How to Flip Your Routine to be More Productive

Make Your Routine More Productive With This Tip

As a mompreneur, do you feel like you’re stuck in a routine that just isn’t working anymore? Are you not getting things accomplished throughout the day that you need to? Is your energy dragging and more importantly, are you putting yourself last continuously?

If this sounds like you, I can totally relate. For the past year or so I was doing things in an order that I thought was best for my family and my home, but I knew it wasn’t good for myself.[Tweet “Want to be more productive within your routine? Just flip it! #productivity”]

This summer I decided this had to change. I had to find a way to flip my routine to make it work better for me. It was also essential to get myself out of the slump that I had slowly fallen into.

In June I decided to give up gluten.

Not because I had an allergy to it, but because I heard it would make you feel better. I wanted to feel less bloated. I wanted to have more energy. I wanted to not have heartburn. I wanted to not get headaches. I had heard that getting off gluten would help with all of these things. Also, I didn’t go out and replace all the gluten I was getting off of with gluten-free items. Most of the stuff I was eating with gluten was honestly crap anyway.

At the same time I was getting off gluten, I decided it was time to start walking every day no matter what!

I invited some friends to go with me. It was an open invitation just show up and will walk. A few friends and I began walking, which lasted about three weeks, then I noticed my friends sort of fell off the wagon. But I’m determined to stay the course. I not only need to walk every day but at 41 I need to strength train and get some flexibility back.

So how did these two major changes factor into my daily routine that already seemed crammed to the brim?

I simply flipped things upside down.

Here’s what I used to do:

• Wake up
• Get son ready for school
• Take son to school
• Come home
• Work until lunch
• Make lunch at home
• Sit watch a TV show while eating
• Either work some more or run errands
• Pick son up from school
• Work some more until dinner if my husband was home
• Have dinner
• Clean the kitchen
• Clean up the house
• Give son a bath
• Put son to bed
• Watch TV

Notice I wasn’t doing anything for myself during that time.

This is how I flipped it:

• Wake up
• Drink a cup of tea
• Wake son up
• Get son ready for school
• Take son to school
• Come home walk 3-4 miles
• Make a cup of tea
• Bible study/quiet time
• Shower
• Work until lunch
• Make a healthy lunch or go out to lunch with a friend
• Work until three
• Pick up son from school
• Do a few chores or play with son outside
• Start thinking about dinner
• Help son with homework
• Have dinner together as a family
• Spend extra reading time with son
• Put son to bed
• Hang out with husband. (I should mention when hubby is home he is a BIG help!)

For years I thought by putting my exercise, Bible study or writing first was actually considered selfish. I can tell you now that it’s not. In fact, when I put my own needs first, my whole family benefits.

Now that I have flipped my routine:

• I am getting so much more done in the smaller amount of time that I’m blocking for myself to do work.
• I am more productive because I know it I don’t have as much time to work.
• I’m enjoying more exercise and activity time with my family as a family.
• I’m setting better boundaries so I can spend more one-on-one time with my son and my husband.

If you are doing everything for everyone first and your day and trying to squeeze in your “me time” later when you’re tired and worn out, you’re not doing yourself or your family any favors.

Give it a try

Flip your routine as best you can and see how it works for you for two weeks. Get a journal and keep track of your results. Keep track of how you feel mentally and physically. Keep track of how it affects your children and your husband. Keep track of your productivity with your work or your home.

If after three weeks you notice positive changes, then hallelujah! You have been set free and it’s time for you to take care of not just your home and your family but yourself!

Please share your thoughts and comments

Do you have any self-care tips, boundaries or routines we should know about? We would love to hear about them! Please share with us in the comment box below.

Wishing you lots of luck with your new routine!

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Thank you so much, Autumn! As mompreneurs, we tend to get stuck in our routines and not focus enough on ourselves for more productivity. This tip will definitely help!

To contact Autumn directly, you may find her at autumnleopold.com

Autumn Leopold is a former Professional Organizer now a Professional Blogger, Creative Biz Coach and Virtual Assistant for small biz entrepreneurs and bloggers. You’ll find her blogging at autumnleopold.com

Autumn is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).

To learn more about Autumn Leopold’s services, visit the website and connect on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+! You may also contact her at autumn@autumnleopold.com.