One of the top questions I hear from moms is how to get everything done during the day when it seems like so many things are vying for your attention.
The answer is, you may not.
You can, however, set yourself up for success by avoiding distractions and learning how to kick your productivity level up a notch.
A quick search on the internet will give you tons of methods for increasing productivity, but I’m going to share with you five productivity tips you haven’t thought of before now.
As a mom of three myself, I know how easy it is to become overwhelmed with everything that is required to run a household, raise children, and cultivate a strong relationship with my husband.
Not to mention work in or outside of the home, chasing after the dreams in my heart, or tending to the goals I set for myself.
Have you completely written off any dreams outside of motherhood because your life as it is, seems all too consuming to allow for anything extra?
Maybe you would be happy to simply get the basics under control so that you have time to spend with your children or your husband without worrying about everything else that needs to be done.
I’ve been there, and I totally get it.
Five productivity tips you haven’t thought of before now
I’ve shared plenty of insight on time management and productivity before, but I’m going to take a step back and give you some basic productivity tips you haven’t thought of before now.
Before you start looking at how to better manage your time, you need to be sure you have a solid foundation to build upon.
You will never be as productive as you would like without considering these five things first.
1 // Fuel your body with healthy foods
You need to fuel your body with healthy foods in order to function at your best every day.
You cannot subsist on coffee, donuts, and the leftover crust on your kid’s peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Trust me, I’ve tried.
You don’t have to go on some super strict diet or spend an insane amount of time working out every day.
Start by respecting your body enough to stay away from the foods you know make you sluggish and tired and stick to the foods that give you the energy to make it through the day.
Most moms are good at getting dinner on the table each night, but breakfast and lunch are hit and miss.
You would be surprised at how much more energy you would have just by making sure you don’t miss those two meals during the day.
Plan ahead by making a meal plan and don’t forget to account for breakfast and lunch for yourself.
Eat the same thing every day if you have to – just make sure you have something on hand, so you don’t resort to takeout or the leftovers on your toddler’s plate.
2 // Drink plenty of water
You may think you’re getting plenty of water during the day, but you’re probably not.
You would be surprised at how this can affect the way you feel without even realizing it.
Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue and low energy levels, which makes it difficult to get off of the couch and tackle all the things you need or want to do during the day.
A woman cannot survive on coffee and coffee alone.
I love coffee as much as you do, but I also try to make sure I counterbalance my coffee intake with at least 64 ounces of water a day.
The easiest way to track how much water you drink is to use a refillable water bottle.
Know how many ounces the bottle holds and how many ounces you want to drink per day. Then, you can determine how many times you need to refill that bottle.
A good rule of thumb is to divide your weight by two. Convert that number into ounces and aim to drink that much water each day.
For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, you would make it your goal to drink 70 ounces of water.
3 // Get an adequate amount of sleep
This is another area moms often neglect.
It is one thing if you still have babies that wake through the night, but if you are staying up late just to sneak in a little time for yourself only to get sucked into binge watching another series on Netflix, you have a problem.
I used to be a night owl. I loved staying up late into the night and sleeping in the next day.
During the last couple of years, I have trained myself to go to bed and wake up early. This practice has totally changed my life.
I now use the early morning hours to enjoy a cup of coffee in the quiet and stillness of the morning before the rest of my family wakes up.
It is the perfect way to get time to yourself without sacrificing too much sleep.
I try to get between seven and eight hours of sleep every night. I go sleep around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., and wake up around 5:00 or 5:30 a.m.
4 // Make time for self-care
I know, I know. It seems impossible to make time for yourself when your life is spent caring for others.
For a mom, a solo trip to Target can seem like a vacation.
You probably feel like there is no way to make self-care a regular thing. You may even think that self-care is selfish.
Can I just tell you one thing, mama? You cannot pour from an empty cup.
If you fail to make time for preserving your sense of self, you will be of no use to your family or your children.
You will burn out quickly, making it easier to fall prey to the many distractions that beckon to convince you that they are worth your time.
This is one of the reasons I started waking up early. The only way I can fit in a little “me” time is to do it first thing in the morning before the world wakes up.
When I oversleep or stay up too late to get up early, I start the day feeling overwhelmed and my productivity tanks.
5 // Nurture your relationships
I say this a lot, but motherhood can be so isolating. As lovely as it is, often times it feels so lonely.
It helps to have friends who get it. Make time for those friendships by meeting regularly for play dates or coffee.
If you have a friendship that you have neglected since having kids, reach out. Don’t wait to be invited.
Step out and do the inviting yourself. Chances are, other moms are in need of friendship too.
This also goes for your relationship with your husband.
Make an effort to connect with your husband every single day. He needs you and you need him.
Don’t spend your time together staring at your phones or the television.
Sit together on the couch or lay in bed and talk for 15-20 minutes after the kids are in bed.
You are meant to live in community with other people. Don’t try to do it all on your own.
Now, it’s your turn
Like I said earlier, you can find lots of tips online or in books for increasing your productivity. These five things are things most people don’t think of when it comes to productivity.
You can utilize all of the latest and greatest productivity tools and time management techniques, but you will never be as productive as you want to be without paying attention to these five things first.
- Fuel your body with healthy foods
- Drink plenty of water
- Get an adequate amount of sleep
- Make time for self-care
- Nurture your relationships
This is so true. We understand the importance of care, maintenance and fuel when it comes to things like cars, planes and so on – but we so often neglect looking after ourselves, exercising and sleeping well, and eating the right foods and seem to think it won’t have any impact at all. The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is take care of yourself. Thanks for the reminder!
You’re welcome, Katie! Thanks for stopping by!
Yes! Absolutely agree with everything on this list. We can try all the different productivity tips and hacks out there but without treating our bodies right we will never be able to reach our full potential. I’ve noticed with my diet that I get much more done when I eat healthy meals. Great article reaffirming the basics that we should all remember! xxx
So true! Thanks for reading!