Productivity Tips for Moms
I have not known entrepreneurship outside of being a mother. My first daughter’s birth was the reason I left my W2 job and took the first steps towards starting The Sercy Studio. Three kids later (currently 9, 7, & 3) and my hands (and heart) are FULL. Keeping my family of 5 fed, carpooled and loved is a full time job. The Sercy Studio is a full time job. Momprenuers (Mom Entrepreneurs) have a unique set of challenges when it comes to time management. (another post for another time)
Time is a precious commodity. Raising kids and running a business requires us to be very intentional with our time. This looks different for everyone depending on your phase of life and the amount of outside help you have available. If you are a working mom, I know you get it! Here are a few tried and true practices that always help me get my work done and also pick my kids up from school most days.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise- You’re a night owl you say? I would challenge you to shift your schedule and TRY to wake up WAY before your kids. During the school year, I wake up 1.5 hours before my kids. This gives me about an hour before I need to start packing lunches, making breakfast and being fully available to my kids. During this hour, I quietly drink coffee, pray, chat with my husband, and *start any work projects hangin over my head. I believe that starting your day with coffee, quiet, prayer and a little work planning sets you up for a good day!
Be Realistic and Set Priorities- I am the queen of overestimating what I can accomplish in a day! I used to get really excited in the morning about all the things I want to do in a day and then feel disappointed in the evening when I hadn’t done 1/2 of what I wanted. Nothing like feeling like a loser every night! I have become better about setting realistic expectations for myself. This is a whole topic on its own but the point is….be gentle with yourself. Allow time in your day to feed your family, have un-rushed moments with your kids, go for a run, fold laundry AND get important work done in your business. There are only so many hours in the day. So when you are enjoying your quiet time in the morning, be realistic about your day based your work priorities AND the needs of your family.
Timer and Reward- Ever feel distracted, overwhelmed or stuck? Yeah me too. It’s hard to be productive when you are feeling unmotivated. I help my kids get going by setting a timer and giving them a reward. For example, “Alexa, set a timer for 30 minutes…..Ruthie and Stewart, read your summer reading books for 30 minutes and then I will play basketball with you”. “Alexa, set a timer for 1 hour…..MacKenzie work on social media planning for 1 hour and then you can go for a run”. Seems simple but it works for me!
Move Your Body- Like you, I never have time to exercise, but I make time to exercise- even if it is for 20 minutes. Take a 30 min walk, stretch for 20 minutes, run for 45 min or hop on your Peloton. Do something to move your body everyday. The days I drop my kids and go for a run are usually much more efficient than the days I don’t. I think it’s because I feel better! When my body is fresh and alert, and my mind is fresh and alert.
Being a momeprentuer is a blessing. Don’t lose joy in your mothering and work because your day is frantic. We can’t do it all everyday but each day we can be intentional about what is a priority. Go get ‘em!