^^Dream workspace!
How Block Scheduling For Work Life Balance Can Help Simplify
Back in the fall I attended Rebelle Con, a conference for women entrepreneurs. As I sat there sipping coffee and munching on the most delicious locally made granola, business strategist Rachael Cook took the stage. She gave a talk on self-care strategy, burn out, and work-life balance that had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Rachael uses block scheduling for work life balance to help our keep focused.
Rachael walked us through her own workday and the ways she had maximized focus to minimize burn out. From my memory it went something like this:
6:00 – 6:30 am – Get up, journal, and get ready before the kids wake up.
7:00 – 9:00 am – Mom Time. Get the kids to school on time!
9:00 – 10:00 am – Power walk with Oprah’s SuperSoul podcast.
10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Work, with focus varying by day. (For example: Monday create, Tuesday meetings, Wednesday write, Thursday admin.)
3:00 pm – Work is over until the next day. “Office hours” are clearly defined.
3:00 – 5:00 pm – Mom time. Connecting 100% with the kids.
Listening to Rachael speak about her routine left me with the same feeling I get when I look at an extremely organized pantry. Boundaries were clearly defined. Focus was on point. Mom was mom and boss was boss. I think what I found most appealing about Rachael’s week was the predictability down to the same simple inspiring power walk every morning.
Creating a weekly block schedule
I found myself creating my own weekly schedule that had recipe days and writing days, admin time first thing in the morning, a block for dinner prep and chores, a pre-lunch workout, and office hours ending at 3:00 p.m. some days and 5:00 p.m. others (depending on Mazen’s schedule.) And, I could always add an evening or weekend day if I had a post deadline to meet.
Currently, I lead an incredibly messy work-home life with no defined boundaries. And within my workday, I tend to go with the flow. Sometimes I go to the gym at 10:00 am, and other days I feel like going for a run late afternoon. Sometimes I work into the evening after Mazen’s bedtime, and then the next day I might have personal stuff come up that leads to no work at all. Sometimes I am incredibly efficient and knock out several posts in a very groovy afternoon and then other days I waste the workday away on something that really isn’t productive at all. As an example of blurred boundaries: I am writing this post from a hair salon chair! #multitasking
I work the way I work because I am a fan of Jess Lively’s concept of getting into alignment before action. She believes that for us to be most efficient we have to be in the right mindset aka “aligned to action.” If you force yourself to hustle when your head is elsewhere, you will spin wheels and procrastinate and end up wasting more time than if you had just done what you felt like doing when you felt like it. Call it the intuitive eating of working. This totally rings true for me and explains why some days I sit down and get nothing done and on a random Sunday night I will knock out half my to-do list. You could sum up my current work style in one word: unpredictable.
So all this to say, I can’t decide which direction I want to go!
Do I want to create a more structured schedule for my weeks so that work is work and home is home? Perhaps I would gain efficiency in concentrating my time?
Or do I want to go with the flow and leave well enough alone?
You know the right answer is probably a combination of both! I think what I am chasing more than anything is predictability and a little more structure. Perhaps I can create a more predictable schedule and then go with the flow within that schedule.
Rachael has a book out called Fired Up & Focused: End Overwhelm. Turn Your Dreams Into Inspired Action. I’ve added it to my Kindle and am hoping it might provide some direction!
Please share your own routines with me. Whether you structure your day at an office, working from home, on the road, or are simply balancing full-time motherhood, what do you find works best?
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
You get up so early! I’m envious, I’m always lying in! I usually sleep at 3am or later then wake at 10am… then I go to work (we’re quite flexible with our hours). I’m trying to change it because it’s such a bad habit to sleep so late! 🙁
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Linda @ the Fitty says
Sounds like a good New Year’s resolution! I am also an early riser, however not as early as Kath!
Jessica says
Whatever you do, I wish you would refrain from using the minimizing term « girl boss » to describe a grown and successful businessperson.
KathEats says
I’m sorry. I didn’t know this was a controversial phrase as I see it all over. I get why it would bother you though.
Chrissy says
It doesn’t just bother that one commenter. It bothers me as well, And it’s pretty well documented that it is a problematic term. I mean, the use of “girl” to refer to a grown woman should be pretty obviously problematic, especially to someone who was passionate about women’s studies and feminism, as you are. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-hollis/why-i-hate-the-term-girl_b_13634228.html https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/23/allow-me-to-womansplain-the-problem-with-gendered-language
https://www.inc.com/nina-ojeda/why-calling-yourself-a-girlboss-is-setting-you-up-.html
KathEats says
Sorry. I changed it.
Jennifer Valdes says
Just my two cents but I would have left it as written. We have way too much sensitivity out there. I read what you wrote and got your meaning without offense.
KATIE says
Rachel calls her website the chic site. That’s a contradiction right there. Also, shaming someone for not being feminist enough is just as bad. Women as a group need to stop nitpicking each other for the multitude of ways there are to be a female.
Kath, keep doing you.
Blair says
Hmmm. This is so intriguing. I am going to have to read this book and listen to Jessica Lively’s podcast. I am a schedule person by nature to the point if I place something in a different spot or vary from my routines it throughs my entire day off. My hardest challenge is delineating MOM time vs WORK time. With three littles, I feel like I am always on MOM time but with a booming career in research my WORK time is also always there ….
Petra says
Hi Kath, I’ve been reading u for years, at least 6 or 7 I think. I dont even think I was in med school yet when I started and I’m a doctor now! I usually never comment but i feel like I have to now after all this time because you’ve been with me through all the craziness and I love it so much now that you have opened up and your blog and you just radiate happiness. I’m very happy for you and everything that is going on in your life. Just do you, because all the time that u held back it really felt and it’s just a shame, this is your place and you should just be you. I love posts like this and just random posts about your days and life, I’m from Europe and it’s kind of nice to see how u live there. Wish u all the best! 🙂
KathEats says
Thank you Petra <3
Tamara says
Hello! Long time reader and a hardly-ever commenter, but this post spoke to me. I’m not a mom, but I work from home, while also balancing blogging, running a little side bakery business, and living life in general. I am totally one of those type-A people that makes a to-do list and writes a schedule down to each hour. I include workouts, time for blogging, the hours I will be teaching online, any meetings I have, and social things. I love having a schedule, but I totally understand the ‘aligned to action’ thing. There is PLENTY of times that I sit down to blog (during my ‘blogging hour’ and NOTHING comes to me. I end up on social media, or more likely-taking a nap. Then there are other times, like when I’m out on a walk or sitting on the bus that I feel the urge to blog and just get it done. So, like you said, a balance is best. I think having structure to my day is best- When will I workout? When will I work online? When will I see friends?, but I also think some of my best posts come out when I am ‘feeling it’ and not when I am forcing it. Love your blog!
KathEats says
Sounds like we’re on the same page! I can totally relate to the “sitting down to write and have nothing to say” hour. And thank you!
Lindsey | This Miss Cooks says
Oh my goodness you sound like me, haha. I will literally doodle schedules for the next few days and write up to-do lists when I’m bored. But I’m trying to work more with my creativity flow too. Last night I got home and just broke out my new light tent to just test it out. It went awfully, but I’m glad I finally did it when the inspiration struck instead of putting it on a to-do list and then constantly pushing it off.
Kelly | Maverick Baking says
I know exactly what you mean. I work part time at the moment, and run my blog, freelance stuff and YouTube channel at home the rest of the time. Always wake up early with the best intentions but sometimes I’m too tired or hungry when I want to work out, or too busy to stop working when I said I would. It’s hard to find a balance, but equally not everyone works best on a concrete routine, so maybe it’s not always bad to be a little unstructured? 🙂
Elizabeth says
Hello! Long-time reader, and I appreciate you taking on this topic. I think you might find that very few of us can offer helpful guidance because most of us don’t have the same flexibility and freedom that you do. Kudos to you for carving that out, and I do see how such an unstructured day could feel overwhelming, but I just don’t think those of us who work full time outside our homes are going to have any tips that would be helpful. Likewise, my friends who do not work outside the home don’t seem to get many 5 hour stretches to themselves, perhaps because their kids are a little younger than Mazen. Good luck finding the right balance!
Stephanie S. says
Thank you for this comment.
Allison says
“if you had just done what you felt like doing when you felt like it”
That might be good advice for a blogger, but that certainly doesn’t work for anyone with a full time job outside the home. I think that is called “getting fired”. Very few people have that kind of flexibility.
KathEats says
Well I think that all depends on the type of office culture you have and your boss. Read some of the other full timer comments. There are ways to apply flow to office work without getting fired.
Karen says
It doesn’t work either for, say, homeschooling parents. I am a full time SAHM and I homeschool my three school-age children. If I just did laundry “when I felt like it”, I might find I don’t have clean pants the next day. Or towels. Same with cooking–we cook most of our meals at home for economy and health’s sake, but again, if I ONLY cooked or prepped “when I felt like it”, we’d be relying on fast food. So I find this attitude a little disingenuous. I will say that sometimes I make a list of what I need to get done that day, and prioritize it based on WHEN it needs to get done, and I might find that some things can fit in those times when I feel particularly energized to do them. I also make sure we have “IN” days and “OUT” days–the days when we have appointments or errands to run, we lump them on the same day so I can have full days when I’m home and really get things done at home.
KathEats says
I think you’re taking “when I felt like it” a little too literally 🙂 You’re right – nothing would ever get done! But assuming you do have to do it today, when do you feel the most motivated. Maybe it’s first thing, maybe it’s last.
Karen says
I understand the meaning behind it, though. I think there are different tendencies (like Gretchen Rubin says in her excellent book), and some tendencies like a set plan. I used to have a very set system where laundry got done one day, the kitchen got deep cleaned another day, et cetera. I had one child at the time and for me, it worked. I have a friend who, when I showed her that system, shuddered and said she couldn’t stand the idea of waking up and thinking, “Oh, today I need to clean the bathrooms.” But I like that–even now, with four kids and a busier schedule, we have Saturday designated as “cleaning day”–everyone pitches in on the deep cleaning chores like vaccuming the whole house, stripping the beds, getting all the wastebaskets emptied, kitchen floor washed, bathrooms deep cleaned. That said, there are daily things that need to get done regularly . I don’t always want to refill the toilet paper roll, or wash up the lunch dishes, but you have to do it right then. 😀
betsy says
I think it’s important to remember that Kath shares what works for her. I don’t think she is ever implying that what she does is supposed to work for everyone. The beauty of life is that we can take bits and pieces from others and create what works best for our families. Lets be kind to one another.
sara shock says
I’m very interested in exploring this book. My morning routine is very structured as I go to work. However, afternoons are home with a toddler and a preschooler + working for my husband part time + household chores. I need at least a better afternoon routine, even if time frames are flexible.
Tracey says
I work in an office with fairly lenient start and end times. However, there are days where I accomplish nothing at all, and then days where I am in a zone and can complete 3 days’ worth of work in 1 day. So maybe structure is not for me! I tend to just go with the flow. 🙂
Eileen says
There are some good takeaways here, but many of these ideas don’t really work when you work in an office, for other people. For example, I LOVE the idea of concentrating certain tasks on certain days of the week. I have a boring administrative task that could be done for five minutes every day, but it could also be done in 15 minutes, once a week, and I think I will try that.
But if I waited for the right mindset, until I was “aligned to action,” I would be fired.
Looking forward to other comments!
KathEats says
Yes agree with you – the flow concept definitely wouldn’t work in a traditional office! But some of the principles would because often you do get to choose which projects get priority or the order you do things.
Jen says
Wow! It must be nice to work strictly from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., with a hard kill time. But I, like most working mothers, cannot relate to this at all. As a teacher, my day begins at 6 a.m. and “ends” at 4 p.m. By “ends” I mean, I commute home. Most days I need to put in 1-4 extra hours to plan, grade, and communicate with families. This does not end on the weekend, either. I work at least 1 of the 2 weekend days, but often both. And yes, my family time, personal time, and fitness time suffer because of this intense work demand. But such is the job. If there are ways to better balance work and life, I’d love to hear them! But, sadly, Rachael Cook does not seem to live in the reality of working women.
KathEats says
A lot of women work part time, from home, or otherwise bridge the gap between working full time and full time motherhood. Rachael is helping those women figure it out. While I take my hat off to any mom who works all day (and some weekends) I think the grass is always greener. I have some friends who are stay at home moms who are drowning in toddlerhood and wish they could go back to a professional job where they are away from home for part or all of the day, but they can’t for various reasons. I think we all need to focus on the pros of our job situation and figure out ways to minimize the cons.
Stephanie S. says
Thank you for this comment. I agree completely that this “problem” doesn’t resonate with most people.
Heather says
Jen, I’m a teacher, too, and your hours sound so tough. Over time, I’ve been able to chisel mine down a bit in order to maintain myself and my sanity. I used to work until everything was perfect, but now I’m happy simply being “good.” 😉 A great resource for teachers is Angela Watson’s 40 Hour Teacher Week. Check it out (if you are interested in something like that.)
Renee says
Heather, I can relate. My day starts at 4am, out the door to drop my son off at his school while I head to my full-time job to be in the office by 7, out at 3/3:30 to pick up my son and head home to pull dinner together. Meal planning is essential if you work full-time outside the home. My son goes to bed by 7pm and I have an hour to myself or with my husband (when he’s not traveling) before I feel like I’m falling asleep. In between getting home and getting to bed I also have laundry and caring for my 2 dogs and any other house stuff that comes up. What saves me from cracking is my exercise schedule (regimented as necessity – can’t take cool middle of the day classes etc, so often in my basement at 4am on the treadmill to get it in) and being able to telework 2 days per week. While the grass might be greener, I’d love to be able to stay at home and spend more time with my son and not schedule every minute of my weekday and relegate all errands to Saturdays. But, a trade-off, I suppose, is a regular and consistent paycheck and excellent benefits! All moms have different financial situations too, so sometimes what we do is not a choice. But, I think regardless of how much time and flexibility you have or don’t have, being a mom is challenging and the quality time matters more than quantity.
Erin says
Thank you for teaching! What an important and often thankless job. <3
Mom says
Great post. I wrote at home for twenty years, in a time when there were lots more stay at home moms. I had trouble convincing my friends that I really was working and that I couldn’t hang out as much as they wanted me to. So many more women work at home nowadays, I imagine that’s less of a problem. I also think when you work at home, you miss the camaraderie of co-workers. I’ve read with interest about some of the work spaces you can rent so that you have people around you. Of course that costs, but it’s something to consider.
Sophie says
Boundaries and schedules can be super helpful! I have a traditional 8-5 and, let me tell you, after being out of routine with snow days lately, I couldn’t stand another day not going into the office.
Recently, I found so much freedom in thinking of my work and life as a rhythm and not a balance. With a balance, if one thing weighs more, weight must be taken from another. That is a stressful cycle of trying to make things even! Thinking of my work and my life as a rhythm, I gave myself permission to flow.
For some, a hard stop of work, switching to kids, partners, meals, hobbies is best. But, it’s OK if that’s not your style! My husband and I have a growing media business that he runs full time. I work full time in communications at a local college, so my brain is always thinking about my full-time work or work with our business. I may edit a story on a Sunday evening or give advice at the dinner table. It doesn’t mean I allow work to bleed into every minute, but it allows me space to be flexible.
Working from home can be tough and isolating, especially if you don’t have people to keep you accountable or to bounce ideas. My husband was lucky to find a routine that worked for him and uses me as a sounding board. If you don’t have a group of people that can encourage you when the schedule gets tough (beyond your partner), I highly recommend it!
Hopefully this gives you something else to think about!
KathEats says
I love what you said about balance verses rhythm!
Elizabeth says
have you heard of Gretchen Rubins four tendencies? it would be interesting to see whwre you fall… maybe an upholder or a rebel? while reading your post i couldnt help but relate. i need some routine, but too much structure kills my creativity, productivity and momentum. i am lucky to work in a corportate setting that trusts us and allows us employees to work when and how we need to best getbthe job done. you are lucky too! i am curious if you struggle with any shame or guilt around your everchanging schedule? are we conditiopned to feel its wrong if we dont work on demand and go more with our gut feelings?
KathEats says
I do. I can literally work any time of any day, and I do work on the weekends sometimes, not because I have to, but because I get inspired or Mazen might be with Matt on a Saturday and I see a big window of opportunity. Technically I should be able to take off Monday morning then as a time exchange, but I feel guilty doing that. I don’t feel guilty working out during the “typical” work day or going to an appointment but I would have a hard time relaxing into a book during the week between 8 and 5 (and not nearly as much trouble doing that at 8pm or on a vacation.) Part of that is my personality though, and I am curious to check out these four tendencies!
Sarah says
This isn’t relatable to many women, self included, who have full time and/or high power careers that don’t allow for oprah power walks, salon trips, and 5-hour workdays. But you do you!
KathEats says
That’s totally fine – just skip this post!
Bobbi says
I have a full time demanding job and I found it to be relatable. I also dont listen to Oprah or go to salons, but I can see past the superficial to find value in this post. Structure or lack there of is something most if not all women can relate to. Also- you do t have to have a “high power” job to be valuable, which is how I interpret what you said. Gosh, women. Really need to be supporting women more, no matter our differences.
Sandy says
Very much agree. I work 14 hour-ish days at an office job and had several take aways from this post. Glad to read that many of us can digest content, realize that some parts don’t apply to us, and some can inspire us – either in a way that is literal or just a spark for our own lives.
Anna says
I have a full time job outside the home, a 3 year old and a 1 year old, and am half-way through my master’s degree. I may not have the same flexibility as Kath in terms of when I can do things but I’m still able to set aside time for tasks. I work 8 to 5, but sometimes on the way to work I stop at the grocery store for items I need for dinner that night; I work on homework, make a Target run, or take a power walk during lunch; or I know from the start of the week that my mother-in-law is picking up the kids on Tuesday and Thursday so I can work on homework those evenings.
I don’t have a strict schedule (other than work time), but I started using a planner last year to block out homework, errands, what we’re eating for dinner each night (so I can plan a crockpot meal for tough days), me-time and weekend to-do lists for me and the hubs.
Even at work though, I block out several hours on Fridays for continuing education because our office is slow then, and I respond to most emails first thing in the morning and right after lunch. I make lists of things to accomplish each day and sometimes less important tasks get pushed to the next day. It’s about balance and rolling with the punches (which I’m learning more about since I started using YNAB last month…)
Autumn says
I wonder if Rachel “gets into alignment” by being present with her kids in the morning and through her Oprah podcast? Seems like that might work for her and why she structures her day this way. I listen to Jess Lively and love the concept of alignment but honestly have had difficulty figuring out what works to get into alignment for me. And the idea of writing (what I often find to be the same) gratitude pages each morning is kind of exhausting and boring to me. I work from an office full time and also struggle with being able to go with what flows to me as often as I would like. In practice, I’ve found that concentrating on flow leads to non-flow deadlines coming up, which somehow gets me into some type of alignment to get shizz done, which I am sure is not the point!
KathEats says
I totally hear you! You are probably right about Rachael’s alignment. I remember when I worked in an office flow looked a lot like procrastination. So you could go have a conversation with a coworker or even go for a 15 minute walk (I used to argue that if smokers got smoke breaks I could take a sunlight break!). But it is tough when the alignment takes more than 15 minutes and you have a deadline. This is one reason why I start projects so early – I am afraid of deadlines. Sometimes they are last minute and you can’t do anything about it, but when you do know well in advance when something is due, starting on the project as early as possible leaves a buffer for flow to happen.
Mary K. says
I love this post and the concept resonates even though I work full time, have little kids, travel a lot, etc. The concept of figuring out balance, how to be present in what you are doing, how to get things done whether its at home or in the office, is something I am constantly struggling with. It’s a good reminder to focus on improving and being more intentional instead of feeling like I am constantly fighting time.
I appreciate the vulnerability to share your perspective. 🙂
KathEats says
Thank you <3
Colleen says
I just read through all of the comments, and although I can’t really relate because I work 40 hours a week in an office, I don’t like the negativity of some of the comments. Isn’t our job as women to support each other rather than try to tear each other down, or make each other feel “less than” because their schedule is different? I just don’t really understand why someone who is “so busy with a REAL job outside the home” would take the time to post a backhanded insult on your page. If you don’t agree, move on, ladies. Just my two cents 🙂
KathEats says
Yes, thank you. Well said!
Aimee says
Yes.
Jamie says
HA! This post sums up what I have been thinking lately! I also follow Jess Lively and agree with her mentality of alignment before action. I can tell when I am out of alignment, things are just harder! But I also know that some days certain things just have to get done regardless of my alignment. Personally I am working on ways to get into alignment and stay there more. So far I am trying exercise, meditating and journaling.
Sam @ Grapefruit & Granola says
Figuring out a work-life balance has been a real struggle for me over the past year. I started my nutrition private practice when I was working FT, and I have slowly transitioned out of working at a job vs. working for myself. Those times of transition were completely crazy seeing clients around my job and I felt like I was working 24/7. Now that I am just working for myself and working from home a lot, I feel like the line between work and personal time is very blurred. I find myself working 10-14 hour days. I don’t know how moms do it! (I don’t have kids). One of my priorities in 2018 is to find a better work-life balance. I did the Todd Herman program and he is really into developing routines for productivity. So I’ve tried to make a schedule for myself that is from 8am-5pm (although I usually just start working whenever I wake up, usually around 6:30 or 7). I do agree that some days I just I don’t feel aligned to do what’s on my schedule, but for me personally, I really need that structure. TH also has a saying that you can have an off day but don’t have an off week, so maybe if you wanted to try a schedule and just embrace and ‘off’ day then that would be a good starting point 🙂 I do think a lot more women are being given the option to work from home, at least on some days, so I’m sure they will appreciate this post!
KathEats says
I haven’t heard of Todd Herman, but another one to add to my list of things to look up!
Christina says
This is an interesting post and made think a bit about my current situation. This year I told myself it would be the year of less. Less pressure on myself to workout, be perfect, get all my work done (40+ hours a week consultant engineer).
The rigidity of this plan is what turns me off I think. I get that structure can be helpful for prioritizing your children or your job at certain times of the day, but I also think they may lead to guilt and obsession if you don’t meet those guidelines.
At least that is how my brain sees it! It’s similar to me dieting – it puts me in a restricted mode that makes me more obsessive. Of course, these thoughts are very individual, so this plan may work for others.
I do have a hard time relating to her schedule of 10-3pm working. Mainly because I am envious of those who can maintain that schedule. But I do understand that each lifestyle has its pros and cons. My main goal this year is to put less pressure on myself and be more accepting what is feasible to accomplish while prioritizing my family.
xoxo
KathEats says
Good luck to you!
I remember when I worked full time in an office that was 8:30 to 5:30 with little flexibility reading Working Mother Magazine and hearing about all these offices that allowed mothers have to flex hours, compressed work weeks, and more. And reading through the “100 best places to work” lists and thinking: I want to move to those companies. I realize everyone’s situation and work place is different, but I appreciate companies and bosses that are willing to work with their employees to find a schedule that works best for them. When I worked in an office all day, I probably only did real work from 10-3 anyways!
Erin says
I told my someone just this morning that I get to work at “8ish” and they know I don’t attend staff meetings (at 0730) because they knew when they hired me that I have kids to drop off at two different places before I come in. So thankful for flexible schedules!
Anne says
I am a stay at home mom who used to have a career job and I would love to go back to work but unfortunately with two small children at home the daycare costs just don’t make sense for us. Working moms: I envy you because I really miss my professional life and would love to get dressed up and out of the house for some adult time (not that I don’t love my kids!) Kath, I think I need my own boundaries set in my mom life to create a bit more structure for our days too.
Jennifer says
I actually used to work 8:30-5:30 hours and needed more flexibility as a mom, so I spoke with my boss and now work a four-day work week M-Th with Fridays off. It maximizes our daycare time and gives me a day at home with the kids or to catch up on me stuff like a hair appt. I’m so glad I was brave enough to ask!
Eileen says
I’m glad you were brave enough to ask, too! We need much more progressive approaches to work, and IMO, your schedule sounds perfect.
Criticizing this post is NOT knocking women. It seems to me to be part of an important conversation.
Bobbi says
The only thing consistent about my schedule is anything involving the children. They thrive off of structure, so we have routines for everything 80% of the time. My kids are toddlers, so routines keep the day moving 🙂
4:30am- up with the youngest. This is coffee and snuggle and tv watching time
5:30am- oldest gets up (age 4). We eat breakfast, I’m on coffee number 2 or 3. Get dressed and out the door by 6:50am.
7:30 drop off at daycare
8am-3:30pm: I’m at work.i work independently in my office, so someday I spend time reading the news and making grocery lists or garden plans, other days I’m doing site visits, in Court all day, or doing tons of paperwork. Depending ony schedule that day I will do a 2 mile walk +10 flights of stairs on my lunch. I can usually only get this in 3 times a week. I also keep dumbbells at my desk and will do a few sets if I can’t get out to walk.
4pm- pick up kids, and husband if we carpool. Get home by 5:30.
5:30-7:00pm- make dinner while husband entertains kids, we eat, talk about our day, etc.
7-8 Baths, jammies, stories, songs, bed.
8pm-whenever I go to sleep (usually between 9 and 10) hang out with husband. Read, watch TV, etc.
Weekends are open, but general time line stays the same, with a quiet time for the kids from 12-2. During that time I work on the house, laundry, etc. All of my shopping is done on weekends too. We often only go out on the weekends, so out weekday schedule is basically the same.
That’s it. We’re boring 🙂
KathEats says
I love peeking into people’s lives – you are not boring!
katie says
saying the grass is always greener is dismissive to women who are stuck with the grind or who are full time at home with young children/babies all day and no time to themselves until babies are in bed. women need to be a unified group if we ever hope to see policy changes in the US which allow for more flex time, universally (i.e., true policy change- not at employers’ discretion). if you have a job that affords you flex time (which i’m sorry, working only 5 hours a day without a commute is a flexible schedule and much easier to juggle than full time+ commute many women face), please be a unified voice with us to point out how lackluster the us policies for parents are (SAHMs deserve partners with sufficient maternity/paternity leaves too)- don’t just say “ya well the grass is always greener on the other side” and dismiss us. it’s really hard over here. signed, a mom with an 8 month old with 10 wks unpaid maternity leave, and a 50 hour a week job and 1 hour commute each way
KathEats says
I totally agree with you. See my comment about the realization I had when I worked and learned that some offices allowed flex time, compressed work weeks, etc. It’s what inspired me to even consider a different job path in the first place. I agree with you on policy change and a major restructure of America’s work culture, which has many problems in addition to this one.
katie says
Thanks so much Kath for the quick reply. I hope to get to that point someday as well and am so happy many women are able to do that. Would love to see a post in the future in which women with 40 hour typical office jobs juggle everything…unfortunately it seems like the first thing to go is self care. Or even interview from someone who knows what the tools are to make change happen? What can we do even small or local to push for it? Or interview someone who lives in a country with better protections for parents- show that productivity is not lower because of it? I’m sure other countries with more flex time have monitored this in some way or have studies.
Thanks!!
Bobbi says
I also would add that YOU choose your career. You have a choice. No one is responsible for your happiness but you- not the US government, not your husband or kids or boss- pick a different job if it’s not working for you.
I used to have that same mentality until I realized that no one was going to make my schedule the way I needed it for me. So I left my career and started a new one that gave me work AND home. I work 37 hours a week with a commute, and I took a pay cut, but we could make it work. Compared to the 60+ hours I was working, it’s great. But I had to make those choices. Sometimes I think that no matter what their situation, people will find a way to hate it or want something else or shirk responsibility for their own happiness.
Molly says
Yes!!
Molly says
If you’re unhappy with your commute, hours, benefits, etc. why not create a business like Kath did? It doesn’t have to be blogging, but if you’re unhappy, go get (or start!) the job you want. Kath started her own business, with all the hard work and risks that includes, and now gets to enjoy the flexibility it provides. Good for her! If you’re unhappy, make a change.
Sarah says
Of course there are always changes we can make to our attitude, but assuming that everyone is in a position to start a business, or take a pay cut to improve work-life balance is unfair. Kath’s risk paid off, and her hard work is to be admired, but to suggest that anyone could succeed in the way she has ignores the fact that 30% of small businesses in the US fail within the first 2 years. If your family relies on your salary, not wanting to take that risk is understandable, even if your current work situation is far from ideal. I’m glad it worked out for you, and for Kath, but please understand that it is not an option for everyone.
It doesn’t mean Kath isn’t right to invite the conversation, and I respect how open she is to seeing how other people with different work environments deal with work-life balance, and the frustrations associated with it. I’d love to see more posts that result in this kind of discussion, and for Kath to explore the issue further, as the above commenter suggested, if that would fit in with the blog.
My schedule as a teacher does not allow for much flexibility, simply because the teaching schedule dictates what I do and when. I can’t decide if my innate working style fits that structure, or if I’ve adapted to it, but I think I’d struggle to use my time well if I worked from home, I feel like going with the flow would result with too many cups of tea and not enough actual work…
Linds says
If I were you, I know I’d TOTALLY be “go with the flow” style. I say that because that’s the way I am when I’m not physically at my office. But, I also crave more structure to my off hours. Especially since I tend to let my chores pile up into an hours-long marathon-clean!
My normal day is leave for the bus at 7:55pm, and arrive home around 6:30pm. Except Tuesdays and Wednesdays when I have class, and get home around 10pm. The rest of the time is spent…doing who knows what! This girl needs dedicated meal prep, laundry, cleaning and home-improvement time.
Linds says
*meant leave at 7:55am 😉
Sarah R. says
I really enjoy your blog, but rarely comment. I felt compelled to comment after reading the negative and “this doesn’t work for full time office jobs” comments. I think we as women have to honor and work to understand that their are millions of different options out there for women when it comes to working. I personally work a high pressure job and a minimum of 60 hours a week, but I can read this and appreciate parts of it. Like most people who work for someone other than themselves, I have a lot I have to get done in order to be successful in my job and don’t always get to chose what those projects or tasks are. But, I can decide when I do it each day. So my takeaway is perhaps try and create a rough timeline of what I will do each hour. For example, this year, I am trying to check my email at the top of the hour instead of every time I get a notification. That way I don’t stop and start the same project 10 times. And if that does not go well, perhaps I have to explore the alignment option. Thank you for inspiring me to think in a different way.
KathEats says
Thanks for your comment Sarah, and for the email tip. No matter where or how we work, we all get too many distracting emails, so your tip is a great one to apply to everyone.
Meghan says
My husband schedules every hour of his day, including when he checks email. It totally works for him.
Linds says
Question: since all comments are moderated before posting, do you tend to filter out the particularly nasty ones, or just let most on? I ask because although I was like “waah a 10-3 work schedule sounds great” I’m flat out surprised by some of the comments! The most reactive people generally harbor some resentment for their own situation. There’s no reason to get down on people who find a way to WFH or have a condensed work day. Like you said, rarely is my 8 hour grind 100% packed with work, I’m just here cuz I have to be. I have time to read blogs, after all ;).
KathEats says
Yeah, I don’t let rude or attacking comments on, but there haven’t been too many. I’m totally fine with a good discussion if people are being respectful. And sometimes a 90% respectful comment throws a zinger in at the end that is a personal knock on me, and the whole comment doesn’t make it on. Let’s be nice people!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
OMG YES this is such a hard balance. Right now I’m lucky I don’t have to divide my time into mom time, so I’ve just been working on cutting myself off at 7 or 8pm every day. That gives me at least one hour to unwind before bed and makes work seem a little less infinite like I it never stops!
Katie says
I definitely think it’s a combination. I have an office job with the flexibility to work from home regularly. Oftentimes I find it easier to stick to a schedule and what my normal hours would be when I’m at the office, but sometimes you hit a wall mid afternoon and that becomes the perfect time to fit in a pre-lunch workout (vs my normal early morning workout) and when I do, I come back feeling refreshed and ready for the afternoon. Finding that balance isn’t always easy but I do think it really pays off.
Melissa | HerGreenLife says
Heard this author speaking on All Things Considered last night, might be worth factoring in: https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/
C in MD says
I am a single mom and have been since my son was 9 months old. He is 7 now. That part of my life is probably what dictates almost everything else. Until almost two years ago, I worked in a very traditional office environment, with traditional hours, rules, policies, procedures. Sure, I could take an hour off in the morning to take my son to a drs appt…but I would have to stay late another day that week to make it up. That sorta thing. A couple years ago I made a very deliberate move to a company (national nonprofit, actually) that would give me autonomy in my role, plus a lot of flexibility. I didn’t just fall into it, of course, I’m in my late 30s so I’ve been in my career for a while. Anyway, the awesome flexibility allows me to work from home ~two days a week, in the office the other ~three, and allows me to have fluid start and end times. I know this is not typical and I am grateful every day that I have it! All that being said, regardless of where I’m physically working or what time I start/end my day…I still have a demanding workload that has to get done, so I find myself working nights (after my son goes to bed) or weekends (if he’s with his dad). For now, I am perfectly and 100% happy with the blurred work/home boundaries. If that’s what has to happen for me to be able to walk my son to school in the morning, pick him up most days, spend time with him in the afternoon/evenings that is more than just a mad rush through homework/dinner/bedtime…SO BE IT!
KathEats says
Love your story. Thanks for sharing.
Meghan says
First of all, let me say that I have mounds of work I should be doing, but instead I’m reading these comments and writing this one! Very interesting discussion.
I think if a “go with the flow” schedule works for you, then don’t try to change it.
I can see how this post can be really upsetting to women who work 40+ hours a week and have a commute and families. My husband has mothers who work for him in a very demanding field, and I truly can’t imagine how they can fit anything else in besides work and a little time with their kids.
My day: 5:45 wake up, pack lunches, get ready for work, get kids’ day started.
7:00 Nanny arrives. I drive two minutes to work. Work until 2:20
2:30-5:00 – time with kids reading books, homework, getting snacks, and squeezing in a few life/ home chores.
5:00 -8:30 Make dinner, eat, run older kids to sports, get them into bed, clean up kitchen, pick up around house.
9:00-10:30/11:00 – do anything I didn’t get done on to-do list. Talk with husband. Shower. Mindlessly look through phone. Journal.
I’m a teacher and love, love, love it, but I rarely do school work at home. I just don’t get paid enough to justify it. Except for times like right now, I really work like a maniac when I’m at work, and my day flies by.
Workouts – Tuesday afternoon I do something while my daughter who is 2 1/2 watches a show with her brothers. Or if she’s still napping when I get home I’ll jump in the treadmill for 25 minutes. Thursday I stay at school and run or do a video. Saturday morning I run. I’d love to work out more, but this is all that’s possible this stage in my life.
Meghan says
Let me add that this lifestyle is perfect for me, and I’m truly lucky.
Meg says
Very interesting post! My schedule is as follows:
5am: Wake up, eat, get dressed, get baby dressed, prepare lunch and supplies for day.
6:15am: Drop off baby at daycare
7am to 8pm: Work in the hospital.
8:15pm:Drive home, feed and put baby to bed
9:00pm: Make/eat dinner, go to sleep
Wash, rinse and repeat
I do get 2 days off to be home with the baby and run errands/clean the house but my husband works until 7pm or later these days. I would love to incorporate some of these techniques into my schedule but most of the time turn to sleep if I can instead. Maybe being more mindful of time off to incorporate some me time would be good.
Anne says
This is an interesting post and I have to share a fantastic podcast on this exact topic: ‘The Best of Both Worlds” by Laura Vanderkam & Sarah Hart-Unger: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/best-of-both-worlds-podcast/id1273625203?mt=2
They brilliantly explore work/life balance, career development, parenting, time management, productivity, and making time for fun.
KathEats says
Sarah and I go way back! I’m so glad she’s podcasting. Great topics!
Aimee says
I have a hard time differentiating between Work and home life. I am a nanny to three children and also bring my two children along for a total of five, ages 1-6. I work long days, 7-530. When I’m at work, I’m also mom! My days and nights run together. I’m so frazzled when I get home, so tired, I’m in bed by 9:00, wake up at 545 to do it all again. I need a new line of work lol
KathEats says
Oh man, you have your hands very full!!
Diane says
I stay home with my one-year-old and am a freelance writer as well. I think the point of your post is to look at your specific parameters and see if there’s anything you can tweak in order to help you feel more fulfilled both in your work (however you define work) and at home.
I second the idea of seeing what tasks you can assign to certain days; that’s been a lifesaver for me. I take on 2-3 writing projects per week (which ebbs and flows) and am working to figure out how to balance my work, my time with my husband, all the various house chores I’m responsible for, and fitting in time for exercise. One thing that’s helped me is figuring out what my kiddo can do with me so I can include him as much as possible. For me, it helps to not waste brain space trying to figure out what to do every day if I know that Mondays are for X and Tuesdays are for Y, etc.
Molly says
Kath, I think that action from alignment makes so much sense and it feels so good honoring your inner self. I love listening to Abraham and it really resonates with me. I believe that Abraham would say you should continue to listen to your inner voice – but maybe that voice is telling you to create a schedule. When you are feeling great, what is it telling you? How do you feel about creating a schedule? If it sounds exciting then I think it is still part of your alignment. If it doesn’t sound fun, it’s not.
KathEats says
🙂
Christine says
I don’t work outside the home, but we home school our boys, currently 9, 7, 4, almost 2, and #5 is due Sunday. I’m just like you – the organized set schedule is SOO appealing. But with kids and my type B personality, I’d much rather sit around all morning if I have to and get my work done quickly later. I always need some chill out time, and I have a strong internal need to rebel, even against myself and my own lists!
All that being said, what has been working splendidly for me is a movable block schedule. I know what needs to be done every day (school, dishes, laundry) and during the week (organizing, cleaning, shopping), but I decide in the moment what I want to do next (or what makes to most logical sense). It’s so freeing and stress-free! I love it.
KathEats says
This is very similar to how manage time too – block schedule!
Morgan says
I have struggled with the whole idea of balance this past year myself. It has been a time for me to recognize what I actually want out of my career…and I have come to the conclusion that what works for me is to not go mad trying to get every promotion or raise, and to instead have a balance where I am actually enjoying both my job and my time at home. Granted, I know this attitude means that I am very privileged to have a husband who has a great job etc. That said, I found your post very helpful and I love to think about how each one of us applies these thoughts to our own unique situations.
My day generally looks like this:
6:00 a.m. – Get up, and do a 30-45 minute yoga practice. I do yoga everyday-sometimes it is super sweaty, sometimes it’s quiet meditation.
6:45-8:30 a.m. – Get ready, have breakfast with my husband (he always fixes breakfast), get my daughter ready for school. Drop her off at the bus stop. My son is older and manages his own mornings, and I’m really proud of him for it!
My work day is 8:30 – 5:00. I find that I am most productive in the mornings, so I try to schedule meetings for the afternoon. I work in development so I do have quite a few off site meetings/events. If I work an event the night before, I take the next morning off and go for a run.
5:00 – 9:30: In the evenings, I prepare dinner and my husband and I alternate getting the kids to after school activities. I try to get in 2 runs a week right after work. My husband is a cyclist, so he does group rides in the evenings, so I just schedule my time around that because I prefer running alone. My son takes tae kwon do in a strip mall with a Target, so we try to “schedule” one trip per week to Target while he is in his lesson. This helps us plan trips instead of just going in and buying random things. Seems like such a small thing on a schedule, but it helps with budgeting and time management.
9:30 p.m. – I always have a bedtime routine! It keeps me sane. I get in bed by 9:30 with my lavender lotion and my book and my husband. Lights out by 10:00!
One thing that has helped me is that I used to tutor with a woman who always said to get the “chocolate in your peanut butter” which is, if it works for you, let your kid stuff (scheduling appointments etc.) get into your work time if you have to (and vice versa), and try not to let it bother you. You can always even it out doing work stuff during off hours if you need to. If I feel guilty for doing a task during “work time” or “mom time,” I reframe it as a balance and think of chocolate and peanut butter!
KathEats says
Love this! Your schedule, which sounds so well thought out, and the chocolate in the PB. Sounds like something I would do 🙂 Also love that your husband is included in the bedtime checklist <3
Heather says
This is funny because a friend and I were just talking about our work “process”…how we sometimes push things off to the last minute but then are able to create something AMAZING. We joked about being procrastinators but the truth is, it really does seem like a process. When I have a big piece of work to crank out, I often sit down and start and nothing comes to me. So I start “procrastinating” or in my case doing other things but all along this giant task is percolating. Even through I’m not “actively” working on something, I’m thinking about it and how I want to approach which I honestly think makes me produce a better end product in less time! I’m just amazed that this concept loosely has a name. I will have to check or Jess Lively!
KathEats says
You are very right that sometimes with procrastination you are still percolating the idea in your head!
Lucy says
Hello! I thought I’d share my routine!
I am way more into inspired action. I know the most successful people do the prep work to get into alignment so they can produce good work from a place that has momentum- with that said- I also live the idea that was introduced in the book ‘bringing up bebe’ it was how French women raise their children but I loved a concept shared and seriously apply it to everything in my life. And I am going to butcher it probably but it’s a long these lines- cadre- a solid framework of structure like a picture frame and within the frame anything goes. I love this. And this is how I interpreted it. I have structure in my day that I do not deviate from- within that structure I can do whatever I need.
6:45-7:45 mom time. Get kids up and ready for school and kid care at the gym for my youngest.
8-10 gym time and shower time- I switch up my workouts in here but I keep the hours the same – I like to shower and be ready for the day and know that I will be ready to handle anything that comes up
10-12 hang with my littlest one. Eat lunch together. Play dates.
12 – 1:30ish daughter down to nap and chores for the house. Dinner prep. And have a quiet cup for coffee.
1:45-3 pick up son from school, focus on kids. Mom time.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sundays I work from 3-8:30 at my home office (I am an illustrator, children’s books and other stuff) I don’t have set goals besides to do what needs to be done and with artwork it def has to come from a place of inspiration. But I set the hours and stick to them. My husband picks them up from sitter and feeds and handles bedtime these nights.
Tuesday and Thursday everything is the same except I don’t have set business hours. I do stick to the morning routine and workout set time. If I have deadlines I do make exceptions for the afternoons.. But for the most part I try to be with my kids or schedule appointments (hair, doctor…) and run errands these two days.
Saturday- family day. No one works. And possibly a date night.
I stress I am in a creative field so I really have to go with the inspired to work. But I also create a solid framework so everything gets done.
I shared this cause I love seeing other people’s schedules. I’ve had people comment that I work in the evening or they would do it differently. But this seriously works so well for me. And I found once I let myself be ok with doing what works for me – I got so much more done!! And I enjoy my time with my family and working and my workouts. I like that I am 100% efficiencnt within my cadre(framework) but am allowed freedoms within it.
Trust your gut. It knows exactly what you want!
And I will say this … you’re a women who’s running a successful blog for over ten years. Recognice that you do have a good flow going and it seems to Be really working. So it doesn’t look strict like some people’s ideas of what it ‘should’ look like. But I admire that. How cool that some times you write on the go and sometimes you get to be spontaneous! It’s working for you and that’s a all that matters!
KathEats says
Love the frame concept! And loved reading your schedule!
Andrea says
Such a good question and idea to explore! My schedule is pretty easy these days since I don’t have any kids or other major responsibilities (besides my office job). I have a general schedule I follow: wake up, make breakfast + time with husband, work, workout, dinner/evening activities, but try to keep my schedule flexible as well. That way I’m not disappointed or thrown off if something doesn’t go exactly to plan (the flexible lifestyle I’ve learned from my South American husband!). I do “engineer” things a certain way though so I can always make my priorities happen if desired, though. The combination of those helps me keep structure but also flexibility in my life. Some of my techniques!
+ I always pack for the gym and go straight there after work so I don’t have any excuses to go (or down time getting changed/motivated to go!)
+ I pack a lunch the night before (because I know I’m more tired/clumsy/less motivated in the morning!)
+ I think about / prep for breakfast with my husband so we have a plan for the morning and we know who is making what
+ I put everything on my calendar if it needs to get done! Even if it’s checking an account, mailing a letter, whatever – if it’s written down it’s much more likely to happen.
Looking forward to reading more of what others say!!
KathEats says
Great list of tips!
Mom says
I recall a plan I had for myself: I would do all I could with the kids to create happy mornings on school days., I might help hunt down a missing shoe or let a slightly flippant comment go by or not enforce a clean up rule. By being less strict/picky in the mornings, I think enabled all of us start the day with better flow and attitude. No clue if Kath remembers this or not!
KathEats says
I do not! Ha.
Jayne says
This is a great approach, Kath’s mom! I’m going to borrow this!
Caroline says
Thanks for this post! It comes at a great time for me–as a freelance writer and mom of a toddler, I’m finding it hard to draw boundaries between working and parenting. I spent a good chunk of yesterday writing emails to my agent on my phone from my daughter’s pillow fort and feeling extremely guilty about all of it.
Regarding being “aligned for action,” I’m sure everyone’s experience is different, but as a writer whose livelihood depends on getting words written, I’d like to offer a vote against that strategy. It reminds me a lot of writers who don’t write often because they are waiting for the muse to pay them a visit. If you don’t have a ruthlessly efficient muse, you will never get anything done! I’ve trained myself to sit down and write whether I’m feeling particularly inspired or not, and some days it is rough. But I often find that I get plenty of good work done even when I’m not expecting to. A strict writing schedule has been very useful for me, and I definitely recommend at least giving it a try.
KathEats says
Thanks for sharing your perspective! sometimes when I have to write a post, I say to myself: “I’ll just write a crappy version and edit it later” and that often gets the creative juices flowing and the version doesn’t turn out as crappy as I feel it will in my head!
vicki says
I’m a teacher and I work full time. I have a four year old and a six year old. We get up at 6.30 and my husband does the mornings. I leave the house at 7.30 so he packs the bags and puts the children on the bus. I work 8-4.30. Within the boundaries of my timetable I try to sit down at the start of the day and figure out when I will prep and when I will break. This changes daily depending on workload.
I get home at 5 so 5-7 is mum time. Once the children are asleep I relax and o whatever I feel like.
Interesting post Kath. Like you, I love to see how other people organise their lives.
Amy says
I seem to be older than many of the commenters, or have older children anyhow. My comment is things ebb and flow. Obviously as your kids grow up your lifestyle will adjust. Suddenly there’s a “new normal” over and over that accommodates the needs of your changing family. I guess my thought is we have to be happy and also adaptable along the way! You, and others, will likely, eventually, have a different schedule and that’s okay! My kids are priority #1 and even as high school and college aged people they don’t stop needing you or affecting your routine! Some of these comments seem so narcissistic and angry.
Bottom line is we make time for what fuels us and is important to us.
Jayne says
I love this comment 🙂
Ruth Richert says
Really appreciated this post, Kath. I always wrestle with the line between having healthy discipline and being too rigid. I tend to go with the flow (ie: how I feel!) but it isn’t always effective in terms of getting stuff done. I’ve read your blog for quite a few years now, and I always assumed you were just perfectly organized, so it’s nice to hear that you are trying to find some balance, too!
Jayne says
Thanks so much for this post and starting this conversation, Kath. I’ve been reading since the very beginning and rarely comment, but this post is one of your best, and your thoughtful responses to the comments shows your integrity and character.
I work full-time in an office and have a 5-month old and a 2.5 year old, and the conversation here is great in terms of seeing a wide range of situations and solutions. Thanks!
KathEats says
Thank you!
Ella says
Whew! A lot of people getting reallllll salty about this post!
I, for one, appreciate your transparency and don’t think you need to explain yourself or apologize for anything, how stupid.
I work part-time (1-2 days/week including occasional weekends) as a clinical RD. I have 4 kids age 6 and under so I have a part-time nanny who helps me out. I have to be very regimented with my schedule for obvious reasons. BUT I definitely ascribe to the “flow” idea and try to capitalize whenever I am feeling motivated to do something, especially cleaning or organizing the household because those things so benefit our lives.
If you add more children to your life, I wonder how things would change!
KathEats says
I don’t know how you do it with four!!
Amy says
I love this post! I’m currently working about 25 or so hours in an office 3 days per week, 5 hours from home and am working on starting a proofreading business on the side. I love structure, but I definitely don’t always *feel* blogging most of the time (part of my office job). When I get in the flow, it’s really amazing, though. I’m glad I have some flexibility with when I can do different types of work since I’m an executive assistant, and there’s never a dull moment. 🙂
Also, I just read The One Thing by Gary Keller and am trying to implement his principles. It’s life-changing! I think you’d like it. 🙂
KathEats says
Someone else mentioned that in another blog this week – i want to check it out!
Dr. FitBritt says
Well, let me start by saying I’m not really sure how you work/life balance your time to be able to reply to everyone’s comments! 😉
This post has resonated with me the past few days, because I think I’m a lot like you. I crave productivity, and I think I want structure, but for the life of me, I cannot stay in a routine. I am a full-time professor, plus I teach for a few other universities online (often in my evening and weekend hours), and of course a m-o-m. I definitely struggle with separating away from my work (there are always emails I can be responding to, things I could be grading, lessons I could be planning, and new information I could be reading!).
I definitely don’t have the solution either, but I’ve enjoyed hearing your thought process and the two sides of the coin.
I’ve been seeing a lot of Facebook advertisements lately for https://fullfocusplanner.com/ have you heard about this at all?
I’m not sure I’d want the actual planner (I like to do things electronically), but I’d love to hear the ideas/skills!
KathEats says
I haven’t heard of it but I have to do things electronically too!
Sue says
Hi Kath,
Thank you for your post, I enjoyed reading it but also the great discussion in the comments from women with so many combinations of work/home/family etc has been fantastic.
My initial reaction from reading Rachel’s routine was jealousy- I think some commenters may feel the same. Sad to admit it but I just thought how wonderful it must be to have so much time with children and also be effective in a 10am-3pm routine. I currently work two jobs and have two young children (3 & 1). I have tried my very best to sculpt a work routine that gives me balance. I work 8-5, three days a week in an office and as my second job I am a fitness trainer so work an additional hour 5 days a week (I also manage to get a workout in while I’m training).
I have a set routine to my week but every day is different. I am up every day at 530am and literally collapse into bed at 930pm. I tend to compress my major household tasks (meal prep, laundry, groceries) into two days of the week so that I can enjoy an hour break after my kids go to bed most nights.
I’ve been on this routine for about 6 months since I returned from maternity leave, I am so grateful that I could come back to work only 3 days but I do still struggle a lot with it all.
Thanks for pointing out some resources that may help get me get my head around it all.
Sue