May 30, 2020

A Simple Time Management Hack That Will Instantly Reduce Stress

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As a working mom with a full time career, a growing side business, two young kiddos, and a husband that travels most of the time, my life is busy. Time management is something that has given me constant stress over the years. That was until I stumbled upon a time management hack that has significant improved my productivity and reduced my stress.

And this simple time management hack is so easy that ANYONE can do it.

The Simple Time Management Hack

And it’s as easy as this… as soon as you get a deliverable or something that you need to do, you immediately book time on your calendar to actually do the work.

For example, say I get asked to prepare a presentation for an upcoming leadership call. Immediately upon being asked, I block out time on my calendar to prepare and practice my presentation.

Looking at the above example, my actual meetings or conference calls are shaded purple. My planning time is shaded yellow. As you can see, I have planning time scheduled for any upcoming deliverables. I also have time scheduled for other planning activities like weekly planning and weekly wrap up and reflection. Time is blocked off for things that I want to do like having lunch with my kids and taking a walk.

Why Should you Block off Time?

Blocking out the time time ensures a.) that I have time set aside to actually do the work b.) most importantly, it allows me to know that I have the time set aside. This allows me to relax a bit and focus on what is in front of me, versus worrying about all of the other things that I have to do.

See, I was in the habit of moving through my week taking more things and talking about doing work, and not actually finding the time to DO the work. I was in the habit of working late at night and on the weekends consistently.

Once I started immediately blocking out time on my calendar, I found that I could really focus on what I was doing in the moment knowing that time was already blocked off for other things. I got out of the habit of worrying about my future workload and I was able to really focus on the present. My stress level dramatically decreased, essentially overnight.

Another benefit of this simple time management hack is that I have enough time during the day for all of the things that I have on my calendar. I control my day versus others controlling my day which is a great feeling to have.

So let’s walk through a couple of things to keep in mind…

Use Your Calendar

This time management strategy will only work if you use your calendar. Planning out your day and week will allow you to control your time and budget it accordingly. Without using your calendar, you are essentially leaving your productivity up to chance.

Format of calendar is entirely up to you. Some people do well with a beautiful planner, some people do well with your phone’s calendar, and some people work well with a blank sheet of paper. The key is what works, not what is pretty or what everyone else uses.

Figure out the Required Time

The hardest part of this trick is knowing how much time you will need. Some things are easy to determine how much time you will need, such as scheduling a doctors appointment or meeting. Some things like preparing a report or cleaning out your basement can be harder to figure out.

For the more complicated tasks that you don’t know how much time you will need, book the time a bit earlier than you will need. For example, if your boss asks you to prepare a presentation for Friday you should try to book time on Tuesday or Wednesday to complete. That way if you need some extra time, you still have a couple of days to complete.

Over time, you will gain a better sense of how long things take and you can plan more accurately.

Ensure Other’s Protect Your Time

A key to ensuring this time management hack works is ensuring that people respect your time. YOU own your time, no one else does. So often, we let other’s control our time with their wants and needs. You need to take back control or your time in order to be truly productive. This means that you may need to educate people that you work with, employees, or even family members on protecting your time.

Don’t let people schedule meetings during times that are blocked off and don’t allow people to take you away from what you are scheduled to be doing. I know this sounds very rigid, but it’s necessary. People will only respect your time if you respect it first.

Ensure that people can see your availability (they don’t need details just whether you are busy or not) and don’t accept any meeting that falls during a busy time. If it is an emergency and need time when you are blocked, just have them contact you and explain when and how they need.

So there you have it, a simple time management hack that will help you control your time and reduce stress!

What other simple ime management hacks do you use? Have you tried this strategy before? How did it work out? Leave a comment below!

Want to read more time management tips? Check out these posts

The Best Productivity Books

Maximize Productivity While Working from Home

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May 17, 2020

The Work from Home Supplies You Must Have

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made from these links may result in commissions.

There are many people who are working from home for the first time. This can be pretty jarring if you are used to having an established routine, rapport with coworkers, and having everything you need at your fingertips. Luckily, working from home can be even more productive (if not more!) and comfortable if you plan properly and have the right work from home supplies.

This list of must have work from home supplies includes things that will make working from home more enjoyable and efficient.

Writing Desk

Working from your bed or couch is not ideal. This super affordable writing desk helps you easily set up a home office in any area of the house. The desk is lightweight and easy to move around to find the location that works best for you. It is large enough to fit your working essentials such as a monitor, laptop, and keyboard. Having a dedicated office space can help improve your work-life balance, posture, and even productivity!

Monitor

A monitor is at the top of my work from home supplies list. One of the things I miss most from my office is my double monitors. See, I’m getting old so looking at my small laptop screen all day long starts to wear on my eyes. This monitor has been a game changer. I feel way more productive and my eyes aren’t as strained at the end of the day.

Wireless Keyboard & Mouse

Another thing that I missed dearly when I started working from home was my keyboard and wireless mouse. This set was actually the very first thing that I purchased. Setup is as easy as inserting the receiver into your computer. It’s really convenient to have a full sized keyboard with a number pad so this purchase is well worth the small investment!

Foot Rest

I like to be comfortable when I work so I love this foot rest that you place under your desk. Prior to finding this footrest, I had used an old bankers box when I wanted to put my feet up. This is not only more visually appealing but it is way more comfortable.

Lap Desk

The beauty of working from home is that you can really work anywhere, even your couch or bed from time to time. This lap desk is awesome and even comes with a built in mousepad and wrist pad. This lap desk allows you to work comfortably from anywhere.

Noise Canceling Headphones

Sometimes you need to focus and tune out the outside world that is why I recommend noise cancelling headphones to anyone working form home. This set is very affordable, very stylish, and extremely functional. They look and act just like the Beats headphones but much cheaper.

Power Strip

A good power strip is definitely a must-have work from home supply. Sometimes you need to power your laptop, headphones, and phone all at the same time. This cool little power cube is an excellent way to charge all of your devices at once. It’s very affordable and the cube design allows you to fit all kinds of chargers.

Water Bottle

The first few weeks of working from home I felt like I did nothing but eat. Everything I had a break I would venture into the kitchen and grab something to nibble on. Seven pounds later I realized that I needed to get this in check. They don’t say people have gained the quarantine 15 for nothing. At the beginning of each day I try to get all of my meals prepped and I portion out my snacks for the day. This helps me make better meal choices.

Another thing that I have found to help me from mindless snacking is having a water bottle by my side. I’ve found that when I drink enough water I end up eating less. I love this particular water bottle because it holds a gallon of water (which is aggressive, I know but some people swear by it) and it also keeps you on track and motivated.

Almonds

Speaking of snacks, almonds are an excellent healthy snack during the day. Almonds are packed with fiber and protein and and they leave you feeling full for a long time. I find that a handful of these will hold me over until the next meal. Having healthy snacks nearby when you are working from home will help avoid potato chips and other unhealthy foods.

A few small investments can make all the different in your work from home comfort and productivity.

What are you essential work from home supplies? do you have any supplies that help you be more productive? What do you miss most from working in the office? Leave a comment below!

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March 12, 2020

How to Work From Home

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases

There are a lot of people that are working from home for the very first time due to the Coronavirus. Believe it or not, working from home can be very challenging.

There are a lot of distractions and nuances when working from home that you don’t have to deal with when you are in the office. However, with a little planning and practice you can be even more productive working from home.

Here are some tips for how to work from home…

Keep Your Morning Routine

Try your hardest to keep your morning routine. Get up at the same time, shower, get dressed, grab coffee just like you would if you were heading into the office. Now, you don’t need to get dressed as you normally would (that is one of the biggest perks of working from home), but you should get up and put yourself together a bit. This will give you a sense of normalcy and some added confidence to get your day started.

Have a Dedicated Work Area

It can be really tempting to work from your couch or your bed. Don’t give into this temptation. Find a dedicated work space and work exclusively from there. This space could be an office, guest bedroom, half of your living room room, even your dining room table. It doesn’t matter where it is as long as it is a space that is comfortable and conducive to work.

The reason that it’s important to have separate spaces is that is creates a sense of boundary. It can be very easy when you are working from home to blend working/non-working time. You tend to either work too much or too little. You either work 15 hours a day or binge watch three season of The Office without established boundaries.

Keep Standard Hours

When you are thinking of how to work from home, make a plan to keep standard working hours. You should start your day and end your day at the same time just as you would if you were in a traditional office.

Not only does this prevent you from burning out (interestingly, most people tend to OVER-work when working from home) , but it also gives you a sense of routine. Routine and structure are important and can be missing when you start to work from home. After a while, a lack of routine can start to impact your mood and confidence. Humans are creature of habit so try to stick to a regular schedule.

Set Boundaries with People

If you live with people that may be home when you are working it is important that you establish clear boundaries. Spend some time discussing when you will be working and what the expectations are. Be really honest with what you need them to do and NOT do.

If you haven’t worked from home before, it can be a big adjustment for everyone. Make sure that you are communicating early and openly in order to avoid tension or frustration on both sides.

Set Goals Each Day

Each morning, set a goal of things that you would like to accomplish that day. This serves a couple of purposes. For one, it can keep you focused on what you need to get done. Working from home means that you have your fair share of distractions.

But additionally, keeping a track of things that you accomplished will give you a much needed sense of accomplishment. Sometimes when you work from home you can feel that you didn’t really do anything because you didn’t get up and go into an office. It’s important to remind yourself that you are contributing at the same or an even greater level.

Working from home is truly a win-win for everyone. Once you get the hang of it you will find that you have a greater work/life balance, more productivity, and overall better wellness. However, have some grace with yourself as you are learning how to work from home. It may take some time, but you will get there!

What struggles do you face when working from home? Do you have any tips for how to work from home?

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December 31, 2019

January To-Do’s for Successful Working Moms

Call me crazy but I love January. I love the feeling of renewal that comes from a brand new year. I am energized and motivated to take on the year.

Every January, I try to capitalize on this energy and motivation and knock off some tasks that help me start the year off right as a working mom.

Here are January to-do’s for successful working moms…

Declutter

We have a large family so our children get so much stuff for Christmas. To top that off, my daughters birthday is in January as well so even more stuff. Yay. During January, I try to get rid of as much stuff as possible. Old clothes, toys, magazines that have piled up, toys, old makeup, anything and everything that is not nailed down. Check out The Life Changing Method of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Kondo provides very practical tips on what and how to get rid of your clutter.

Deep Clean

You can either outsource this or do it yourself but one to-do that should be on every working moms life is to deep clean your home. Once you have decluttered it is the perfect time to clean. I’m talking clean that you never have a chance to get to like baseboards and washing walls. This will allow you to start the year off with a truly fresh and clean space. It will also take some away some of the mental load that can eat away at you.

Set a Budget and Savings Plan

If you are like me, you are experiencing a spending hangover in January. I am so sick of spending money by the end of December, I am just ready to get back to a budget and start saving again. Take advantage of this feeling and sit down and set a budget. Start by reviewing your spending for the last year. Where did your money go? Reflect on where you could have saved more and spent less. Now set your budget for the next year. Make sure that you are paying yourself first and setting aside money in your budget to save. Start the saving program as early in January as possible either through your employer (via a 401k) or your bank (IRA or a traditional savings account).

Set a Goal

Every year I set a personal development goal for myself. Motherhood can be so daunting. When you are working, raising children, taking care of a home, taking care of a marriage, etc. it leaves very little time for you. It can be easy for moms to feel like they have lost themselves. Each year I set a goal solely for myself. This gives me a reason to do something that I enjoy and gives me fulfillment and satisfaction as I march towards achieving it. A couple of goals that I have completed are reading 100 books in a year and learning Spanish. Find something that you enjoy doing and set a stretch goal for yourself. Make sure that you keep that promise to yourself and make a plan to achieve it. And remember, a happy mom/wife/employee is a good mom/wife/employee!

Organize Your Schedule

The end of the year is a free for all. There are so many demands on your time with the holidays, school events, and work deadlines. After all of that, now is the perfect time to reset and organize your schedule. Go through your calendar and block out time for everything that you need to get done. Make sure that you are carving out time for your goal and for just doing nothing. I make sure that at least one day out of each weekend we block out our calendar to do nothing. Those are my favorite days (and my kids) and would likely not happen if I wasn’t intentional on blocking out that time.

Now is also a great time to grab control of your work calendar. Go through each meeting that is on your calendar for the new year and make sure that it needs to be there. Meetings tend to stick around a lot longer than they are actually needed. Now would be a good time to trim the fat and get rid of non-essential meetings. You should also schedule time to actually do the work. I work in a corporate environment so I sit on conference calls all day. If I don’t block off time to actually do the work, I would be bringing that home with me today. Block an hour or two a day during your MOST productive time of day to do deep work.

What are your January To-Do’s for Successful Working Moms? What do you do in January that helps set up success for the remainder of the year? Leave a comment below!

How Alexa Runs My Mornings

I don’t know where I would be without Amazon’s Alexa. For those that don’t know, Alexa is Amazon’s virtual assistant and she is amazing.

You can access Alexa on a variety of Amazon devices such as the Amazon Echo, Echo Show, and Amazon FireTV. They even have an Echo Dot exclusively for kids. Amazon has even launched a Alexa powered device for your car and an Input device to turn any speaker into an Alexa-enabled device. Long story short, Alexa is taking over the world and I am here for it.

Alexa makes my life easier. Especially during our hectic school day mornings.

So how exactly do I use Amazon’s Alexa in the morning?

Alarm

Alexa serves as my alarm clock. I have an Amazon Echo in my master bathroom and through the Alexa app I set a weekday alarm for 5:45am. Without her I would sleep my life away (not really, my three and five year old would eventually drag me out of bed).

Additionally, I have Echo Dots in both of my children’s bedrooms so I set an alarm for each of them. The alarms are necessary because Monday-Friday are the only days that my kids like to sleep in which is super convenient. Also, its is important to note that Alexa is a much more effective alarm than my screaming from the kitchen.

Calendar

Alexa gives you the ability to link your calendar. Currently, Alexa supports Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Microsoft Exchange (so pretty much most calendars). Once you link your calendar, you can ask Alexa to tell you what is on your calendar. You can check your calendar while you are chasing your daughter around trying to brush her hair. Win-win.

Announcements

When you have multiple Alexa enabled devices in your home, you can utilize them as your own personal PA system. If I am in the kitchen kitchen finishing breakfast, I can just tell Alexa to make an announcement that breakfast is done and it will broadcast to all of the devices online. It sure beats having to scream through the house or run upstairs to let them know

News

Every morning as I am getting breakfast, 2nd breakfast, and the before school snack ready for my kids, I ask Alexa to play my “flash briefing”. The Flash Briefing is a collection of news curated specifically for me. You have the ability to customize which news outlets you want to hear from. For me, some of my favorites include NPR, The Daily Skimm, The Wall Street Journal, and the local weather. It’s a great way to stay caught up with what is going in the world pretty effortlessly.

Reminders

Probably my very favorite way that we use Alexa in the mornings is by using Alexa to keep us on pace for getting ready. Here is how that works, I set reminders at designated times during the morning. At 7:30am Alexa announces that it is time for the kids to get dressed, at 7:45am she reminds my children to get their shoes on, and at 8:00am she reminds us to start walking to the bus stop. This has been a lifesaver! It is so easy to lose track of time as you are trying to get everyone ready and out the door. Having these reminders keeps us on pace with time and prevents us from being late. We are always the first one to the bus stop and Alexa deserves all of the credit.

Music

If we happen to have a few minutes before we need to leave for the bus stop, I ask Alexa to play us some music for an impromptu dance party. It’s a fun and easy way to kill some time and try to get some energy out of the kids before they go to school. I created a Before School Playlist just for this purpose.

Amazon’s Alexa is seriously my favorite gadget (even though it’s not necessarily one gadget). Not only do I love her, she is an awesome co-parent. My kids seem to listen to her more than myself most mornings. No shame here, I will take all the help I can get.

Have you used Alexa in the mornings? What skills do you utilize? I would love to hear! Leave a comment below.

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October 13, 2019

Best Productivity Books

5 Best Productivity Books

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Productivity and time management are areas that I’m always looking to improve. Time is the only resource that is equally available to everyone. We all have 24 hours each day, whether you are Oprah or a high school student. It’s the only equalizer that we have.

Getting the most output from these 24 hours has always been fascinating to me for this reason. How are some people able to accomplish so much and others nothing?

As a working mother of two, I read on this topic A LOT! Below is my list of the very best productivity books.

Atomic Habits

I love, love, love Atomic Habits by James Clear. So much that I’m going to try to fit it into every book list that I curate. Clear has an amazing story of perseverance and determination as a result of a tragic accident. It’s an excellent case study that the strategies that Clear has developed actually work. Through the book, he provides the science behind habits and how you can use this information in your favor to develop healthy, positive, and productive habits. Again, Clear talks about theory but breaks it down into very actionable steps that you can take.

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

I have not only read this book almost every year, but I have also encouraged hundreds of others to read this book over the course of my career, It is that good. The entire book is based on the notion that if the worse thing you do in a day is to eat a live frog, the rest of the day should be much better. Do your hard thing first is something that I coach myself and others on almost daily. Tracy also provides some incredibly helpful productivity tips and walks you through exercises that I still utilize years after initially reading this book.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey

I have read The 7 Habits no less than ten times so I would be remiss if I didn’t include it in my list of top productivity books. In this book, Stephen Covey gives you a framework to become more intentional with your time. He teaches how to zero in on what is really important in your life and making decisions with your time based on that. This is an absolute must-read.

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

This book was a game-changer for so many. Tim Ferris was really a trailblazer in the world of remote work and alternative working arrangements. In this excellent productivity book, Ferris teaches us that the traditional 9-5 mentality is antiquated and provides tips for how to be more productive in less time.

The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy

Chris Bailey has essentially dedicated his life’s work to the concept of productivity. He has completed countless experiments and studies on the topic of productivity and the results of those are cumulated n this book. I love books that not only teach you strategies but provide ways to put them into action. At the end of each chapter, Bailey provides exercises to reinforce the concepts and get you on your way to become more productive. This is one of the absolute best productivity books.

Everyone can benefit from improving their time management so it is important that you continue to work on this critical skill. I make it a habit of reading at least 1 productivity-related book per quarter to ensure I continue to stay focused and grow in this space.

What productivity books are we missing? what are your favorite productivity books? leave a comment below!

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August 12, 2019

Must Have Back to School Items for Working Moms

Back to school time is crazy, especially for working moms. Trying to juggle all the back to school tasks with your job can be crazy. Here are a few items that have helped me during back to school time.

Echo Dot

Back to school time means getting the kids (and yourself) back into a routine. The echo dot and Alexa can help! Using the Alexa app, you can create morning and night time routines. In the morning, Echo can serve as an alarm, remind your kids to brush their teeth, and get out of the door on time. In the evening, you Alexa to set a bedtime reminder and play relaxing music.

For example, on school mornings our Echo wakes us up and then sets a reminder about 30 minutes before we have to get out of the door. Mornings are frantic so this keeps me on track with time. In the evenings, a bedtime warning goes off about 30 minutes before bath time and starts playing lullabies. The Echo dot also announces when is bath time and bedtime. I swear I do some actual parenting on my own. 🙂

Buy an Echo Dot Here

Meal Prep Containers

I’n a big fan of meal prepping during the school year. Before your kids go back to school sit down and create a back to school meal plan. Create a list of lunches and load them into your Cozi meal planner. Every Sunday check out the week’s menu and meal prep for the week’s lunches. I hate packing lunches so spending an hour or two once a week versus spending time doing it every day is a no-brainer. These containers are reusable and surprisingly durable. I love that they are sturdy but you won’t be too upset if your kiddo loses one.

Check out the meal prep containers here.

Closet Organizer

Another back to school item you need is a closet organizer. Each week I get the kids outfits planned and put in the organizer. It makes morning run so much more smoothly. If your kids like to pick their own outfits, have them do this task each Sunday. I include everything in the organizer including the outfit, underwear, socks, and any accessories. No more scurrying around trying to find something when you are 10 minutes late.

Check out the closet organizer here.

Hall Tree

Another back to school item that will save you hours of time is a family “landing zone”. This super affordable hall tree is a great option. Have everyone leave their backpacks, coats, and shoes in one spot (instead of all over the house). Try to put it as close to the door as possible to make it more effective.

Check out the hall tree here.

Car Organizer

Back to school time also means you will likely spend much more time in your car. Dropping off kids at school, going to work, picking kids up, taking them to their activities, grabbing dinner, going home. Repeat. Take some time before all that craziness starts to organizer your car. I love having a trunk organizer to store all of our random things that we need to keep handy. I always keep baby wipes, a change of clothes, extra shoes, blanket, snacks, bottled water, a first-aid kit, sunscreen, and bug spray. It makes life so much easier having these items (and keep them from rolling around in our trunk).

There you have it. 5 must-have back to school items for working moms.

What do you have that you can’t live without? What brings some ease to your crazy life? Leave a comment below!

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June 10, 2019

Why Working Moms Need to Exercise

I always loved(ish) working out before I had kids. I was never a die-hard “gym head” but I went a solid 2-3 times a week. It was something that I enjoyed doing and it made me feel good.

Then I got pregnant. Morning sickness hit me like a Mac truck so I stopped working out completely. Fast forward five years (and two kids) later and here I was completely out of shape and forty pounds heavier. My active five-year-old and four-year-old left me completely exhausted on most days. I was always tired and just didn’t feel like myself. I knew something had to give.

On a whim, I signed up for a gym membership and started working out 3-4 days a week. And you know what? I felt better almost immediately. I have more energy, get more accomplished, and am generally happier than I was just a few months ago. My only regret is not doing this much sooner.

Being a working mom is incredibly hard. Finding time for anything is insanely difficult, let alone something “for yourself.” But in fact, investing time to workout is actually one of the greatest gifts you can give not only yourself but everyone around here.

Here is why all working moms should find time for exercise.

Energy

After working all day and then coming home to household responsibilities, I didn’t have much energy left for anything else. What killed me most is not having the energy to keep up with my kids. I always wanted to be an active mom and one that played a lot with my kids. I found that was becoming increasingly difficult to do.

Once I started working out more, I found myself naturally having more energy. I was able to keep up with them much more easily. I didn’t dread going on walks with them after work, but now I look forward to it. In addition, I’m finding it much easier to keep up with housework and have more energy for work.

The Old Me

Mothers are selfless creatures and we give so much of ourselves to everyone else. Sooooo much of ourselves. You give so much that sometimes you feel that you don’t even know who you are anymore. For me, working out is an activity that reminds me of my old self. It reminds me that I was a person before I had my children and I will be a person after they don’t need me anymore.

Mental Well-Being

I’m fortunate to be a pretty even-keel person. Even so, I have noticed a marked improvement in my overall mood since working out more regularly. I am generally more happy, relaxed, rested, and stress-free. The link between exercise and mood is strong. In fact, you get an increase in mood from just five minutes of moderate exercise! Regular exercise also improves long-term depression and anxiety. This is yet another way that exercise not only benefits you but those around you.

Healthy You & Healthy Family

It is pretty obvious that regular exercise is healthy for you. Exercise improves cardiovascular health, reduces the risk of diabetes, improves muscle mass and bone density, lowers the risk of chronic disease. So the benefits to you are pretty obvious. However, working moms who work out also improve the health of your family. Your kids adore you and want to be just like you. Do you want them to exercise and make healthy choices? Start by exercising and making healthy choices yourself. They will start to see that taking care of yourself and working out is just what you do. You can also find ways to stay active and workout as a family.

Daddy Time.

When I’m around my kids, I am it. I am the one they come to, I am the one that they crawl on, I am the one that they cry too and hug on. My husband gets lost in the mix. However, taking that time to myself and going to the gym causes him to step up and spend more one-on-one time with the kids. When I first starting leaving for the gym, my kids would sob hysterically. Now, after a few months they actually look forward to having “dad time”. I love seeing them bond and make special memories, which would otherwise not be possible if I were home. Spending time away gives your kids a chance to bond with their father/mother/caregiver/etc.

Self Esteem

Let’s face it, growing tiny humans in your body, birthing tiny humans, feeding tiny humans, and nurturing tiny humans takes a toll on your body. Things can get pretty rough and you can easily feel pretty bad about yourself. Especially when you see celebrities in bikinis 3 days after popping out a baby. Every body is beautiful , especially a body that brought life into this world. That doesn’t mean that sometimes you feel a little insecure. Working out can help you gain more confidence and improve your self-esteem, which is never a bad thing.

Finding time to exercise is not selfish. You are not taking time away from your kids and family. In fact, you are actually creating a better, healthier, and more energetic you to give.

Every time you exercise, you are giving a gift to you and your loved ones. You are making an investment in yourself and your family and you will see the returns on that investment for years to come.

What are your reasons for working out? What are your obstacles and challenges from getting exercise? what other benefits have you experienced? leave a comment!

January 27, 2019

Maximize Productivity When You Work from Home

8 Tips to Maximize Productivity When You Work From Home

Working from home has its advantages. You couldn’t ask for a better commute, you don’t have to worry about packing a lunch, you can get housework done between conference calls, and you save money on commute related expenses.

While working from home is proving itself to be the optimal working arrangement for employees and employers, it does pose challenges. It can be difficult to stay focused when you have distractions so close by.

{ Check out how to work from home when with kids! }

Here are 8 tips to maximize your productivity when you work from home.

Start Early

It can be really challenging to get your day started when you work from home. The best thing you can do is get your day started as early as possible. The time spent working before others are up and running is invaluable. That distraction-free time is sacred and should be taken advantage of. It also helps you get motivated and started with your day rather than laying in bed a little too long.

Shower & Get Dressed

I always laugh when people say that they get dressed in full business attire when they work from home. My first thought is always, “Sure you do, Brenda”. I know I am not about to put on a dress and hose to sit at my kitchen table all day. Nope. However, there are some real benefits from getting up, showering, and putting yourself together a bit before starting your day (even if it is just putting on your dress sweat pants rather than your sleep sweatpants). Getting yourself ready shifts your mindset, improves your confidence, and provides motivation for the day.

Have a Plan

Everyone regardless of where they work should spend the first twenty minutes planning their day and prioritizing what needs to get done. This is especially true if you are working from home. It is too easy to get distracted so it is essential that you have a solid and detailed plan for the day.

For me, I have to write things down with a pen and paper. Every morning, the very first thing I do is look at my calendar and write down what tasks I must get done ranked in priority. I then block time out on my calendar to complete those items. Having a plan and sticking to it will keep you productive while working from home.

Identify a Dedicated Workspace

It’s important that you have a dedicated space for work. This space should be comfortable, distraction-free If you have a home office, great. If you don’t have a home office you may need to get creative. Guest rooms work great, dens, dining rooms, or even the basement. I have even had coworkers set up their office space in their garage. It doesn’t matter where the workspace is as long as it is comfortable for you and limits distractions.

Eliminate Distractions

Speaking of distractions, eliminate them as much as possible. There is nothing worse than sitting on a conference call and the doorbell rings that set off mass chaos inside your home with doorbells ringing, dogs barking, kids running to the door. We have all been there. If you are going to be important phone calls, put a note on the doorbell to not ring it. Train your dogs and kids to be as silent as possible when you are working. If noises are inevitable invest in a white noise machine or noise-canceling headphones for your office. It provides some background noise and will hopefully drown out the sounds of your kids screaming at each other in the other room.

Eat Healthy

Working from home provides endless opportunities to snack. For some, it is easier to eat healthy at home because they have fresh fruits and veggies available. For me, it is too easy to eat those fresh fruits and veggies along with a tub of hummus and pita bread. You will have to be disciplined when it comes to snacking. Try keeping a set “lunch” time that you eat and prepare your meals as you would if you were going into the office. Limit your time in the kitchen and minimize unhealthy snacks in the home.

Pomodoro It Up

Pomodoro is a time management technique developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into 25-minute intervals. In between, you take a short five-minute break. This technique works wonders for me. I am so focused because I know I only have 25 minutes to complete a task. I find myself busting ass during these intervals. Afterward, I am able to take a quick break and throw a load of laundry in, take a quick walk, or just sit on my couch completely guilt-free. Read more about the Pomodoro technique here.

Hold Regular Hours

It can be tempting when you work from home to blend work hours and home hours. I know when I am working from home it easy to keep your computer up and running throughout the night. This is not a good idea because it can lead to burning out pretty quickly. Setting and adhering to standard work hours helps you avoid this. Try to stick to the same work schedule and respect those boundaries. Limit work during personal time and limit personal time during your work hours.

Working from home is a fantastic solution for many people. You just have to be strategic and intentional to maximize your effectiveness. What is your work from home strategy? What techniques have you found that help you be more productive when you work from home? Leave a comment below!

Like this post? Check out Darling CEO’s Work from Home Pinterest page for more relevant tips and tricks.

5 Things Every Working Mom Should Do Each Week

I want to back to my twenty-five-year-old self and slap her for ever thinking she was busy. If being busy means that I had to wake up twenty minutes earlier to beat traffic on the way to spin class. Then yea, I was busy. Being a working mom is another-level busy. You are literally always on, from the moment that you wake up until you finally get to crawl into bed. However, I have picked up on a few strategies over the years that help me calm some of the chaos and bring order to my working mom life. Here are five things that I do every Sunday to help ensure a successful week.

#1 Grocery Shop– I used to hate going grocery shopping on the weekends because it is always crazy. That was until our grocery store started offering online ordering and curbside delivery. I go to the app, add everything to the cart, and when it is ready they bring it right out to my car. Lazy? Maybe. Convenient? Absolutely! I highly recommend that you utilize this service if it is available at your grocery store. Not only has it helped me save time and patience (not having to bring two toddlers into the grocery store), but it has cut our grocery bill down as we;;. It eliminates a lot of duplicative items and impulse purchases. A win for the working mom!

#2 Meal Prep– I have recently started meal prepping and it is a game changer. I’m not as hardcore as others when it comes to meal prepping, but the little bit that I do really helps the week run much smoother. As soon as I get home from the grocery store, I wash, dry, and chop all of the produce. I also portion out some of the fruits and veggies for snacks and lunches for the week. I also take some time and throw some chicken in the Instant Pot and boil a dozen eggs. Having these items ready and handy keep us eating healthy in a hurry! These containers are great for meal prepping and getting lunches portioned out for the week. I also have five baskets (one for each work week-day) and I put all of the non-perishable ingredients and printed out recipes in them for the week’s dinners. When it is time to cook, I just pull out the basket and am ready to go. I’m not a very good cook so this has helped keep me organized and prepared for busy weeknight meals.

#3 Outfit Prep– Another working mom saving grace is outfit prep. Each Sunday I lay out everyone’s outfits for the week, including mine. For myself, I lay out each outfit with accompanying shoes, accessories, and undergarments. For the kids, I have the outfit, undergarments, socks, and shoes if different than their ordinary wear shoes. I make sure that everything is pressed and ready to go for those hectic mornings. I could not believe how much stress this has taken off of me. You never realize how much time and energy is spent deciding what to wear and getting the outfit together until you don’t have to do it anymore. It is a lifesaver with the kids because the clothes are organized by day (these hanging organizers work great!) so they just go to the day, pull out their clothes, and get dressed. Independent kids are magical to a busy working mom.

#4 Plan & Schedule– Spend some time on Sunday reviewing yours and your family’s calendar for the upcoming week. Make sure that you have a plan for getting the kids to and from school and activities and that any work/social outings are worked out. I love the Cozi app for coordinating schedules and communicating upcoming events with the family. Try the Cozi Family Organizer today. It’s FREE! I also suggest building out a schedule for the entire week, down to the hour. Having this on paper (or electronically) will give you control over the week and help ease unnecessary stress. Make sure to carve out time for things think exercise and date nights with the hubby. Having time allocated for these activities ensures that you can partake guilt free and actually relax, which can be difficult for working moms to do.

#5 Take Care of Any Tasks– Try to take care of any task or errand that could potentially come up throughout the upcoming week. Need to get gas? Buy a birthday gift for next Saturday’s birthday party? Those small tasks creep up and not only cause undue stress but they can derail your best-laid plans. You will feel much better going into the week with things already checked off your to-do list. Planning equals happiness!