How to create a work from home mom schedule
Hey mama!
Working from home is overwhelming when you don’t have a schedule and you’re just going through the motions every single day.
You’re juggling the kids, making dinner, building your business, taking care of yourself, having downtime, keeping up with friends.
The list can go on and on.
But the one thing I found that has helped me was creating a system for my home and letting my kids drive the routine.
Once I did that, everything became easier.
How to Create a Work From Home Mom Schedule That Fits Your Kids’ Routine
Why Your Kids’ Routine Should Shape Your Work From Home Mom Schedule
What are your kids naturally doing at different times of the day?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is nap time the same every day?
- Do they wake up at the same time every day?
- What time are they ready to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks?
- What time are they fine with independent play?
When you think about it, they’re already showing you the times they need your full attention. So trying to do anything during those times will only cause friction. That means those times are off-limits for getting work done
Finding the Gaps in Your Day for Work From Home Tasks
Looking at the list of times your kids need you, are there any gaps where you could get some work done?
- Before they wake up
- During nap time
- When they’re playing independently
- After they go to sleep for the night
- While they’re at school or daycare
- When they’re hanging out with friends
When you look at it, there is time in the day to do things. It just won’t be when you want it to be lol.
So you have to maximize those gaps. Once you follow your kids’ natural routine, there won’t be as much friction.
(Notice how I said “as much” because the friction is going to be there no matter what lol )
How to Map Out Your Work From Home Mom Schedule
Based on the times your kids need you versus when they’re occupied, plan your day that way.
I recommend using this digital planner from Detailed (check them out here). It’s a daily digital planner where you can list your to-dos and time block your day. That way, you can actually see what your day looks like.
Here’s what the Daily Starter Planner Looks Like
I’m not an affiliate for this planner. I just love it and use it in my daily life. It’s part of my routine in the morning or the night before I start my day. I suggest getting a planner to help you see what’s on your plate for the day.
It’s only $10 and you can’t beat that.
My Personal Work From Home Mom Schedule Example
- 8-10 am – Me and the kids wake up, eat breakfast, I read my Bible and plan out my day or check in with my planner.
- 10-12 pm – Doing the chore of the day, slowing down with the kids, and preparing for lunch.
- 12-1 pm – Making lunch for the kids and eating together, then getting ready for me to work.
- 1:30-5 pm – Working on my business or client work. My son usually naps during this time. I try to keep work hours low, like 2 hours a day. Some days are longer depending on what needs to get done.
- 6-7:30 pm – Making dinner, putting the kids in the bath, winding down for the night. I like to start crockpot dinners at lunchtime since I’m already in the kitchen.
- 7:30-10 pm – Family time and then bedtime.
- I rinse and repeat this during the week, and on weekends I take the time off.
(Check out my blog post here about how I meal Plan)
Tips for Building a Realistic and Sustainable Work From Home Mom Schedule
Habit stack: Do things while you’re already in that area. Like how I prep dinner while making lunch. That’s one less thing to do at the end of the day.
Give yourself breathing room: The times I shared are rough estimates. I leave downtime between tasks because things happen, and you need space to breathe.
Make templates for everything: This sounds a little crazy, but it works. For things you do all the time, create a routine in your mind or write the process down. That way, you just follow the steps.
Examples:
- For cleaning bathrooms, I keep all the supplies in the bathroom. On cleaning day, I just start instead of wasting time gathering supplies. (Check out my blog post on how to create a cleaning schedule that only takes 1 hour a day.)
- I created a recipe bank using my meal plan template inside my Home Management System (check it out here). I write down our family favorites, go-to recipes, and ones I find on Pinterest, with ingredients and directions. When it’s time to meal plan, I know exactly what I need, which saves time grocery shopping.
Read this blog post if you want to see how I use my Home Management System in action (Check out the blog post)
Give yourself grace: We do a lot as moms. Every day isn’t going to be perfect. Take time to rest and recharge. Reach out for help. Delegate. Remember, you’re not superwoman.
Break things up: Don’t try to tackle all your work and home tasks at once. Space things out. It’s okay if only one part of the house gets cleaned each day.
Do the same activity with your kids: If they’re eating, you should be eating. Doing things with them helps you take care of yourself throughout the day.
That’s how you create your work from home mom schedule, mama!
Super simple and totally doable. The key is paying attention to what your kids are naturally doing and building around that.
You got this!
And if you are interested in learning about the systems you can implement in your home and business to make your life easier as a mama. Listen to my Free Private Podcast Here 👇🏽
Links to the resources I mentioned in this blog post:
