Ideas for Staying Productive When You Have Kids

OK, this post goes out to all the moms and dads trying to juggle it all right now, especially if you’re homeschooling! Orvil and I have been adjusting to a new routine since Birdie arrived and it’s been… hard? It has been quite a few years since either of us had a newborn (we each have a child from previous relationships in case you’re new around here), so getting ourselves back in that headspace has been an adjustment to say the least. And then on top of that, we’re over here *trying* to be productive as well. So we’re trying to keep three small humans alive, keep the house in liveable condition and work – it’s pretty crazy.

I’m sure a lot of you parents can relate, which is why I wanted to write today’s post. I will be the first one to admit I absolutely do NOT have it all together. I’m also not the most organized person in the world (this is a running joke in our house), but I do have a few things that work – most days – and help me get things done. I hope sharing them is helpful for y’all!

Get a family calendar

I’ve shared this Etsy calendar a hundred times by this point but we’re obsessed with it in our house. Anything going on with our family goes on this calendar. I suggest finding a common spot in your house like in your kitchen or the mudroom where you’ll constantly see it so you can be reminded of everything you have going on. It keeps us on track and I could not recommend it more. Plus, it’s pretty dang cute, right?!

I also have an Erin Condren planner for my personal/work stuff. I get the duo but all of her stuff is great if you’re a pen and paper planner type of girl.

Have a dedicated workspace

Orvil and I decided to really get into YouTube (go subscribe if you haven’t already!) this year and are starting to film a ton of new content for y’all over there, but it became really clear very quickly that we needed a more dedicated workspace. Not only for our stuff but so we can actually focus and get things done during the day. Working from the couch or bed every so often is great but it will be so nice to have an actual desk and a home office to go to when we really need to be productive. Keep your eyes peeled because we’ll be revealing that space soon!!

Take advantage of kid-free time

I always think I’m going to get all these things done while Birdie naps during the day, and sometimes I do, but usually it’s not near as productive as I plan. So my solution to avoid having to do everything throughout the day is to get up around 5 am and take advantage of the quiet time in the morning before the kids wake up to get some work done and workout (more on my health journey here). I know that might seem a bit early, but it’s amazing what you can get done when you don’t have kids pulling at you, a baby crying, etc. If you’re more of a night owl you can still do this but at night after the kids go to bed. I like to keep the lights low, maybe light a candle and set a little mood for myself. Oh, and coffee. Lots of coffee. If you’re doing it at night maybe a glass of wine, LOL?

Organize your day in a way that works for you

So continuing on from my tip above about taking advantage of kid-free time, I think it’s also important to know what time of day is most productive for you. What one person does might not always work for another. I’d recommend taking a look at your family’s schedule or your planner and try to organize things in a way that works best for you. For example, if getting up in the morning or staying up a bit later at night doesn’t work great for you to get things done, maybe there’s an evening one night a week where you get a sitter or have a family member take the kids so you can have productive time for work/the home. Try to get creative with your schedule and reimagine it a bit to get the most out of it.

Set realistic expectations for yourself

Something I’ve learned lately, especially after having Birdie, is the best thing I can do for myself is to manage my expectations a little better. I kinda have started separating things in my brain a little bit under two different categories: what I’m actually going to get done and what I’d like to get done but probably won’t happen. LOL. This way if I get through everything on my what I’m actually going to get done list but I don’t have time for the other stuff I’m not upset with myself. I want to set a high standard for myself but with where my family and life are right now, being realistic with myself is more important.

If any moms or dads have anything to add to this list, please share! Would love to know how y’all are staying productive these days.