for a day out? Make a list. Hosting a birthday party and need food and drinks and decorations? Make a list. Wanting to try new workouts and challenge yourself in your fitness goals? Make a list. You can truly make a list for anything and everything and they are remarkably helpful.

Write things down

Ever think of a brilliant idea or hear a great quote or remember you need to get something done or pick something up? Write it down. I keep a notebook in my home close by at all times for these random thoughts and reminders throughout the day. While I am out and about I keep notes within my phone. It feels terrible to forget about that great idea or forget about something that was so important in that moment, so write it down and review these notes regularly.

As a reminder, be kind to yourself. We all deserve a day of rest, so on the slower days where less is completed, that is quite alright. There is always tomorrow. If things feel like they are piling up or are out of control, ask for help. We are only human, and while we may strive to be super mom or the ideal Pinterest mom full of wit and beauty who can accomplish it all while creating the most beautiful baking and crafts, we are allowed to slow down as well. Live in the moment. Do not forget about what is most important, our family and ourselves. Chores and errands can wait. Productivity doesn’t have to be our entire identity, but it does feel damn good to get things done.

Melanie xoxox