How To Guarantee A Productive Week

It’s mid-way through October and the kids have been in school for well over a month now. The morning routine is the busiest in my house, and I’m sure in many houses across the country. I wanted to share how I guarantee a productive and smooth Monday-Friday!
It’s all about PREP! I use the weekends that I am off or the night before to prep everything I need. Lucky for me the boys wear uniforms, so I can iron out all the pants and shirts ahead of time. Even if your kids do not wear uniforms, I urge you to lay out and prep all their outfits for the week on Sunday! Even if you put a look together the night before, it will be less stressful than rushing in the mornings, TRUST ME! Write out the schedule for the week: sports/after-school activities, days off from school, any appointments, etc. It’s easier to remember and be on top of things when they are all laid out for you to see. This also helps to keep the entire family organized. I hate when my Husband has to constantly ask, “what time is practice, what time is the appointment.” Refer to the chart, sir! Meal prep is a major key. We rarely eat out in my house, so cooking takes up a lot of my time. Especially since I am on a different diet than the kids and Hubs, I have to plan things out. It is convenient for me to set aside one day to cook a few meals that will last throughout the week. I usually will do some kind of rice/carb, a fish option, and a chicken/beef option. Then some sort of veggie on the side: broccoli, asparagus, sweet potato etc. If I am making a Nigerian stew, Hubs will make the partner to accompany the meal.

Time Management. In order for you not to feel stressed when it comes to getting things done, you have to be really good at managing your time. Whether that means, waking up earlier for your commute, multi-tasking during the day, or getting to bed on time. I wake up between 6:00-6:30 AM to make breakfast, and the boys are up at 7:15. I would love to sleep until 7:00 AM, but that would not guarantee me enough time to make a good breakfast for the boys before school. ( I also have picky eaters, there are only a few things they love to eat.) I am pretty good at multi-tasking as well. As I am typing this blog post, I have laundry going, I’m on the phone, and pots are on the stove getting dinner going. (I didn’t prep yesterday.) You have to learn to make the best of the time you have, even if it’s 60 minutes. Getting to bed on time, just makes for a better mood overall. I LOVE to sleep, the worst thing is when I don’t get enough. It’s not safe for anyone when I am sleep deprived and cranky. I try to get to bed by 10:30-11:00 PM. Old lady status for real! Self-Care. While everyone is ripping and running during the hectic week and Moms are busy managing it all and taking care of everyone, I urge you to set aside some self-care time. As I have gotten older, I have realized how important mental health is and it’s not discussed nearly as often as it should be. To prevent burnout and feelings of overwhelm and stress, I take time for myself in the afternoon or evenings. I try and get to the gym during the day when the kids are at school, at least three times a week. The kids are in bed by 8:30 PM the latest and I take this time before I go to bed to do a face mask, read a book, journal, watch my shows, etc. I just like to be alone for a while at night to decompress the day. Meditation in the morning has been said to be a great stress reliever as well, but I haven’t gotten to a point where I can quiet my brain that easily yet. Do you meditate? What is your self-care routine? I hope these tips were helpful, please share others below! Have a great week, and stay chic!