Life with kids is certainly an adventure – and one that usually doesn’t go according to plan 🙂
This year I stepped out of my 5th grade classroom to stay home with my new little bundle of joy, Hudson. This little cutie just turned 5 months old!
Now I thought that once I stayed home, I’d have oodles of time to devote to blogging and my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Because babies always just play happily on the floor while Mommy works on the computer, right?
Oh boy, was I naive! 🙂
Now, I am very blessed – Hudson is a happy and consistent napper. And when he’s up, he’s pretty good at entertaining himself – most of the time.
As I look at my days and the way I spend my time, most of my hours are consumed with keeping the little man alive and happy, trying to keep up with the housework, and sneaking in a nap here and there. However, I love the creative outlet that TpT provides (plus the cha-chings don’t hurt either!) and try to prioritize my time so that I can get products posted frequently.
How do I do that with an infant? Glad you asked!
Here are my 5 tips for getting more done in a day:
Try to plan out the tasks you want to tackle. That way, you have a plan of attack – plus who doesn’t love crossing things off that you’ve accomplished?
Anyone else do this?
I have this blogging/TpT planner from Erin @ Lovin’ Lit – and it’s awesome!
Each Sunday I sit down and plan my blogging & TpT goals for the following week:
Yes, it’s color-coordinated 🙂 *nerd alert*
Here’s another blog post where I’ve shared how I keep the rest of my life organized:
Ever gotten lost in a really good book?
Ever looked up from creating a rock-star TpT product and realized that 3 hours have gone by?
While there may be times when you get on a roll and can spend hours on one thing, usually it’s best to limit yourself so you can be held accountable for your time.
Setting a timer keeps you focused on the task at hand – and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in 7 minutes when you’re racing against the clock.
In 7 minutes I can unload and reload the dishwasher.
In 7 minutes I can whip out a product cover and insert my Terms of Use/Credit page.
In 7 minutes I can schedule three Facebook posts and pin 2 images.
You get the idea…
Now if the thought of early mornings makes you want to puke, skip down to number 4.
If not, keep reading 🙂
I am a naturally cheerful morning person and usually get a lot done before the sun rises. I find that’s my best time for uninterrupted computer time – before my baby boy wakes up and clamors for my full attention. Waking up early can help set the tone for your day as it gives you some alone time before the kids wake up and the pressures of the day hit full-force.
For you night owls – more power to ya.
This little teacher is plum-tuckered out before 10pm.
Reading online articles and checking social media may be a fun way to stay connected with the world outside your home – but it can also be a real time-sucker. When I sit down to work on a TpT product or a blog post I set a timer and then work diligently not to log on to Facebook, Instagram, twitter, etc. until I’m finished with the task at hand. Sometimes I think I’m strong enough to *pop* on Pinterest for a few seconds – but sure enough, too often I am sucked into the dark hole and don’t resurface for half an hour.
Lastly, you need to keep your goals realistic and build grace into your daily schedule. Didn’t get everything accomplished on your to-do list? Maybe it’s time to realistically prioritize what needs to get done. Don’t bite off more than you can chew – and don’t be afraid to draw a big arrow from one of today’s tasks to tomorrow (or the next day).
Life with little ones rarely goes as planned – enjoy each sticky moment with them and remember: the to-do list will always be there. Take advantage of the time you can be productive – but also be willing to shut the computer screen, sit on the floor, and drive little toy cars all around your living room carpet.
After all, is there any more important job?
