How people work is one of the frequent topics in my 1:1 strategy sessions with clients. As more professionals have shifted to working from home, they might need to rethink how they work, especially if trying to homeschool as well. I share three productivity methods for working moms with a few hints for each. See which of these methods works for you or do some combination.
This is the beauty of productivity; you can make it what you want and need. The idea is to empower you to think through how to make the most of your time. And, let’s face it, productivity is integral to work-life balance.
Batching
Batching or time blocking is what I heard about most often as a productivity method in the more than 110 interviews I did with professional working moms. This productivity method is based on doing like things together, essentially in one batch. You do all the research in a block, respond to email in a specific period, write PowerPoints in one big batch, etc. You get the idea.
Why use this method? The idea behind it is that you are better able to hit your groove. You don’t waste mental energy because of switching back and forth between tasks. We all expend small amounts of mental energy as we switch back and forth between types of tasks which adds up over a week, month, and year. And you likely building on momentum and skill set over the course of your work time.
Hints: Block time on your calendar to best utilize your time. Let people know when you’re doing whichever kind of tasks. That definitely goes for when you’re returning phone calls or emails, so they don’t think you didn’t get their communication and start bugging you. I share a bit more in my post on my productivity and time management approach.
Pomodoro Technique
A different productivity method I sometimes use is the Pomodoro technique. A few of the women I interviewed use this productivity method. The premise of this approach to working smarter is that you work 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. After three to four 25-minute sessions, you take a longer break of 15+ minutes.
Why use this method? This is a great approach to productivity when your days are naturally choppy. That might be the case one random day because of what you have lined up or it could be because you have kids at home and are trying to work. And, let’s face it, not everyone can stay focused for hours on end. Consider this if you know you need to break up your day.
Hints: Use those 5- minute or 15-minute breaks wisely. You want to be as strategic with that “downtime” as you are with your dedicate 25-minute work time. For example, I can leave a voicemail for someone when I know he/she isn’t available to chat during the 5-minute window. I can even do something like load or unload the dishwasher in two to three 5-minute sessions if I need to mix in personal chores into my day. Or it can be when I post on social media. I set specific goals and boundaries to my time, so that I know what I will and won’t do in those small windows.
Getting Things Done (GTD)
You’ve got a lot going on and you need to get it on paper and then you start breaking down those things into smaller tasks. You do a bit of organizing to make sure you’re efficient and you’re doing the Getting Things Done version of productivity. OK, so in reality I use a bit of this in my daily approach because I suggest you break down all big tasks into smaller bites. Truthfully, I don’t know how to make things happen without that step and I love my to-do list. And it helps you figure out your to dos versus what you can/should delegate.
Why use this method? This is great for working moms who are going in a lot of directions. It’s also really helpful when you’re overwhelmed by everything. This works nicely with batching or Pomodoro technique or both. And, finally, consider that you use the mental space for thinking instead of for trying to keep everything straight.
Hints: Breaking things down is extremely important with this method and so is planning (more on this below). Don’t forget to prioritize and then reprioritize when (it’s not if, it’s when) you get new information from your team/manager/client as circumstances change with a project.
You can use more than one productivity method in a day
Your circumstances throughout your day can change, especially as we have quickly shifted to a work-from-home model in many companies. With that in mind, you might find it helpful to use more than one productivity method in a day. You’re not locked into one productivity method for the day, so use what works for you at the moment you’re in. Or your needs may shift during the duration of a project.
For example, I use Get it done or Batching when I wake up early before the rest of the house is awake. And then I shift to the Pomodoro technique because I’m unexpectedly trying to homeschool while taking getting work done.
Prep the night before
Whatever your productivity method, consider doing some prep time the night before. Prep time shouldn’t take too long. I’m talking 10-15 minutes to plan out your next day. And you can prep for the week on Sunday for about 15-20 minutes. Sure, you’ll take more time on Sunday, but it’s totally worth it. And that way you can always see if you need to change from one productivity method to another as your week is starting instead of trying to change gears in the middle of everything.
5 Tips to help with your overall productivity:
Now that I’ve shared a few productivity methods for working moms to consider, let me give you some ideas on what will help you work smarter, regardless of the approach you choose.
- Don’t only consider the productivity side of things. You must consider time management and staying on task. These three areas work together to help you be the most efficient and intentional with your time.
- Be consistent yet flexible. Figure out what works for your circumstances. As I mentioned above, that might be more than one approach in a day. Be open to trying new things because they might help you work smarter in a big way. Our circumstances change, so it’s OK to make changes because of that in how you work.
- Use what works for your needs. Your team, manager, significant other, or best friend don’t have to use whatever method you’re using and that’s OK. Make sure your approach fits your needs as they change. And as a working mom, especially if you’re unexpectedly working from home, your needs likely change over time.
- Consider your peak productivity. It’s not just how you work but when you are at your best. Make sure you make the most of this peak productivity time as well. Not sure of your peak productivity? Take a day or two and block out your calendar so that you don’t have any meetings. See when you naturally hit your rhythm and that is likely your peak productivity.
- Make sure your calendar reflects your priorities. This was a great perspective from Katie Krimitsos of Women’s Meditation Network on an interview she did on another podcast. If you want to make sure that specific things happen (e.g., working out, volunteering at your child’s school, date night, self-care, etc.), put them on your calendar. How can you make sure you have enough time if you’re not allotting a specific time for that activity?
What productivity method do you use? What do you do to make the most of your time? What have you read today that will change how you work?
Realizing you need more help with working smarter? Schedule a 1:1 balance tune-up and we can brainstorm on ways to work smarter in your specific situation. You’d be surprised about what we can get done in 20 minutes dedicated to your needs. www.mompowerment.com/20minutestrategy.com.
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