Are you a stay-at-home mom looking to maximize your productivity each day? This tested and approved stay-at-home mom schedule will help you make more time for yourself, your family, and all the tasks and chores you want to complete.
I always think it’s funny when people say things like, “Being a stay-at-home mom is easy.” Little do they know, our day is jam-packed with tasks for ourselves, the kids, our husbands, and our house.
Being a stay-at-home mom is a 24/7 duty, and there are always tasks that need to be done. Sometimes I feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything on my to-do list. This is why having a structured daily schedule is so important.
If I dilly-dally through the day or do not go by my schedule, the anxiety and stress set in. I don’t feel fulfilled at the end of the day, and the tasks pile up.
Time blocking my week changed everything! I can now set aside plenty of time for myself, have more than enough time to have quality family time, get the chores and errands done in a timely manner, and feel so fulfilled at the end of the day. In this post, I will show you how to do the same!
Whether you have an infant, toddler, or school-aged child, I have provided sample schedules you can use and tweak to fit your lifestyle and nap times.
This Post Is All About A Stay-At-Home Mom Schedule For Maximum Productivity
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Why Is A Routine Essential For You And The Kids?
A daily routine is so essential to the well-being of you and your children for many reasons.
As a mother having a daily schedule will help you manage your time more wisely, enabling you to be more productive throughout the day. When you are able to complete the daily goals and tasks you have set out for yourself, you will feel less stress and more feelings of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Having a daily routine is just as important for your little ones. Young children thrive on stability and predictability. A routine provides a sense of structure and security, helping children feel more secure and confident in their environment. It creates a consistent pattern of daily activities, such as mealtimes, nap times, and playtime, which children can rely on and anticipate.
Establishing a consistent routine also promotes healthy sleep patterns for both you and your children. Regular bedtimes and wake-up times help regulate the body’s internal clock, making it easier for everyone to get the rest they need.
Having a set schedule will also ensure you are able to spend quality time together. When specific times are dedicated to activities like shared meals, playtime, and storytime, you are creating much-needed bonding time. Which is the reason we decided to stay home in the first place, right?
Time Blocking Your Week
Using the time blocking method is an easy and effective way to schedule your week to ensure maximum productivity. The time blocking strategy is known to improve focus, better time management, and increased productivity, which is why it is perfect for a stay-at-home mom schedule. This way of scheduling your day is also helpful for any working mom as well.
Time blocking is like a more detailed to-do list with a set daily action plan that is color coded.
Every Sunday evening, after I put my daughter to bed, I like to sit down and schedule my week ahead of time. This way, I will be ready on Monday morning with the whole week planned. Planning ahead of time will take out any guesswork or trying to remember all the tasks I need to get done.
This form of scheduling consists of carving out specific blocks of time in your day to complete a task. While you are in that block of time, you will focus on the tasks at hand, not getting sidetracked by other chores or work that needs to be done. (the needs of your children are an exception)
For a step-by-step guide and examples on how to learn time blocking, check out this post.
Why You Should Wake Up Early
Do you ever feel like you don’t have any time in your day for yourself? Or feel like as soon as you get up, your day is just go-go-go?
Waking up early in the morning is essential to your stay-at-home mom schedule. Waking up an hour before your little ones will give you time for yourself. Using this time for self-care will improve your mood throughout the day. This, in turn, will give you more drive and energy to complete your daily tasks and ensure you will be in a mental space to be in the present moment when spending time with your family.
Upon waking up, get in the habit of brushing your teeth, washing your face, and getting dressed for the day. This way, you’re ready to go for the day.
Afterward, this is the perfect time to meditate, journal, work out, stretch, or read a book with your morning coffee. Getting yourself into a good mindset first thing in the morning will increase your productivity throughout the day. It is also incredibly helpful for your mental health.
Your Night Routine
Creating a nightly routine for yourself is also just as important. An hour or 2 before your set bedtime is when you want to start your routine. Having a set night routine will signal to your brain that your day is complete.
This routine will consist of things that take your mind off all your daily tasks.
For example: start off with an activity like taking a long warm bath with a face mask while listening to your favorite calming music, watching your favorite show, or spending time with your spouse. Then brush your teeth, wash your face, set a cup of water next to your bed for the morning, and pick out an outfit for the next day. Aim to go to bed by 10–11 PM each night.
In doing this, you will be setting yourself up for success the next day.
What My Stay-At-Home Mom Schedule Looks Like With A Toddler
This is a sample schedule of what my stay-at-home mom routine looks like on a typical day with my 1 1/2-year-old. You will adjust your schedule to work with your’s and your child’s needs and nap schedules. The most important takeaway is blocking out time frames for specific tasks or activities.
5:30 AM – 6:30 AM: Wake up, meditate, have coffee while I gratitude journal, and read my daily affirmations.
6:30 AM – 9 AM: My daughter wakes up, and we lounge for about 30 minutes before I start breakfast time for the family. While I cook breakfast, she will usually play with her dad or toys in the living room. Then I get us both dressed, brush our teeth, and do our hair.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: My daughter has free play while I throw in a load of laundry, do the dishes, and tidy up the kitchen/ dining area.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: We go to a park or go out for a walk/ do some exploring. On certain days we also have a mommy and me music class or a mommy and me “gym” class. When we get home, she will have a snack.
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Nap time for my daughter while I blog. Nap time is the best time for any task that needs to be uninterrupted. I also make sure to put down my phone during this time so I can really focus on my work.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: My daughter will indulge in some independent play while I make us both lunch and switch the load of laundry.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: We have 1 on 1 playtime together. During this time, I try to come up with some fun educational activities, such as different types of sensory play or arts and crafts. Otherwise, we enjoy playing outside in the backyard.
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM: During this time, we run errands if needed or do other household chores. Errands would include things like going to the grocery store, dropping off Amazon returns, going to the bank, getting a car wash, etc.
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: I cook dinner while my husband plays with our daughter, then we sit down to eat together.
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM: We start my daughter’s bedtime routine, which consists of a bath, getting in pajamas, brushing her teeth, having a little play time, reading a few books then bedtime.
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Once my daughter is asleep, I will complete any leftover tasks of the day, such as folding the laundry and doing some extra work on the blog.
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: I’ll watch a show with my hubby, then wash my face, brush my teeth, and put a cup of water next to my bed for the morning. However, some nights I do end up going to bed at 11 because it’s easy to get caught up on a good show or enjoy the extra no-kid time.
Sample Schedule For A Stay-At-Home Mom With School-Aged Kids
This is a loose sample of a stay-at-home mom schedule with elementary-aged children. Times will change according to the time your child’s school starts and ends, as well as different after-school activities your little ones are enrolled in, especially if you have more than one child.
5:30 AM – 6:30 AM: Wake up, brush your teeth/ get ready for the day, then choose a form of self-care activities that resonates with you, such as meditating, journaling, or reading.
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM: Kids wake up, get your littles ready for school, then cook and eat breakfast with the family.
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM: School drop off.
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Use this time to get any important work done if you have a side job. This is also the perfect time to head to the gym, a yoga class, pilates, or any other type of exercise you may enjoy.
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: This time is perfect for doing your household chores or any errands that need to be done.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Whip yourself up some lunch and have some relaxation and recharge time.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Complete any other work-related tasks, or if you have a hobby you enjoy, this is the perfect time to work on it.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: School pick up.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Spend quality time with your little ones.
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM: After-school activities such as sports, tutoring, music lessons, homework, etc.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Make dinner and have some family time. If the children have not finished homework, they can work on it while you prepare dinner.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Start the kid’s nighttime routine to get ready for bed.
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Family time or winding down playtime.
More Tips For Success
- If you have older kids (3 years of age to elementary aged) that do not take naps anymore, I highly suggest carving out time for them to have quiet time. During this time, they can do quiet activities like screen time or reading in their room. Quiet time is very beneficial to them and will give you time to get tasks done that need to be uninterrupted.
- If you have a hard time waking up in the morning, purchasing a Hatch Restore is a game changer! It mimics a sunrise which will naturally wake you up instead of a blaring alarm.
- Do smaller quick tasks at the beginning of the day. This will make you feel more accomplished throughout the day.
- Try to not go on social media until later in the day. Staying off your phone first thing in the morning will keep your mindset in a positive place. Social media can be very taxing on your mental health. Also, put down the phone during 1 on 1 time with your littles.
- Overestimate your blocks of time for each task. This way, you are not rushing or stressing yourself out.
- Having a meal plan for each week can help you save money as well as save you time trying to think about what you and the family will eat each day.
Final Thoughts
Using time blocking to create your stay-at-home mom schedule will maximize your time throughout the day. This way you will have enough time to complete everything you need to do each day and creating much-needed time with your family.
As mothers, we are the gears that keep the household going, and to do so, it is important to take care of yourself each day so that you can be fully present for your family. Applying this type of time-blocking schedule to your day will have you feeling so accomplished and productive at the end of the day, and that is the best feeling of all!
This Post Was All About Creating A Stay-At-Home Mom Schedule
Other Posts You Might Like:
17 Simple Daily Habits Of A Happy Mom
6 Most Effective Methods To Rediscover Yourself After Motherhood
7 Life-Changing Ways To Feel Fulfilled As A Stay-At-Home Mom
This is super helpful! It can be difficult to stay on track and accomplish what you want to in a day!
These are some awesome tips that I will have to implement into my own schedule. Managing a schedule as a stay at home Mom is definitely easier said than done lol. I appreciate you making this post, it is very informative!
These tips are great! Being a stay at home is a busy job. Being organized is key!
I couldn’t agree more! Glad you found these tips helpful.