Happy Little moments
12 Habits of Productive Moms
Ever find yourself staring at the endless to-do list, wondering how other productive moms seem to manage it all? As a mom, I’ve been there—more times than I can count. This constant juggling act led me to dive into the secrets of highly productive moms. And here’s the kicker: I’m not naturally an organized person! But through research and trial and error, I’ve learned a few key habits that make all the difference.
Now, as a parent, I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to productivity. I have near obsession with figuring out how to be as efficient as possible, make as large an impact as I can, and still have time to be present with my kids. It’s a tall order, but I love every minute of it.
How can you become a productive mom?
How do you become a highly productive mom even if you’re not naturally Type A? The answer lies primarily in your day-to-day habits. Our habits say so much about our lives, about how we raise our children and the amount of impact we can make on all those around us. The world is calling you to be who you were created to be. So let’s work to get our dreams done.
Highly productive moms plan their lives ahead of time so they don’t have any surprises they can’t plan around. They are also great at setting boundaries and know when to say no because often saying yes will drain her energy or hinder time with family. The productive mom is good at delegating tasks so that all the things get done around the house and at work. She wakes up earlier than her kids so she can either get a jump on the day or is able to sit in silence for a moment before the chaos begins.
She is good at staying organized and batches her tasks so she can get more done. She also makes time for her family and prioritizes self-care.
Of course, no mother is perfect nor can do ALL of these things ALL of the time. The point of this list is to empower you with ideas about what you can do to be more productive as a mom. You don’t have to do all of these, and you can even hate some of them. But when I manage to implement these 12 habits into my life, everything goes much more smoothly!
Remember, no one thing will be the ultimate solution, but try some of these ideas out see what fits in your life.
There’s so much to talk about in building productive habits, so let’s dive in!
12 Habits of Productive Moms
1). Wake-up Early. Not everyone will like this one, and you don’t have to! However, I love getting up before my kids to do my workouts, reading, journaling, or sometimes even blogging before anyone is awake in our house. This is my superpower so I have to share it here. I love having a morning routine, and I love sipping my coffee in silence. Once the kids are awake, there’s no silence until the kids are asleep, so I do what I can for me in the mornings.
2). Plan Ahead. Try planning your week on Sunday evenings before going to bed. This gives you a jump start on all the things you need to accomplish for the week. Personally, if I plan my week on Monday morning, I lose so much of the day to just figuring out what to do next. Try doing this before bed on Sundays and see how much easier it is to accomplish all you need to during the week.
3). Stay Organized. Y’all, I’ll admit, I struggle staying organized. That is why I write about it. Because the more immerse myself in it, the better I get at it. I’ve come a long way. You can, too, even if you’re not a naturally organized person.
Having a place for everything, reducing clutter, and keeping an up-to-date schedule and routine goes a long way to keeping things in order. I’ll admit, it’s difficult to always have a tidy house with kids. I’m doing my best – I’m sure you are, too. Some chaos will always be part of the process of raising kids. But working on your organizational skills will take you far in being a more productive mom.
4). Create Systems. Speaking of organization, I have come to love a good system. What is a system? It’s simply creating a process of doing repetitive tasks the same way every time. For example, having a routine is type of system. Or a system could be how you unload the dishwasher (i.e. glasses first, then plates, then silverware, and then all the rest). Creating systems in your household is a game-changer in simplifying all of the repeatable tasks. Start paying attention to all of the repetitive tasks you do around the house, and create a process that you follow every time you do the task.
5). Delegate tasks. The most productive people don’t do everything themselves. They ask for assistance or hire help when they need it most. I often ask my husband for help around the house. I also ask my kids to help me with household chores, too. I’m blessed that my husband tries to pitch in. My kids are usually a bit less willing, but I can get them to help me do chores around the house with some encouragement.
6). Batch Tasks. I recently wrote a blog post on Batch Tasks that you can find HERE. I’m currently batch tasking by writing this blog, as it’s the third one I’ve written today. Batching your tasks into a block in your schedule makes you much more productive, as it helps you eliminate all the other distractions you might find around the house, doing various unrelated tasks throughout the day. Batch tasking can be doing all the laundry in one day and folding it all in one go. Or it can be prepping all your meals for the week at once. It’s like magic in terms of productivity.
7). You’re Never Going to Feel Like It. This is a phrase I often repeat to myself when I have a sink full of dishes or ten piles of laundry to get through. I won’t ever feel like it so I need to do it NOW. This is really life-changing because you stop telling yourself, I’ll feel like doing it later. No, you won’t. So stop procrastinating. (I have to tell myself that, too!). It may not stop procrastination altogether, but this technique will often help you tackle things you don’t want to do.
Self-Care and productivity
8). Set Boundaries. Learning when to say “no” can be difficult for a lot of people, but it’s an important skill to master as a mom. Unfortunately, we don’t have endless energy, so we must prioritize how we spend our time—or we’ll run ourselves ragged. Practice saying “no” when you know something will drain you. Saying “no” is like a muscle – it will take some practice but it will get stronger. Over time, you’ll get used to setting boundaries and you’ll feel much better for it!
9). Make time for Self-Care. Finding the time to take care of yourself as a busy mom is difficult, but it’s important to your health and mental well-being. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself all of the time. Find a moment here or there to do something for you. That may be reading a book or going to the spa, but make time as often as possible to prioritize yourself.
10). Make time for family and friends. It’s important to schedule time to be with your family and your friends. You still need to nurture those relationships, even if you’re busy. There will be seasons in your life when you’ll be able to spend more time with these people than now, but make sure to prioritize others as much as you can without depleting yourself.
11). Eliminate your Distractions. Today, we have so many distractions—social media, phone calls, texts, mail, kids, etc. While writing this post, I’ve probably looked at my phone at least five times. We’re all distracted all the time. If you really need to get something done, put the phone in another room. (I’m really saying this to myself). Put the electronics away, be present, and focus on what needs to get done.
12). Embrace imperfection. I know I wrote a lot of great advice that many people will hate. None of us can do ALL of these things ALL of the time. But we can make these things our default settings by practicing them and working to make them habits. It’s all about creating balance in your life. Remember, there will be seasons when you may have to let the house go for a while. There may be seasons when things are just going to pile on. Give yourself grace in those moments, and take the time to be present with your kids, even if the house isn’t perfectly clean and organized.
Conclusion
Being a productive mom isn’t about having it all together every minute of the day—it’s about finding balance, embracing what works for you, and giving yourself grace when things don’t go as planned. The habits we build over time, like planning ahead, delegating tasks, and taking time for self-care, are tools that help us manage the chaos while still finding moments of joy and connection with our families. And let’s face it, productivity looks different for every mom, so it’s important to find your own rhythm that aligns with your values and priorities.
Remember, no mom is perfect, and there will always be days where things feel a little (or a lot) off. But by incorporating even a few of these habits, you’ll create more space in your day for what really matters—those moments of love and joy with your family. So, give yourself permission to try, adapt, and celebrate the small wins, because you’re doing an incredible job at the end of the day!
