Habits of Productive Parents
I’m an innately productive person. I wake up in the morning and get to work. I’m happiest when I’m improving, creating, and producing results. Even if you don’t have that drive inside you, I want to share ways you can boost your productivity that even the most unmotivated can do. And the catch – maintaining a household and a high level of productivity while juggling your kids. This is the idolized characteristic of every homemaker, but it isn’t easy to accomplish. These habits of productive parents are easy to implement and will make a huge difference in your life! Here are 3 ways I stay motivated and productive every day.
1. Make To-Do Lists
Lists are my secret weapon. I turn to them in times of stress, confusion, laziness, and outright turmoil. Lists have helped me in my most unproductive times – those times where you’re burnt out and feel like you have no energy for anything. Here’s why lists are amazing:
– They provide a concrete plan.
– They make goals tangible, after all, you wrote it down.
– They define expectations.
– They help you refocus when your toddler distracts you.
– They provide proof you accomplished something that day.
– Crossing off to-do lists is extremely satisfying.
– They keep you and everyone else in the house on the same page.
– They allow for others to see the work to be done and possibly pitch in.
Lists have carried me through the time I had one hour to clean the whole house before surprise company arrived, and the time I was functioning off three hours of sleep with an attention needy toddler and newborn, and every day in between. My to-do lists are the number one tool I use to amp up my productivity and it is the first thing I do every morning.
2. Schedule Tasks
Along the same line as lists, scheduling is just another way you can stay productive by ORGANIZING what tasks there are to do. I use a basic cleaning schedule for my home, making sure I clean the bathroom often, laundry gets done in a timely manner, and every week I pick a random “big” task to get done like organizing a messy closet or washing the windows. Below is a basic cleaning schedule I found on Pinterest that I think is very workable.
Scheduling in projects is also a great way for them to actually get done. If you want to redecorate your living room, put it on the calendar. There is something so motivating about writing tasks down. Whenever I have an idea for a furniture redo or craft, I look at my calendar and pick a week that looks good to get it done. I write it down and then when the day arrives, I get started. My creative projects are too important to get pushed to the back burner and so I need to schedule them into my life in order to actually PRODUCE them. Wonder where I find the time to work on creative pursuits? Schedules help with more than cleaning, check out my kids’ daily schedule that allows for me to have free time.
3. Limit Downtime
Surprisingly, productivity begets more energy. Even if you feel like you don’t have the energy to get off the couch and do your dishes, you’ll be amazed when you’re done doing the dishes how you suddenly have the energy to mop the floors. So it’s not usually about actually having the energy, it’s more about having the will to get started. One way to ensure you don’t slump around too much and neglect tackling projects you really want (or need) to do, is limiting your downtime. Obviously everyone needs downtime now and then, but you probably don’t need as much as you think. After all, you’re probably sleeping for at least six hours of your day and surfing Facebook another hour. Here’s another truth:
laziness begets more laziness.
I’m not trying to be a motivational writer, it’s just I know when I slump on the couch, it is hard to get off it. Productive parents don’t want their kids imitating a zombie who watches TV four hours a night. Combat this by choosing down time activities that have a set time frame. Watch a 30 minute long TV episode and then TURN THE SCREEN OFF. Set a timer for an hour before sitting down with your book. Set an alarm when you start dozing off to ensure you just catnap and don’t snooze the afternoon away. It always feels like you’re emerging groggy when you do get off the couch, but turn to your to-do list to remind yourself there are productive things to do!
I don’t have cable, so I like to pull up a show on HGTV.com to watch for my downtime, usually equaling 40 minutes. My favorite? Fixer Upper. Now THOSE are some productive parents.
There you have it! I have many many more tips in mind but perhaps I will save them for another time (or if nobody cares to read this post, I’ll keep them to myself). Ha! Thanks for stopping by! If you have any ideas and tricks you use to stay productive as a parent with busy kids, please SHARE in the comments! I love to hear from you.
