WAHM Schedule
WAHM Schedule

Work At Home Mom Schedule Hack: Time Blocking

Every work at home mom should use this schedule.

Here’s the thing, we all know that there are 24 hours in the day and they manage to slip by incredibly fast. There are only so many ways to combat this, and the most effective is obviously to set a schedule… but the thing about being a work at home mom is that you’re, well, a mom. Which means you likely have children in your home. And we all know that kids have Z E R O respect for schedules and deadlines.

But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

WAHM Schedule Pinterest Graphic

See, I realized a long time ago that I do not work well with a set schedule. I’m the kind of girl who takes 2 months to start a new exercise routine. I keep screwing up on Tuesday and it doesn’t feel right to start things over on a Wednesday, am I right?? So using the tried and true “From 8:15 to 8:45 I will complete this task” never worked from me. ESPECIALLY as a work at home mom. My baby would need a diaper change at 8:25 which took 5 minutes and that messed up my whole plan. Or the phone rings, or an unexpected visitor arrives (RUDE! If you are the kind of person who does this, please stop. Introverts don’t like visitors in general, much less unexpected ones.)
 
So my work at home mom schedule is a method called Time Blocking. I heard about this on a TED talk and it sounded made for me. It’s supposed to be based around set hours… but there’s that whole kid thing. So I modified it to help myself (and my fellow work at home moms or dads) actually be successful.
 
Here’s a real-life example:
 
My kids wake up at 7. Like freakin’ CLOCKWORK. So I know that I have from WheneverIWakeUp O’Clock to 7 AM to get work done. I will use that time block to focus on one specific task.
 
I’m gonna repeat that because it’s super important: One. Specific. Task. We work-at-home-moms like to be Multitaskers. We try to do all the laundry, make the kids a snack, answer a client email, and tidy the kitchen counter all at the same time. And while that level of business can feel super productive… it’s not. I hate to break it to ya, but you’re kinda half-assing all those things.
 
Instead: do only one thing, very well.
 
And use a time block to do it.
 
Being a work at home mom means that we have several priorities, some for work and some for home. And, somehow, we must complete them all each day. So sit down, look at your schedule, and find blocks of time that you can focus on one specific task. And then do that.
No distractions like cell phones or Netflix in the background.
(I am sooo guilty of that you guys, I’ve been binge-watching Parenthood like a madwoman. I like to think I’m Kristina but I might actually be Crosby. I digress…)
If you only have two hours out of the day, that’s fine! Break those two hours into very specific chunks.
 
You will be AMAZED at how much you can do when you work distraction-free
 

Here’s How I Do Work At Home Mom Time Blocking:

 
Block 1– Wake up to 7am: Work-related task. This is when I am most ambitious, so I do the task I am dreading most. Then I won’t be anxious about it all day.
 
Block 2– 7:30 until the kids finish breakfast: Home related task. Dishes, clean the counter.
 
Block 3– Kids Nap Time (Noon to 3? 1PM to 2PM? Who knows with these monsters): Work related tasks. 
(TIP: This is when I do the boring stuff that requires attention to detail.) Figure out your boring stuff and do it now. Yes, the house is a mess and the kids are finally asleep, so you will be tempted to tidy just a little  but Do. Not. Give. In.
 
Block 4– Post Dinner until 6:30PM Home related task. Fold laundry with my husband and actually have a grown up conversation.
 
Block 5– Post Bedtime until 9:30 PM Work related task. This is my most creative time, so I save the tasks I prefer for this time. That includes graphics creation, content writing, and market research.

See? Easy peasy. That’s how I work only 4 hours a day! The difference between my 4 hours at home and someone else’s 8 hours at an office is that mine are more productive, and thus I require fewer.

The office is a productivity killer, and not just for introverts like me. Extroverts in an office are always tempted with battery-recharging conversations with all of their coworkers, and are rarely at their own desk, doing their own work. Introverts like me are often bombarded with extroverts seeking conversation, or simply people who interrupt our productive work time to ask us to prioritize their requests. This can happen to me at home, except my coworkers always smell like peanut butter and are only three feet tall. Thus: time blocking.

If you want an extra-special FREEBIE, go check out my Free Printables page for a brand-new planner PDF Just for you!

Momtrovert Creative Time Block Planner

The PDF has three colors and black, plus a little bonus if you like that kind of stuff.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! Have you ever tried this method before?

Life At Home, Mompowerment, Working Mom

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