Productivity Hacks for New Moms

Being productive is hard. Add a baby to the mix, and you might feel like you are consistently getting nothing done.

So how do you find time to get work done, let alone do the things that make you feel fulfilled? As a work from home mom, productivity is something I struggle with on a daily basis. Below are my top tips for getting everything done you need to.

Redefine Productivity

Some days simply surviving is an accomplishment. Other days you get everything done you were hoping to and then some.

Before I had my baby, I would start each day with a list of tasks that need to get done. How well I progressed through that list determined if I was “productive” or not. I feel a lot of people describe productivity that way.

After having a baby, I tried to continue measuring productivity that way. I was miserable. There was no way to consistently get through even the most basic of lists. Something needed to change.

Now, instead of measuring the productivity of a single day, I measure the productivity of the whole week. By measuring productivity of a whole week, you allow for days where you have time to get a bunch done, and days for when the baby needs your full attention.

Check Your Priorities

I begin the week with a list of things I would like to accomplish. Then, I break the list down into things that need to get done, things that need to get done very soon, and things I would like to get done but are not urgent. Then I order the list by order of importance, and then work the list from top to bottom.

Some weeks that means mopping the floor doesn’t make the list. Other weeks deep cleaning the house is the number one priority. Whatever the priority, allow for flexibility and don’t feel you need to do everything all at once.

I generally plan for approximately 40 hours of ‘work’ per week. This work includes housework and work work, but not baby related work. I find I can generally do the equivalent of a full weeks worth of work in those 40 hours, plus keep the household running with a little help from the husband while acting as primary caretaker. But it took over a year to work up to that level of productivity. Do not expect to immediately be able to do the equivalent of a weeks worth of work right out of the gate.

Maximize Small Pockets of Time

Is the baby asleep? Get some work done. Watching TV? Get some work done. Baby playing peacefully and independently in a safe place? Get some work done.

But how do you get work done in these small pockets of time? I break things down into small chunks that can be completed quickly. As I complete each task, I set up for the next one, so I can jump right in without any ramp-up.

For example, if I am working on a blog post, I will start by just outlining it. An outline can take between 2 and 5 minutes. Then I will work on each section as I have time, making notes on a piece of paper if I am interrupted so I don’t lose my train of thought. After that I will take a moment to edit, and then any finishing touches (like pictures) happen at the end.

I also try to work in platforms that do not require me to remember to save. Scrivener and google docs are my mainstays. Being able to leave an hour of work suddenly and not come back to it for a few hours is a must.

Beyond that, I try to make sure I can access everything on my phone. Sometimes the baby gets into playing with friends, or sits down and takes a break. These micro pockets of time are not long enough to open the computer and walk away, but they are long enough to check a couple of emails, respond to some comments, or jot down a list… as long as you are prepared to do so.

Create A Routine

Babies (and children) thrive with consistency. Try to create a routine where the baby expects your attention to be divided, but then they also have dedicated one on one time. If they know they will get your undivided attention soon, they are not going to be so demanding of your time when you do sit down to work for a moment.

My routine looks like this:

• 5 am: Wake up with the baby. Get us dressed and eat breakfast. Help husband get out the door to work. Baby and Dad eat breakfast together.
• 6:30-8 am: Mommy works, baby plays. I have a space to work in the playroom, so I am there watching her, and I do take breaks to help her with things she is struggling with.
• 8:30-9 am: Snack time and get ready to go to appointments (doctor, therapist, play groups all happen at 9 and 10). This is also typically when she has me read a thousand books.
• 9-11 am: Do things outside of the house.
• 11- Noon: Lunch. Shortly before noon, we take a walk that the baby typically falls asleep on.
• Noon- 2 pm: Baby nap, Mom work.
• 2-5 pm: Play time with Mom. This is when she gets my undivided attention. I put my phone and computer in a drawer and pay full attention to her. At 5 her Daddy comes home and takes over, so she gets undivided attention with him for a few hours.

In the morning, she knows my priority is getting the odd thing done. She still comes to me, we still do small bouts of play, but the baby is not upset if I finish my sentence when she comes to bring me a toy. She knows the afternoon belongs entirely to her.

Of course there are exceptions. Sometimes she isn’t feeling well, so instead of writing in the mornings I will do research that can be listened to (podcasts, books on tape, speeches, etc.). This allows me to continue getting work done while making her feel like she has most of my attention. Other days (teething, anyone?), she needs my full attention all day.

Finally, Include the Baby

If you really think about the tasks you have to accomplish during the day, I bet you could come up with several activities to include the baby with.

My daughter is 16 months old. She is not ready to really do any chores or really help me with anything. But I can make it feel like she is being helpful. She hands me clothes out of the laundry to “help” me sort it. She “opens” and “closes” the dishwasher while I am unloading dishes in the morning. And when I need to read research or a book, I read it aloud to her. She loves it.

Including the kids in what you need to do will help teach them how to do it themselves in the future, while keeping them in good spirits so you can do what you need to. Yes, it will take you a little longer to do the task if you include the baby, but the task will get done. I have found that if I don’t include the baby, that often isn’t the case.

What are your productivity hacks with a baby. How do you get things done? Let me know in the comments.

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