One Mom's Work At Home Schedule

One Mom’s Work At Home Schedule – Ok so the title is misleading: I’m not technically a Work At Home Mom. I’m a Work Out of the Home, Work in the Home, Work in the Car, Work Work Work Mom.

I’m a high school teacher and writer.

For nine months of the year, my teaching job structures my working day, but during the summer (and on other breaks) I have to schedule writing and mothering my two boys.

I found very quickly that it’s not just the boys that need routine, but I do too. I need to know when I’ll be able to write and work. It helps me focus better on my work and on my “momming”.

Knowing I will have certain times guaranteed for working lowers my anxiety and helps me know how to schedule my freelance work.

It also helps me plan activities and maximize my time with my boys.

One Mom’s Work At Home Schedule – Quick Tips

Time Management

This should probably go without saying, but the only way this is going to work is if you manage your time properly.

If you have young children, you won’t be able to devote hours at a time to your business.

There are too many distractions and kids have too many needs, and you will only wind up frustrated and unable to focus.

A great piece of advice from The Bump: Break up the work in sections. Instead of watching an hour-long lecture while the kids are nagging, watch 20 minutes and then hang with the kids for 10 minutes.

Get them a snack, change a diaper and put on a new show. That can buy you another 20-30 minutes straight to watch or work.

Moms can complete an hour lecture in an hour and twenty minutes by doing this, rather than it taking two hours with constant stopping and no focus at all.

Focus

Another important aspect of time management is focus. If you’re distracted, it does not matter how much time you set aside.

One of the most difficult parts ofworking online is how easy it is to shop, chat and surf instead.

Reduce Stress

Seek and spend time with other working moms who are going through the same things.

Consider sharing babysitting expenses a few nights a week so you can get work done. Having an in-person support group can really help!

Be Realistic

Don’t take on too much at once. Set realistic goals so you can juggle your schedule without going crazy. Listen to this podcast episode about setting and achieving goals.

Plan your daily routine; figure out how many hours are left after work and taking care of the kids, then determine how many hours you need for dedicating to your business.

And do not forget budgeting time for yourself and sleeping.

No one is saying this is going to be a cakewalk, but you can do it. Maintain the right attitude and put a good strategy in place, and you can manage it all.

One Mom’s Work At Home Schedule

This is the routine we follow when I am working from home:

Anytime between 6:30 and 8:00 am: The boys get up, I drink coffee, we snuggle on the couch.

9:00: breakfast

9:30-noon: Playtime/daily adventure. Unless the boys are in daycare (which happens once a week in the summer), I expect my mornings to be work-free. If we are going to go to the park, library, out with friends, or to visit daddy at work, this is when it happens. Some days all we do is go outside at our house, but we always shut off the TV and DO SOMETHING.

Sometimes during this time, the boys will play nicely outside without wanting or needing me to be involved, and I can do some work from our deck or patio. I don’t ever plan on it though…just in case it doesn’t happen.

12:00-12:30: Lunch

12:30-1:30: Some TV time/toys/daddy home for lunch. Sometimes I catch a shower during this time. Sometimes.

1:30-4:00: Nap/Quiet time. Charlie will nap anywhere from 2-3 hours if I let him, and Eddie knows he may do a craft, play outside, play the Wii (if it’s yucky out), have Tablet Time, etc as long as he can do it quietly on his own.

This is when I work. I write my buns off during this time. Or, if nothing is pressing, I read. Sometimes (the best days), Eddie plays outside while I read/write on the patio.

4:00-5:00: The “witching hour”. Charlie gets up from nap, the boys have a quick snack, and most days we head to the front yard to play or chalk the driveway until daddy gets home from work.

5:00-6:00: Making and eating dinner

6:00-8:00: Family time

8:00-11:00: Boys in bed, time to write. Also time to snuggle with the husband and/or a good book.

Once a week my boys both go to daycare from 7:00am-4:30pm. Those days are cram days for work and errands and “me time”.

I probably devote an average of five hours a day to work (which ranges from my blog to freelance to academic/teacher stuff).

This is the schedule that works for me and my family. Since I am working so much during the school year, it’s important for me to devote parts of my day during breaks to just my boys and not to work.

What does your Work Day look like?