Ania's Finds

Balancing life as a stay-at-home mom or dad while working from home is not easy at all. But here are 10 game-changing tips to help you manage your week.

1. Create a Flexible Weekly Schedule
Block out your week in advance, allocating specific times for work, childcare, and personal tasks. Use a digital calendar or a simple notebook to map out work hours, nap times, and kid activities. Leave buffer zones for inevitable interruptions—kids don’t respect deadlines. Revisit and tweak the schedule Sunday night to account for unexpected changes.

2. Prioritize Tasks with the Eisenhower Matrix
Sort tasks into four categories: urgent and important (do immediately), important but not urgent (schedule), urgent but not important (delegate or minimize), and neither (skip). For example, a client deadline is urgent and important; laundry is important but not urgent. This helps you focus on what moves the needle for work and home.

3. Batch Similar Tasks Together
Group similar activities to reduce mental switching costs. Answer emails in one 30-minute block, prep meals for the week in one go, or tackle household chores during a single hour. Batching saves time and keeps you in the zone, whether it’s work mode or mom mode.

4. Leverage Nap Times or Quiet Hours
Use your kids’ nap times or early mornings for deep work—tasks requiring focus, like writing reports or planning projects. Keep a list of high-priority work tasks ready so you can dive in when the house gets quiet. If your kids don’t nap, try short bursts of work during screen time or independent play.

5. Set Up a Dedicated Work Space
Carve out a corner, even if it’s just a desk in the living room, for work. Keep it free of kid-related clutter to signal “work mode” to your brain. Use noise-canceling headphones if possible to block out background chaos. A clear space helps you switch gears mentally.

6. Involve Kids in Age-Appropriate Tasks
Engage your kids in small chores or activities that align with your tasks. Toddlers can “help” fold laundry (even if it’s messy), while older kids can do simple meal prep or organize toys. This keeps them occupied and teaches responsibility, freeing you up for quick work sprints.

7. Outsource or Simplify Household Tasks
Delegate where you can—grocery delivery, a weekly cleaning service, or asking your partner to handle specific chores. Simplify meals with batch cooking or one-pot recipes. Cutting corners on non-essential tasks preserves energy for work and parenting.

8. Use the Pomodoro Technique for Work
Work in 25-minute focused bursts followed by 5-minute breaks. This is perfect for squeezing productivity into short windows between kid demands. Four Pomodoros (about 2 hours) can knock out a surprising amount of work, especially during nap or bedtime.

9. Build in Self-Care Micro-Moments
You can’t pour from an empty cup. Schedule 10-15 minutes daily for something that recharges you—reading, a quick walk, or even a coffee in silence. Protect this time like it’s a client meeting. Weekly, aim for one longer activity, like a workout or hobby, to stay grounded.

10. Communicate Boundaries Clearly
Set expectations with your family and work contacts. Tell your kids (if old enough) when you’re “working” and can’t be disturbed unless it’s urgent. Inform clients or colleagues about your availability to avoid last-minute stress. A simple “I’ll respond by end of day” can buy you breathing room.These tips work best when tailored to your family’s rhythm and work demands.

Conclusion

Experiment, adjust, and don’t aim for perfection—some weeks will be smoother than others. Do you have any tips that were not mentioned here? If so, share! 😃