I want to give you a peek inside the Systemize Your Life Academy! Today I am speaking to real moms with real struggles, and giving them real answers to ensure that they can keep productivity happening in their homes and in their businesses. These women identify as stay-at-home moms and are looking for less chaos that can come with the overwhelming stages of motherhood. We all have experiences that others can relate to. I know by seeing some of the questions that these ladies are asking, you will be able to picture yourself in the academy as well and get some encouragement for your own situations. Get ready to take some notes and step inside the academy

Listen below for the entire episode on The Systemize Your Life Podcast

Real Moms, Real Questions, Real Answers

I want to jump right into the questions that the ladies from the academy brought to me today. These are real women who are going through life and trying to figure out the best way to keep organization and productivity happening in their homes and businesses. If you haven’t joined the academy yet, now might be the perfect time for you. If you can relate to any of these women today, click here and come sit with us. We always have room for you!

Question 1

I have my time blocks set every week and plan what I’m going to be doing during the day. However, I feel like I am constantly cramming my mid-day block with more than I’m actually getting done. I always feel like I can accomplish all these things during this specific time, and then it doesn’t happen. Is there a way I can keep from doing this week after week? Is there a better way?

Answer:

First, let’s take a look at the month. Typically we look at our weeks and plan accordingly. However, if you are constantly putting these “to-dos” in your weekdays and they aren’t being accomplished, we need to rearrange some things. For example, if you have 10 things that you need to accomplish, you need to take those 10 things and divide them up over the course of the month. What eventually happens when you can’t accomplish all the things that you are wanting to do week after week, you start feeling defeated and overwhelmed. We want to set up systems that will keep those feelings to a minimum.

Try putting these things on a rotation. This will help aid in making sure not everything is trying to be accomplished every single day of the week. The other question is, are these “things” constantly different or are they the same tasks that need to be done weekly? Write these things down and figure out if you need to schedule specific things on specific days. Knowing that “x” needs to be done every Tuesday and “y” needs to be done every Thursday, can help alleviate some of those pressures and overwhelming feelings. Here are some other specific questions I want you to take note of and ask yourself.

• What block is not getting done and is constantly being overpacked with things to accomplish?
• What isn’t getting done consistently?

• What are the time frames? How much time is each thing requiring?

After you have answered these questions, we need to see what exactly is being added to your schedule. If you are adding these things to your already full-time block, we need to figure out a new routine that will work and be more productive. Once a routine is put into place, everyone in the home will thrive more. Everyone will know what to expect and when to expect it. If you are the leader of the ship, communication is key!

Question 2

I am currently six months pregnant with my first child. Do you have any tips for setting up infant work blocks? I want to have a stricter sleep schedule put into place but I know every child is different and requires different things. Do you have any recommendations on how I can start this?

Answer:

The first thing that I want to tell you is always be prepared for that first six weeks of being “in the weeds.” What I mean when I say this is, don’t expect too much from yourself those first six weeks after having a baby. Be mindful when you first emerge from this “newborn cave” phase. This can be a very special time after the baby is born, and having things set up and planned for those first few weeks can make your life so much easier. You want to be on-demand for the baby.

Have things prepared for work so you don’t have to show up unless it’s urgent. Knowing that work is taken care of and people will not be depending on your presence will be a huge weight off your shoulders. Outside of that, know that babies sleep a lot, they just don’t sleep a lot when you want them to sleep. With that said, the sooner you can get on a sleep schedule or take a sleep course for your baby, the better. Having a solid sleep routine will be better for everyone involved. If having a sitter is an option, that will also help you to maintain your work time blocks. I started using our sitters on-demand around the eight-week mark. If you have done a sleep program you should know by then when naps will be taking place and your work block can work around those times.

When babies come into the picture, everything changes. We tend to laugh at that statement because we know it’s true. Being a part of the academy will be so beneficial to you as your children start to grow and schedules change. You will have to opportunity to go back and revisit those tiers about every 3 months to reevaluate and reorganize your time blocks and systems. It’s such a fun time!

Question 3:

I’m over-scheduled and I don’t see a way out. My workflow is still not adjusted properly and I never have enough time for all of the things. I have kids in sports and I feel like I’m constantly on the go. My life is just chaos at the moment. If I happen to miss one thing during the day it’s a complete domino effect and I tend to miss the rest of the day. Help!

Answer:

The really forward answer is, your family has made these choices and you need to step back and see if this is what you are really wanting. If you look at everything that you have going on right now and think, we have no room for anything, something may have to give, and a change may need to take place. Knowing that your side hustle is now more than a hobby and you want it to be your business, you will need to sit down with your husband and discuss where you can get more hours in your day. You have to voice what you want and what you need and get creative to achieve those things. In order to get those specific things, however, will mean that something else will have to go. Brainstorm and be okay with it being and looking different. Different seasons in life will always look different. Sometimes making sacrifices is what has to be done in order to get the routine that really works for everyone in the family. If you don’t adapt, you will only continue to do what you are doing now. Sit down with your husband and discuss these things:

• What do you want to give up in order to get what you want?

• Do you really know what you want and know what you’re working towards?

Make sure you and your husband are on the same page with each other. Sometimes that is the biggest challenge. You both know where you want to end up and have the same goal in mind, however, you may not always agree on how you are going to get there. This needs to be addressed and agreed on. Many times this is not an easy conversation. I have been there in my marriage, but you have to sit down and figure it out together. This is not a one-person do-all situation. The people that your children are supposed to become will not become what they should if their MOM can’t become who she is supposed to be. A thriving mom!

“Sometimes making sacrifices is what has to be done in order to get the routine that really works for everyone in the family. If you don’t adapt, you will only continue to do what you are doing now.”

Figure out what needs to go or can be replaced so you have some breathing room. Create some options that you might have in mind and head over to the Facebook group so we can discuss them together. Remember that different is okay! Disappointment is not always a bad thing. We can actually grow from those short-term disappointments. Keep in mind that these adjustments can be temporary!! You can always change things up again. Nothing has to be permanent.

One other thing that I really want to touch on, is telling people where you need help or support. This is a leadership position, not a “poor me, I need your help” position. You have the authority as a wife and mother to tell people where you need their help. You don’t have to feel like you’re failing! Speak to yourself and believe in yourself until you finally receive it as truth! The ship always runs better when there is clear communication.

Question 4

I’m feeling frustrated and I don’t want to feel this way. I feel like my to-dos are not getting done each week. I’m trying to figure out where I need to go back and really solidify what I already have in place so I can move on. Where do I start?

Answer:

First things first! Let’s look at what may have changed since you’ve noticed a difference. Has there been different sleeping schedules, has someone been sick recently, a new job situation? If there is a big change in your life, you need to figure out where that new thing fits into the routine. Sometimes when you add new things to your life, you have to weave them into your already established routine. It’s really quite simple. You have to see where all the things go, what’s not working, look at your time blocks, and then figure out if it needs a new place to go. If you want to keep your business up and running, you may even have to decide if outsourcing is the answer. Maybe the house isn’t clean every day. Maybe there are some things on the list that don’t get done that week. If this is what the new day looks like, be okay with that, and don’t beat yourself up over it. Don’t put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Being a stay-at-home mom/work-from-home mom is hard work!

Come sit at our table!

When we put systems into place, all these things don’t have to be so hard. You can know what to expect and when to expect it the majority of the time. Getting everyone in the family involved is going to be a game-changer. If you are still feeling stuck and still need help, I highly encourage you to head on over to the academy and sign up today! You will learn how to make not only your home a successful place, but you will be productive and successful in your business! Stop by our Facebook group and feel free to ask any questions there. We are here to help and support you! You aren’t alone in your journey! Until next time, we will see you right here again on the blog!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in your Academy?

In just 4 weeks you will learn about time management, task management, home management and family support. That is just the content though! When you enroll in The Systemize Your Life Academy you will gain community – weekly group calls, live weekly support from Chelsi Jo and student community! Trust me – you won’t regret joining!