Being a stay at home mom or any type of mom can feel like a constant state of exhaustion. As soon as you open your eyes, there is a kid asking for food, you aren't awake for 30 minutes and the living room is already taken over with toys! You still have to make breakfast, get dressed, dress the kids, and hopefully you will be on time for your playdate. A chaotic morning can make for a chaotic day. I wanted to share some tips that help my day run smoother.
2. Recite an affirmation - When my alarm goes off, I'll start repeating an affirmation to myself. Positive affirmations replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Thoughts become things and I only want good things! My favorite affirmation is "Life is amazing and only good things happen to me." I'll even listen to affirmations on YouTube while I shower and get ready for the day. Inspirational podcasts are great too.
3. Have a plan for the day - Kids tend to go bonkers when they are inside for long periods of time. Plan somewhere to go for the day, it doesn't have to cost money, just something fun. If weather is a problem, have indoor activities ready. Ava loves art and can draw, color, and paint at her easel all day. Pinterest has tons of activities for indoor fun.
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4. Load the dishwasher during the day - Immediately unload the dishwasher in the morning. (Remember, you have to wake before the kids!) After breakfast began loading it with the dirty dishes. It makes the kitchen seem cleaner and it is less work than loading all the dishes at night after dinner.
5. Have an idea for lunch - Whether you decide to pack a lunch for your outing, eat out at a restaurant, or cook up a quick meal, try to have an idea in mind so you aren't scrambling at lunchtime.
6. Work on dinner during nap time - It's so tempting to nap when the kiddies go down for a nap. It feels good for the moment but then you wake up and realize how much work needs to be done. Go ahead and start cooking dinner while the kiddies nap so you aren't scrambling in the evenings either.
I hope you found this list helpful and are able to put some of these practices to use. The one tip that I highly recommend is waking before the kids. You may feel like crap for a few days getting adjusted to your new waking time, but your great day will make up for it! Until next time!
These are seriously great tips! Waking up before the kids has done wonders for my productivity and I work on dinner early as well! I need to plan lunch out more often!
ReplyDeleteLoading the dishwasher during the day is something I already do and it IS so helpful in the progression of my day, thanks for these additional tips!
ReplyDeleteXOXO, LJ
www.onceortwiceblog.com
Your first paragraph made me chuckle - SO relate-able! ;) Great tips too. I find when I stick to things like that from my eyes opening to closing, my day DOES run so much smoother!!! :)
ReplyDeleteYup! Load the dishwasher! It makes me "think" the kitchen is actually clean. Which helps me to have a better day!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I wake up at 5 am just so I can have some quiet time and start my day off at my own pace. I love the idea of reciting an affirmation. I'll have to add that to my morning routine!
ReplyDeleteI love #3! Outside of "snow days" I don't think we've ever stayed inside ALL DAY LONG. We'd go crazy!
ReplyDeleteHaving a plan and waking up early always helps me get through my day easier
ReplyDeleteMy kids are the perpetual early risers but I love if I'm up before them. I think just having a plan in general is so helpful
ReplyDelete#1 is so so important in our house. It doesn't always happen but it makes the day so much easier to manage if I can get up before my daughter. Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteYes to all of this!! Very helpful. This week, I started putting #1 and #4 into practice. You're right! Two days of not sleeping in and I feel like crap! But I also feel more productive. Thanks for this good, good advice that's helping me become a better version of myself! I love your writing style!
ReplyDeleteI love this! For sure, waking up before the kids is my favorite. If I don't, it's only chaos after that lol Lana has stopped taking naps, but after reading this, I think I'm going to have to reinforce that. :) Great post!
ReplyDeleteI do most of these things and so agree!
ReplyDeleteBut I started waking up at 4/5am to get some work in before the kids are up, and they all switched to waking up at 5am *sigh*...I'm not willing to get up before 5, because they're all insomniacs and wake several times a night despite being medicated. Totally sucks, sleep deprivation can affect your entire day! But that is excellent advice, when it worked it really changed my stress levels!
These are great tips! #1 is a must for me! If I don't our day doesn't go as well and I don't have as much patience.
ReplyDeleteErin
I loved the blog post. #1 & 2 hit home for me.
ReplyDeleteAfter yesterday, I needed to read thing post! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'll be using these tips! I have a 2 year old son and another little one on the way and I need some kind of stability! This is very helpful! Thanks for sharing!😊
ReplyDeletePositive affirmations are a great way to start the day - and amazing for any point in the day when you feel things starting to slip.
ReplyDeleteI agree about having a plan too but don't be too hard on yourself if things aren't going exactly to plan!
Dani x | www.flourishingfreelancer.com
I myself don't kids, but what I struggle the most is waking up. When (if) I wake up earlier, my day goes by smooth as butter. I get so much work done,... Have to train myself to wake up early everyday.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I also struggle with waking up and starting my day. I'm trying to get into the habit of waking up at the same time each day.
ReplyDeleteI totally believe that getting up before the kids helps the whole day run smoother, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! On the days that I don't wake up early, the day is a blur lol.
DeleteGreat. Tips. I love the positive affirmations. I personally think they put you in the right frame of mind for the day. Woderful, thanks
ReplyDeletePlanning my day and week ahead of time makes all the difference for me!
ReplyDeletegreat tips! I've grown accustom to getting up early so now it's normal for me
ReplyDeleteThese are such great tips! For me, having a plan for the day and week help everything go so much smoother.
ReplyDeleteThese are such great ips. I have a morning routine and it makes such a difference
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this post.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely something I need to work on is waking up before the kids. I want to so badly! I know I will feel so much better if I do :) I also love the daily affirmations - I am going to give that a try :)
I am all about affirmations to start the day, I tell everyone I know to o it because it really sets the tone for your day.
ReplyDeleteYes it does!
DeleteI loved reading your tips here. Thanks for sharing I am sure these helps us in our timemanagement.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tips. I'm going to try them and let you know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteYes to all these tips! Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteEvery morning I get up before the kids. At least 30mins. I make my coffee let out the dog and pray and gather my directions for the day. If I don't do this my whole day is off.....
ReplyDelete