As any mom can attest to, taking care of young children can be a challenge, especially when you have a side hustle. Kids constantly need meals, snacks, diaper changes and a hug when they fall! Couple that with starting or maintaining a side hustle, and it can be daunting! Some days go very smoothly…everyone takes a nap at the same time and no one creates a huge mess! Most days it’s a different story. So, how do you take care of the kids and somehow manage to start or maintain a side hustle? Below are a few tips I have found extremely helpful.
Have a Routine
It is helpful, not only to you, but your kids, to have a routine. No day is exactly the same, but structure helps keep your day moving in the right direction.
For example, my day begins with getting the kids up, diapers/clothes changed…also brush their hair and clean their noses (I’m amazed at what comes out of my 8 month old’s nose!) Once everyone is presentable we have breakfast. After that, we read for about 30 minutes and I review numbers, alphabet, shapes, etc…with Zidane. Julian is always within earshot so hopefully some of the ABC’s will sink in! After reading I let the boys play for about an hour while I plan dinner and do any needed prep. I also use that time to catch up on any phone calls, mail or put in a load of laundry.
After eating and cleaning up lunch I put the boys down for a nap…assuming the stars align and they are going to nap at the same time! While they both nap, or one naps and one plays, I work for about 3 hours on my latest side hustle. Once the boys wake up we hang out for a while and I start preparing dinner. Once dinner is done and we have some family time, it’s time for the boys to get ready for bed. I usually work for a few more hours at night.
I try not to set strict times on our routine, but at the same time make sure that we are staying on track for the day. The routine helps to break up my day, which keeps me alert and engaged.
Make a To-Do List
Every Sunday night I make a to-do list of things I want to accomplish that week. Below are some examples of things that would be on a weekly To Do List.
- Research additional companies to list short-term rental property. (I have a property listed on Airbnb, but would like to list on multiple sites to increase exposure)
- Call Grocery delivery service to request refund for missing/damaged items on last week’s order.
- Go through kid’s clothes. Put away winter clothes, wash summer clothes and re-organize dresser.
Every morning I pick a few of the items from my weekly To Do List to complete that day. These are the things I focus on while the kids are napping or when I work in the evening.
When you are a mompreneur, it is very easy to get caught up in running the household and let your side hustle fall by the wayside. I find that having a routine and making To Do Lists helps me stay on track and gives me a daily sense of accomplishment.
How do you stay on track with your household responsibilities and maintaining your side hustles? I would love to hear your input and strategies! Please leave a comment if you enjoyed the post or have any questions.
Stay Blessed,
Jess
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