I don’t think any Mum has a “perfect” day, we may have a day where we get things done around the house or we may catch up on all of our errands or we may spend a lot of quality time with our little ones, but when do we ever get all of it done? I sure as heck don’t, which is okay! Being a Mum is my number one job and I squeeze the other things in and around my son.
We all know that being a Mum is super rewarding, but it’s also hard work. When I was a new Mum, I was constantly overwhelmed and stressed about all of the things that I no longer had control over (which was almost everything), but as time went on, I learnt so many tricks on staying productive while caring for a mini-me!
Here are my tips on staying as productive as possible!
♡ Get up earlier
Wake up earlier than your kids! My son wakes around 6-7am each day so I wake up around 5.30am. In this time I can journal, meditate, stretch and get ready for the day. It’s my peaceful “me time”.
Every now and again, Ezra will sleep in longer and I can catch up on some laundry or cleaning!
♡ Create routines
A routine is something that you will just get done because of habit and trust me when I tell you that having routines will save you time and well-needed brainpower.
Your routines could range from personal morning routines (check out my e-book on this here), cleaning routines or meal prep routines.
♡ Ask for help
Some days are harder than others. Some weeks are harder than others. Sometimes you just need to know when to pick up the phone and ask somebody to come help.
I own two businesses and have a toddler so I can get pretty busy. Whilst it was hard to begin with, I now ask for help when I’m swamped and I happily accept it when people offer.
I'm extremely grateful to have beautiful friends and family who are always willing to help. I know this isn't always an option for other Mum's, so you could also utilise daycare centres, pre-schools or even local babysitters.
♡ Have a list of things to do around the house
As you notice things that need to be done around the house or as they pop into your mind, put them all on a list on your fridge or your phone. This way, when you have a spare 10 minutes, you can quickly tick a few things off your list!
♡ Exercise in the morning
I’ve always found that if I exercise first thing in the morning, I am MUCH more productive during the day. You’ll be getting all of the right endorphins flowing through the body and as a bonus, you’ll burn more calories during the day.
I usually go for a walk so I can get some sunlight and fresh air and Ezra absolutely loves going for a walk, if he is feeling lucky, we may also stop at the park!
♡ Clean as you go
Don’t leave it all until the end of the day! Clean up one activity before pulling out another and wash your dishes from lunch before dinner. I used to leave it all until the end of the day and found myself hating the hour it took just to pick up the toys.
In saying this though, you don’t need to go completely overboard and pick up every single little thing off of the floor, remember to enjoy the time with your children and that it is okay to have a house that is lived in with toys and books everywhere, I promise!
♡ Get your kids to help
Depending on the age of your kids, they can probably help with stuff too!
My son is almost two and he helps feed the cat, takes his own dishes to the sink, puts rubbish in the bin, helps 'vacuum the floor', packs away his toys, helps water the plants and wipes down the table.
Of course, he doesn’t do these things as well as me, but he isn’t even two so I'm so grateful he is able to help at all. Even if he only manages to do half a job, that's still half a job I don't need to do!
As a Mum, there are things that just need to be done, which means there are times where we do need to be productive but try to remember that your little baby will only be little for so long…
Don’t miss out on those precious moments with them to make sure your house is spotless or your front garden looks immaculate. Take more time to be present with your babies and cherish the moments. You will never regret playing with your kids and showing them love.
With love
Shorina xo
Counsellor + Wellness & Mental Health Coach
Hi, I'm Shorina and I'm an Australian Counsellor + Wellness & Mental Health Coach. I'm here to support you to redefine your relationship to self and life! I incorporate a mind, body and soul wellness approach to my work with a focus on healing and mindfulness ♡