Routines are the processes we subconsciously follow each day. Follow these steps to create a productive, efficient, and helpful daily routine to get you through the day.
Does the day happen to you or do you take charge of your day?
You wake up, your feet hit the floor, and you see what type of morning awaits you.
Your son forgot to tell you about tomorrow’s field trip form and the fee that is due today.
That’s a bad routine…
More Routines for Working Moms:
Daily Routine
Routines are the processes we subconsciously follow each day. They are 100 percent controllable. A great routine can give you the perfect lift-off to your day. A bad routine encourages poor habits, lack of productivity, and scatter brained-ness.
Components of a Daily Routine
My day is broken into four distinct phases: before work, work, after work, at home. For the purposes of this post, I will focus on just three – and save work for another post.
Morning Routine – Your morning routine sets the tone for your day. Will you be productive? Will you be positive? Will you be upbeat? Without a great morning, routine your day can happen to you instead of you taking charge of your day. What might it include?
- Wake up
- What does mom need? Start your morning before the kids wake up
- Coffee
- Prayer / Bible reading
- Bathroom prep / beauty routine / dressed, travel
- Kids dressed, medicine, wash face / brush teeth
- Backpacks / lunchbags
Bridge Routine – Your afternoon routine is the bridge between work and home. For me, having a routine that meets the needs of that particular day is essential.
- Some afternoons I need to get things done, which might include phone calls or listening to a podcast.
- Other days (when I’m emotionally or mentally spent), I need a relaxing routine which might include listening to some music I enjoy or driving in complete silence.
Either way, your body needs a routine to signal the end of one part of your day and transition into another. This will prepare you to switch back to mom mode from work mode.
Looking for ways to enjoy your commute? Make the Most of Your Commute: Using Commuting Time Efficiently and Use Commuting Time Effectively.
Evening Routine -Your evening routine includes the time you will spend at home with your family. Without a planned evening routine, you may become frustrated or even have a meltdown. Rather, this time should provide a feeling of relaxation, connection, refreshment. What might an evening routine include?
- 15 minutes with kids, one on one
- Homework
- Prepare and eat dinner
- Family time
- TV/relax
- Project
- Sleep
- Prep for tomorrow
Follow these steps to create a productive, efficient, and helpful routine to get you through the day:
Jot down how you spend your day from start to finish. Notice the patterns and routines that you have…that you don’t even realize are already in place.
Look at how you could change the routines to make your day better.
- It could be that you should preparing the night before, instead of rushing around in the morning.
- It might include finding tasks to automate to free up your time, instead of doing everything manually.
- It can be as simple as remembering to use a timer to get more done by setting limits.
After a few days, notice how your day goes.
I will bet that your day goes smoother and will be much more productive when you control your routine instead of letting your routine control you.
What works for you?
Read other posts in the 31 Days to Make Being a Working Mom Easier series.
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