How To Manage Your Time As a Mom Blogger

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a work-at-home mom, or a mom blogger, here are some of my tips for getting it all done.

It can be difficult to juggle the demands of kids, housework, husband, blogging, appointments, and (eek!) laundry! And even when you do keep the plates spinning for a moment, life throws another one into the juggling act.

I know how frustrating it is. Many people assume that stay-at-home moms have it easy. Whether you work outside the home or not, there is still a lot to be done in each day. My lack of time management skills has gotten me into more pickles than I could sit and write about!

So today I want to share some tips to help blogging housewives stay on track (and sane).

Make a blogging schedule and STICK TO IT!
If you enjoy blogging (or any other work at home venture), it's hard not to devote every waking moment to writing, editing, and brainstorming new ideas. If you find yourself still sitting at your computer long after the rest of the family has gone to bed, then you need to map out a realistic schedule of exactly when you will work. Being at home with your family doesn't do you any good if you are always distracted.

Here's what I did. I sat down and wrote a list of the things that need to be accomplished each day. I estimated how much time it should take me to do those tasks. Then I decided that I will only sit at the computer from 9 am to 1 pm each day.

Then I taped a copy of my schedule to the screen of my monitor. Yes, I am THAT bad! Now if I am even tempted to use the computer thinking, "Oh, I will just check my email, it'll only take a moment...", I see my schedule there on the empty screen and I know to just walk away. The email will still be there at 9 am in the morning.

This time frame works for me because both of my kids are in school during the day. If you have a baby, you may want to create a schedule that works around your baby's nap time.

I also recommend jotting down a quick morning and evening routine for housework. By doing a few simple tasks each day, you can keep your home tidy and still have time for your family and yourself. For more information on housework routines, visit Flylady.net. This woman is amazing at showing you how to get it all done without feeling overworked or overwhelmed.

Another secret of mine is to get up in the morning as early as possible. By having a bit of quiet time to myself, I find that I am more relaxed and less stressed. By the time my kids get up for school, I am already dressed, coffee-ed, and ready to take on the day!

Don't try to multi-task.
It's hard not to multi-task if you're a mom. How many times have you agreed to a request your child made while you were on the phone? When the phone call is over, you don't even remember what you gave them permission to do. Then your kids are confused and bewildered when you yell at them for stacking the couch cushions all the way to the ceiling fan. Adreine is as skilled as a ninja at this! She will deliberately wait until I am distracted to ask me for something that she knows the answer would normally be "No".

For me, multi-tasking usually results in a dozen or more half-finished projects at the end of the day. Have you ever gone to bed feeling exhausted but nothing seemed to get done all day? Focus on doing one thing at a time on your routines. You may not get as much done in a day, but the things you DID do will be more centered and worthwhile. You will feel much more accomplished at the end of the day.

Identify your time wasters.
So you sit down at the computer to write a blog post, but you decide to check your Facebook first. After two hours of commenting, liking, poking, and checking on your Farmville crops, you are no closer to getting that post done.

Whether your time waster is Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, or your cell phone, know which things are draining your time each day and limit those activities.

Find time for yourself, your kids, and your husband.
Family should always come first. Your relationship with your husband and kids will suffer if you are always looking at them from behind a laptop screen. Be sure to plan quality time with them. This will help everyone recharge and avoid burn-out. Sometimes coloring a picture with your toddler is much more important than the laundry, or the next blog post.

To be candid for a moment, I will admit that this blog post is inspired by a huge argument between my husband and me. When you take on more projects than you can handle in 24 hours a day, it's easy to forget what a blessing it is to be home with your family everyday.

Mother Teresa said, "It’s not how much you do that matters. It's how much love you put into doing it."

Thanks for keeping me focused on the big picture, Pete. Mwwwah!

Posted in: Working From Home

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