Establishing a work at home mom schedule is the first step to improving your productivity and maintaining your sanity – trust me.
The following is an example of my current work at home mom schedule during the week. I am a firm believer in the importance of family time, so whenever possible, I leave the weekends free for other activities.
WAKE UP EARLY
For me, this is about 5:00 am. Waking up early is key. By waking up just a couple of hours before my kids, I am able to get so much work done in the mornings. I’ve always been a morning person, so this works out really well for me. Personally, I am more focused and alert in the morning, as opposed to later on in the day.
MAKE THE BED
It is such a simple task and sets the tone for the rest of your day. Trust me, take the minute and a half it takes to make your bed. You will feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes your way.
MORNING DEVOTIONS & PRAYER
The first thing I do in the morning is my daily devotions. This is my personal time to get my mind in the right place and brace myself for the busy day ahead. When I spend a few minutes in reflection and prayer each day, my mood is better, my productivity increases and I have an overall sense of accomplishment.
MORNING WORK TIME
I start on my morning work, usually responding to emails, catching up on social media updates and other smaller tasks, saving more labor-intensive work for later. The reason being that my kids will usually join me before I finish, and I limit this time to a maximum of 1 1/2 hours.
My toddler is the first to join me. He generally plays and has some fruit, while I continue to work. Eventually, my oldest joins us as well. I continue to work until the whining for breakfast because unbearable – just kidding!
BREAKFAST
My eating habits reflect the fact that I am a creature of habit. Every morning without fail, I eat a bowl of oatmeal. It fills me up and keeps me going for a few hours.
For the kids, I keep it simple as well. They aren’t the biggest fans of oatmeal, so for them I have a few other go-to breakfasts, consisting of something they can dip in syrup, eggs or occasionally dry cereal.
OIL PLLING
Oil pulling requires taking approximately a teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth and swishing it around for 20 minutes or so. It may seem a bit strange, but I have been doing oil pulling for approximately a year, seeing tremendous results in my overall health.
It can help with dental problems, removes bacteria from your mouth and may even prevent you from getting sick. It’s a simple task to do while preparing breakfast. Click here if you would like to learn more about oil pulling and other ways to use coconut oil in your home.
INDEPENDENT PLAYTIME
After the kids finish up breakfast, it is back to play time for them. A huge rule in our house is that we do not do electronics in the morning. I am not opposed to electronics as a whole, and I feel they definitely have a place in our world today.
There is no avoiding it, our children will be exposed to the media. Rather than fighting it, I try to set up specific times where the kids are able to watch a show, play on the computer or use their tablet.
BREAKFAST FOR MOM
This is my guilty mom pleasure. While I eat my breakfast solo, I like to read a book or catch up on some YouTube videos.
CLEAN UP KITCHEN
Instead of allowing the stack in the sink to grow to astronomical proportions, I prefer to clean the dishes after every meal. This makes me feel better, makes the house look better and as a result I am not driven crazy by the anxiety.
GET DRESSED FOR THE DAY
The kids and I change our clothes, brush our teeth and get ready for the day. I also make their beds and put away laundry from the night before.
MORNING ACTIVITY FOR KIDS
Around this time, we head out for our morning activity. This might be a playdate, storytime or even play time at the park. This time is exclusively spent focusing on the boys and doing something fun.
We do our best to get out of the house, but if the weather isn’t so great, we spend the morning playing at home. Unless it is an emergency, I stay away from my phone during this time.
WORKOUT
I work out 5 to 6 times a week – alternating with strength training, HIIT style cardio and barre workouts. I find that I feel best when I exercise a few hours after eating breakfast, just before lunch.
HOMESCHOOL & WORK TIME
Thankfully, my toddler still naps for approximately 3 hours each day after lunch, which is a major blessing. My oldest and I spend approximately 30 to 40 minutes doing homeschool. He is still young, so school time is very minimal.
After homeschool, I begin my work, and he completes some independent activities. If I do not complete my work during this time, I finish up after the kids go to bed. I limit working at night, instead prioritizing spending time with my spouse.
This is very typical of what my work at home mom schedule looks like on a daily basis. Life happens, so I try to be flexible when the unexpected occurs, never taking for granted the ability to raise my children, homeschool and pursue my dreams. It certainly is the best of both worlds.
