One of the most FAQs I get is; how I manage life, home, kids, marriage, and work. And to tell you the truth, I know I have said this before, but it’s not easy to answer. It’s not a simple DO, GET THIS kind of answer. There are a lot of practical steps, things I do DAILY to make sure I keep myself organized and the family running. And to be honest, 90% of the time, we are all running around like crazy people. But here are a few things I implement and do and how to stay organized as a working mom.
You know I do NOT love the word balance if you have followed along. I don’t know if one can ever achieve the perfect balance. I’m sure there is someone who has, but I know I never have. I have learned that life has ebbs and flows, especially in the last few years. Seasons come and go, and some seasons require more out of you in one way than other seasons.
Young kids need more of your attention and depend more on you than older kids. A particular project at work may mean you don’t get as much sleep as you would like. Kid’s sports may mean you don’t get to sit down for dinner every night. The biggest lesson I’ve learned recently is that I needed to let the idea go of what life should look like. There is no one size fits all, and what may work for me may not work for you. Life does not have to look a “certain” way, and things do not have to be done only one way.
The BIGGEST takeaway I would suggest and recommend is to keep trying until you find what works for you and your family.
Okay, enough blabbering, and here’s a list and how to stay organized as a working mom.
Have a place to brain dump.
I do this on my notes on my phone, and I have it categorized by home, personal/family stuff, and work. Having a place to “dump” all my thoughts helps me release my thoughts, things I keep reminding myself to do, etc.
Try block scheduling.
There are several ways to block schedule, and some do it by day, others do it by week. I do a mixture of both. I have editing days, recording days, writing days, etc. But I also break down my day by blocks for my time, family time, and work time.
Create a calendar and share it.
For example, Jordan and I share a calendar, Alexis and I share a calendar, and my manager and I share a calendar. That way, nothing falls through the cracks. Also, everyone knows what is going on and what needs to be done. The calendars I use are Google Calendar, and I use Trello mainly for Uptown.
Wake up early.
This is hard to do, but I promise it sets you up for success. Of course, this also requires going to bed early and getting a good night’s sleep. But waking up before everyone else and having a little quiet time before the hustle and bustle begins helps more than you can imagine.
Delegate what you can.
You can do anything, but not everything. Find and get help where you can. Maybe it’s getting shipt and having others do your grocery shopping; perhaps it’s hiring a maid. Find ways to delegate some responsibilities. You don’t need to do it all, nor should you be doing it all.
Set the week right.
Every Sunday night, JB and I sit down, look over the schedules and see what’s coming up and what needs to be done. I also do this for work. I sit down to take a look at what’s coming this week. That way, there are no surprises, and I can plan accordingly. I also like to review the last week and see what worked and what didn’t.
Plan your day the night before.
I also like to sit down for 15 minutes before going to bed to write down any last-minute thoughts- anything I need to do the following day I didn’t get done, etc.
I live by my Full Focus Planner. It’s VERY detailed in setting goals and breaking down your day, weeks, and months. (Images above at what it looks like and how I use it). Every day I have three big things to do, any other tasks, a breakdown of my schedule, and my rituals. I color-code everything too. And you can see how I block my time for personal time, AM & PM school routines, etc. Different days and different things to do, but my blocks look something like this for the most part.
Rest.
If Jesus rested, you need to as well. You have to be able to know when to stop and REST. Most importantly, if you don’t know how to rest, your body will eventually make you rest, and at that point, it won’t look pretty. We have our Sabbath days (Saturdays for us) when we do no work. We enjoy family, friends, and hanging out.
Find something for you, and only you.
For me, it’s working out. I love working out daily, pushing myself, and seeing myself become stronger. For you, it may be taking baths or reading. Whatever it is, make sure you do it daily! Yes, daily, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day.
Maximize weekends!
Since JB works M-F, we all work together as a family on the weekends to get things done around the house or run errands, so we don’t have to do it during the week.
Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope my tips on how to stay organized as a working mom help you a little! I would love to hear from you, if you have any tips, or any insight, drop a comment below and share.
Have a good one!
