With three simple time blocking tips, you can revamp your existing schedule into a powerhouse of efficiency. If you’re a dedicated work-from-home mom seeking a fluid routine, these three simple tips are all you truly need. Say goodbye to overwhelm as I guide you through the nitty-gritty details, elevating your schedule to a whole new level of productivity!
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Enhance Your Work-From-Home Schedule with 3 Simple Time Blocking Tips
If you’re someone who relies on a paper planner or has already started time-blocking your schedule, this blog post is going to be a game-changer for you. But don’t worry if you haven’t set up a time-blocking system yet; I’ve got you covered! At the end of this post, I’ll link some resources to help you get started.
Now, let’s dive into the juicy stuff! We’re going to explore how you can make small adjustments to your existing schedule to boost your efficiency. I get it; sometimes, when you start this process, it can feel a bit overwhelming. But fear not! With these three simple time blocking tips, you’ll experience a mind-blowing level of clarity five days a week. Say goodbye to constantly questioning what you’re doing and when.
Unlocking the Potential in Your Days with Time Blocking
My ultimate goal with these time-blocking tips is to equip you with the schedule you need to prepare your house for five days of living an intentional life. Whatever calling has been placed on your heart, it is important. I am committed to guiding you in structuring your schedule to align with your goals. Together, we’ll unlock the potential within your days! So, let’s roll up our sleeves and embrace these small but mighty changes that will make your schedule work seamlessly, leaving you with more time and less stress. Are you ready to conquer the chaos? Let’s go!
Time Blocking Tip #1: Determine Your Fundamental Needs
In the process of time blocking your schedule, the first and most crucial tip is to determine your fundamental needs. This step lays the foundation for your entire schedule-building process. Make it a priority to note down these fundamental needs first when creating your weekly schedule. I highly recommend adopting both a paper planner system and a Google Calendar. Recording your fundamental needs in both places guarantees their visibility and serves as a visual aid for better organization.
Color coding plays an important role in maintaining clarity amidst a busy schedule. When you assign bold colors to your fundamental needs, it prevents visual clutter and helps you focus on the tasks. Embracing a paper planner helps train your mind to work through segments systematically. By dedicating all your energy to one segment before transitioning to another, you’ll reduce the chaos of constant task-switching. Your life will smoothly flow, allowing you to actually be more productive.
Discover Your Fundamental Needs With My Free Workbook
If you don’t know what your fundamental needs are, don’t worry; I’ve got you covered! Access my free workbook that will guide you through a comprehensive assessment of your individual fundamental needs. This valuable resource helps you to identify the areas in your life that are lacking and those that already stand strong. The workbook gets into the core aspects of human nature, taking you on a journey of discovering what is important to you.
By completing a personalized quiz, you’ll gain insight into the areas where you feel encouraged and empowered, as well as how to approach aspects of your life that may be causing discouragement. If you haven’t yet blocked out your fundamental needs, the workbook is your perfect starting point.
Time Blocking Tip #2: Create Your Five-Block System
Once you’ve determined your fundamental needs, the next step is to make your time blocks. For this, I suggest adopting a five-block system. Feel free to brainstorm with this structure and then customize it to suit your specific needs. The recommended time blocks are as follows:
- Morning Routine Block
- A.M. Block
- Midday Block
- P.M. Block
- Night Time Routine Block
Clearly delineate these five blocks in your paper planner to bring structure and clarity to your schedule. By organizing your day into these time blocks, you’ll find it easier to allocate time for different tasks and commitments. Remember, this system is adaptable, so feel empowered to make it your own.
Morning Routine: Setting the Tone for Your Day
Let’s begin with the first block: the Morning Routine. This time block includes everything you do before your little ones wake up. Your morning routine sets the tone for the day! While each day may be slightly different, depending on your weekly schedule, it is your choice how you want to kick-start your mornings.
For me, some days call for a slightly shorter routine to squeeze in a power hour of work before my kids wake up. My morning routine may include a combination of activities such as working out, doing my Bible study, practicing meditation, stretching, showering, and getting ready for the day, including hair and makeup. To ensure clarity, I jot down the specifics of each day’s morning routine in my paper planner. This practice ensures that I know exactly how to utilize that block of time each morning.
A.M. Block: Focused Time with My Kids
The morning hours when my children are awake make up my A.M. Block. During this time, I prioritize their needs and enjoy quality time together. Each day, I know when my A.M. Block begins and I make sure that I complete my personal tasks before this time. This way, I can greet my kids and share breakfast together, creating a positive start to our day.
Following breakfast, we do whatever planned activities we have for the A.M. Block. During this time, I intentionally disconnect from work and social media, solely devoting my attention to my kids. It’s an opportunity to fill their “love tanks” for the day.
Our activities during the A.M. Block can vary; we might tidy up the house together or run errands. Sometimes, it’s as simple as listening to their favorite music or playing a game that sparks joy and laughter. Time spent with my children during the A.M. Block sets a positive tone for the day and smoothly transitions us into the Midday Block.
Midday Block: Your Dedicated Work Time
The Midday Block makes an opportunity for your children to go off to do their own independent activities in their own space. Depending on their ages, this block may involve nap time or playing with a sibling or independently. Whether or not you choose to use technology during that time is up to you!
By dedicating your heart, eye contact, and undivided attention to your children during the A.M. Block, you’ve nurtured their needs and set the foundation for their independent play during the Midday Block. This valuable time now grants you the opportunity to get into your workflow and focus on the tasks you’ve set for yourself and your business. This Midday Block can be considered your “work block,” where you can get your work for the day done.
P.M. Block: Embracing Routines
As the day progresses, it’s time to ease into your P.M. Block, where a series of routines take center stage. This is when you have a lot of important routines, starting with your dinner routine. Following dinner, you move into the end-of-the-day clean-up routine. Next comes the bath and bed routine, ensuring a relaxing and calming end to the day for your little ones. Some of you may even incorporate a family time routine during this block, especially if your children are a bit older.
Night Time Routine: Winding Down
Once the kids are tucked in bed, it’s time to start in your Night Time Routine, even if it’s just for 15 minutes. Our routine typically is around 30 minutes since Blaine and I opt for an early bedtime. By getting into bed around 8:00 PM and lights out no later than 8:30 PM, we make sure we get enough sleep to get a solid two hours in the morning before our kids wake up.
This time serves as a moment to wind down, relax, and unplug from technology. On our nightstands, we always keep a book or journal- something paper. Sometimes, Blaine and I just sit in bed and chat together! This routine sets the stage for restful sleep, allowing us to be ready to start the next day with energy and focus.
Mapping Your Blocks and Fundamental Needs
Now that you’ve established your time blocks, it’s time to map them out within your paper planner. Assign a color to each block to clearly visualize your schedule at a glance. As you map out these blocks, don’t forget to include your fundamental needs and highlight them! I’m trying to get you to understand how important it is to mentally shift into this space where your fundamental needs are 100% non-negotiable.
Wondering where to schedule your fundamental needs? Look no further than your time blocks! When you’ve correctly blocked out your day, every aspect, including fundamental needs, should seamlessly fit within these blocks. There should be no gaps or unaccounted time; everything finds its place within these well-structured time blocks.
Time Blocking Tip #3: Brain Dump and Plan Ahead
The third essential time blocking tip is to dedicate time each week to plan out your upcoming week. I recommend taking some time each Sunday to get this done. Start with a brain dump of all your tasks and commitments for the week. This brain dump makes sure that nothing slips through the cracks and allows you to stay organized and efficient. By doing this, you’ll have a clear picture of when and what tasks need to be accomplished throughout the week.
Avoid Overloading for an Effective Schedule
The last thing I want you to remember to ensure you have an effective schedule each week is to resist the temptation of overloading it. Many people fall into the trap of wanting to do all the things. You are striving to be the super mom who juggles your children’s activities and maintains a spotless home while having perfect hair and Instagram-worthy pictures— I totally get it!
“When working from home and caring for your kids, some things are going to have to give.”
However, it’s important to recognize the importance of balance and setting realistic expectations. Instead, focus on prioritizing and creating a schedule that allows for breathing space. Embrace the beauty of imperfection and understand that it’s okay to not be perfect in every aspect. When working from home and caring for your kids, some things are going to have to give.
Try to think about where you are called to make the most impact right now in your life. Give that specific space the most energy! You can do motherhood and working from home at the same time without hating the mom that you are or feeling like a failure running a business. Try these time blocking tips today!
Your Path to a More Productive Schedule with Time Blocking
Congratulations! You now know the three simple time blocking tips to transform your work-from-home schedule into a masterpiece of efficiency and productivity. With these tips for time blocking, you’ll revamp the way you approach your daily routines, leaving overwhelm and uncertainty behind. Embrace the power of time blocking as you design a schedule that aligns with your goals and nurtures your fundamental needs! As a recap, the tips were:
- Determine Your Fundamental Needs
- Create Your Five-Block System
- Brain Dump and Plan Ahead
Thank you for joining me on this adventure of improving your work-from-home schedule. Embrace these time-blocking tips with confidence, and remember, you’ve got this!
Looking to Learn More Time Blocking Tips?
Looking for tips on how to avoid overwhelm in your schedule? Be sure to check out this blog post. It goes into how to declutter your schedule and prioritize what really matters! In this blog, we talked about the importance of having a paper planner. In the blog post, How to Reduce Stress as a Busy Mom by Using a Paper Planner, I dive deeper into the reasons a paper planner can be so beneficial!
I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing your schedules! Join us in FREE Facebook community and share your schedule so I can take a look and provide you with valuable feedback and helpful tips. Let’s connect and support each other on this journey to create effective and fulfilling schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am ready to get started! Do you have a paper planner that you recommend?
Absolutely! The planner that I currently use is the Horacio Planner. Remember to schedule your fundamental needs first! You should start with this workbook to determine what your fundamental needs are. After determining your fundamental needs, then you can work on the scheduling. Download my time blocking workbook to help you organize your time!
