Moving my businesses forward, managing online school for two young boys, and trying to get all the things done in recent months was tough. The juggle is real for working mamas, whether you’re an entrepreneur or employee. And, with so many camps getting canceled, this summer is still a juggle. I’m reminded daily about how important it is to be intentional. I’m sharing practical tips on how to be intentional this summer as a working mom and maximize your time.
Being intentional takes effort
Being intentional takes work (sometimes a lot of work) and definitely takes practice. Along the way, it could also require a mindset shift to rethink how you look at and spend your time. Let’s dive into how to make some changes! I want to give you ideas on maximizing your work time so you have more time for fun.
You’re not alone
The idea of being intentional comes up regularly in conversation. Whether it was in the interviews I did for the books or when I’m interviewed for a podcast or article, the idea of how to be intentional with your time as a working mom is often part of the conversation. I even had this conversation last night for an interview I did. We can’t simply wait for things to change. We must take action to change them. And remember that small changes have a big impact over time.
Work on top priorities first
Who doesn’t have a long to-do list? It’s the reality of working motherhood! I get that making the long list go away feels good. It’s a relief mentally. You might even feel the weight lifted from your shoulders. Here’s the challenge with that approach: leaving your most important tasks for later makes them harder. It can also make you feel more overwhelmed because you haven’t met your goals for the day or week. Those priorities will still be staring at you from your to-do list.
Instead of crossing off a lot of small tasks on my to do list, I work on the things that are really important first. Chances are I can fit in the smaller things on the to-do list in the fringes of my time. It requires that I be as intentional with my fringe time as I am with my designated work time. That change alone can help you be more intentional with your time and help you get things done this summer.
Plan your week and days
What has been most beneficial in how I use my time is planning my week and days. I take 15-20 minutes on Sunday to plan my week, setting goals and priorities. And thinking through the flow for the week. And then each night I plan for the next day, which takes 10-15 minutes. I can see what I have going on and ensure I maximize my time. Instead of only reacting to things throughout my day, I proactively schedule time.
I consider client deadlines and think about what I want to do to build business (essentially working on and not in my business). I look at what events I’m attending (in-person or online) and consider how that impacts my week and daily workflow. That way, when things come up, I know how to reprioritize. Notice I didn’t say if because things always come up as a working mom.
Look at how you work
You’ve probably heard about batching in blogs and article about productivity and time management. I, too, write about batching. And I use batching in a normal school year or when my boys are in camps. Batching is where you do like things together because it takes a lot of mental energy to switch between types of tasks and ultimately wastes time — a lot of time — long-term.
If you have long stretches of time when you can work, batching is an excellent option for maximizing that time. Work on your PowerPoint projects all in one go. Respond to email in bulk. Do all your research in one block of time. You get the idea. You’re in the mindset for each of these tasks and you find a groove. Make sure you schedule time to dedicate to batching, though, or your schedule might fill up with meetings instead of finding dedicated time to get work done.
Many of us right now can’t do batching, me included. To deal with interruptions to work while managing online school for my boys and in the summertime, I use the Pomodoro technique. This is where you work for 25 minutes and then “rest” for 5 minutes. In those 5 minutes, I might post and engage with my social media communities. I can get personal tasks done too (e.g., load the dishwasher in two 5-minute “breaks”).
If you realize you need to dig more into how you work, read more on my blog about Productivity Methods for Working Moms.
Use your calendar
I get asked all the time about tools and new resources. My most consistent tool is my calendar. If it’s not on my calendar, it’s likely not going to happen. I mark off the time on my calendar, so that I don’t miss something important. This includes the specific fun activities that the boys and I talked about doing. It also means I regularly get time with my hubby where we can connect while dealing with the juggle.
Remember that if you’re effectively using your calendar, your schedule won’t be full of only meetings. You’ll have dedicated work time and time for the other meaningful things in your life. The idea is to have your calendar reflect your priorities. Does your calendar do that? If not, it’s something you can start today. Start blocking off the work time, the fun time, the time for things that matter in your life. Instead of making all the changes for the year now, focus on making this change for the summer months. Start small and then let it become a habit.
Create time for self-care
Even if you’re working on being more intentional, you might skip self-care. Self-care is incredibly important to working moms, especially right now. We need to fill our cups to be at our best in all areas of our lives. Need help on finding time for this? I recently shared tips on creating more time for self-care, especially during this busy time. You’re juggling a lot, so make sure you’re taking time for your needs. And, like with other things I mention, put this on your calendar too, whatever self-care means to you.
Focus on experience and fun
Years ago we realized that our boys enjoy experiences more than they do most stuff. And, with less stuff around, I spend less time organizing and tidying up. Don’t get me wrong, we haven’t taken a minimalist approach and we still have plenty of stuff, but we’re intentional with new stuff we buy and get rid of what doesn’t serve us.
Our boys love to explore, so we head to nearby trails and state parks that are a short drive away. Our young boys are early risers, so we take advantage of this in warmer months. We’re up, have eaten something light, gone for a hike, and had a more substantial breakfast while most people are still in their PJs.
We do pool time, ride bikes (more like I walk while my hubby and kids ride bicycles), play cards and board games, and bake. We set aside the time on the calendar to make this all happen. It might be a shift to start planning, but it makes it more likely to happen.
Now that you’ve got tips on how to be intentional with your time this summer as a working mom, what will you change up? How can I help? Have a tip to share? We love to hear about them too!
Want to read more practical tips to help you maximize your time as a working mom, whether during the summer or the rest of the school year? Check out the award-winning Mompowerment Guide to Work-life Balance (affiliate link), available on Amazon.
