This post has been sponsored by Gain. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
With kids out of school and summer officially here I know it can be overwhelming for us moms to find a routine at home during these months. So with a bigger reason my main focus for this summer is becoming a more productive mom. Most days I feel stressed out at home with the kids, like I cannot get my life together. Being (or better yet trying to stay) organized is what keeps me sane, like I have control over my own schedule even though it is mostly run by the tiny humans I created.
Since becoming a full time stay at home mom and working from home mom it has been hard to find a place where I belong- Do I attend to my home or my work? Some days went by and I did not get much accomplished. It became a constant bad habit where night time came and there were dishes piled up on the kitchen sink, laundry constantly up to the wall roof (my friends can testify to this, no lie) my laundry routine has always been the absolute worst. Now that we are at home more, there is more laundry to do. Moments like these can make you feel like a total failure at being a mom. But it shouldn’t because this is NOT AN EASY JOB.
I can’t be the only one who’s been in this situation, right?
It has been recently that I reflected on the way I went about my day and some trial and errors that I noticed a few things that have helped me become a more productive mom at home and with my kids. The main thing here is you are spending so much time at home so the extra messes will be happening. I think starting and ending the day right will set you up for the next day. Everyone likes a clean house, and everyone is more productive in one.
BECOME A MORNING PERSON
How we start and approach our morning the moment we wake up has a lot to do with how productive our day goes. And okay i’ll be honest & say I’m the kind of mom who chooses to hit the snooze button 20x’s before deciding it’s time to wake up. But I noticed that on the days I am up early before the kids are awake my day goes a lot more smoother. More chores are done, my list gets accomplished, and my mood is overall happy. I have set the tone for the day. It is easier to focus and find mental clarity through the day. Becoming a morning person is not easy if you (like myself) love to sleep in but it also does not mean you have to be up at 5am. You can plan to be up an hour before your kids wake up, using your mornings wisely can be beneficial in setting how your day will go.
NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST
Stop skipping this meal (I know I am guilty of this too) But this needs to stop! Never am I missing breakfast again. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast fuels the body. Everyone has different schedules, tasks, and activities that they want to do in the morning but they should all start with a big healthy breakfast. Studies show that a simple healthy breakfast improves our energy levels in the morning and help avoid that mid-day slump (which is what we want to avoid) So start the morning with a big meal that you and your kids will both enjoy.
CREATE A CLEANING ROUTINE
For me a cleaning routine will consist around doing a laundry routine. Get the most important work done between the morning till lunch time, add time for the kids to have fun whether it’s indoors or outdoors. During the kids play time I like to start on my laundry. I must say I hate doing laundry only because I am terrible at putting clothes away and can leave a pile all over my bed for weeks. I also feel that if I hate spending time on this I at least want to rely on a brand I truly love and recommend. We’ve been using Gain with Essential Oils and I’m truly in love with the smell and how it leaves my clothes smelling amazing, clean, and fresh. Thanks to its concentrated formula a little detergent is only needed. There are three variations of Essential oils to select from; lavender & calm chamomile, Eucalyptus & mindful mint, and my favorite Orange & energetic grapefruit. I have discovered these new products have changed the way I do laundry because I no longer have to do 2-3 cycles just to get the nasty smell off the kids clothes which decreases my time spent on this. I think if you struggle with laundry having a routine is key to saving time and energy. If only these Gain products came with a housekeeper I would be all set! But you can experience these wonderful scents too by picking yours at your local Dollar General. Right now you can get $1 off Gain with Essential Oils.
DEDICATE TIME FOR YOURSELF
Take an hour or even 45 min of the day to focus on you. Get your workout done. Don’t hesitate, I promise you’ll be feeling a thousand times better about yourself in the end. This turns into a positive attitude and the best part- you are full of energy to continue with your day. When I was constantly working out at home with the 21 Day Fix I felt so much better about myself physically and mentally. And I figured this is one part I was lacking on and missing the most! Even if all the laundry didn’t get done because my youngest did not nap- hey I got my workout done. Even if you feel you are not mentally there or ready yet to jump on the exercise wagon that is okay. Grab a book, find some inspiration that makes you happy, something that is for YOU. Or take advantage and enjoy a bath- get pretty and put away those yoga pants!
STAY ORGANIZED
What better way to stay organized than with a Planner. No better way to stay organized and prioritize your time and your planned activities for the day than to write it all down. No more forgetting major deadlines both in your personal life and your job!
Hope these small simple steps work for you too! As a working mom and business owner some days are extra overwhelming but relaxing and unwinding and following a set schedule can do so much for us.
