PRODUCTIVE HAPPY PARENTS

I  used to be a stay at home mum who was busy all the time, achieving minimal but always busy. Everything changed when I opened my own business and needed to work six days a week, then I started to get massive amounts of shit done every single day.

It was like a lightbulb one day, once I was back at work running my own business with a million things on my list, I clicked back into corporate Bek. The Bek that planed her week, crosses things off her list like a ninja, and leaves procrastinating in her dust.

Why on earth did not I not think of this for years earlier? Answer because I didn’t, but now I know better I will do better!  Thank you Peter Pryor

Planning is everything 

What do I want to achieve by the end of this week? Write it down! Is it SMART?

Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely

Most weeks look something like this:

3 big priorities (for work, farm renos, kids etc),

Eat healthy and delicious meals

Spend quality time with my family

Something that lights me up

Then I get out the diary, fill-in any appointments or things that are locked in, do my meal prepping and planning and shopping, then each day decide on my one focus.

Example

Cleaning day! I set a playlist for myself to get shit done and have fun! Get the kids involved, Enjo cleaning products were by far the best purchase I have ever made. To allow the children a spray bottle filled with only water and a special magic cloth that no matter how many times they rub and mess up it actually cleans the surface of which they’re playing is God‘s gift and genius! While they’re little set them an area they can’t move for example while Mum cleans the entire bathroom floor-to-ceiling little Timmy cleans the shower, give him the spray bottle the Enio and lock him in!

Congratulations Mumma, you now have at least half an hour uninterrupted to clean the rest of the bathroom!

Now every parent knows, even the best laid plans flip you on your head and mess you up even on your Best day.

The secrets of this, is time blocking. Allow an hour and a half for your one big thing every day do it at the best time when you will have the most chance of success of being focused, if this means you get up at 4 am to achieve your most important thing before anyone else is awake do it “make your bed”

Ticking one thing off for you at the start of the day sets you up for success!

This 90 minutes , is Golden. Have your one big thing ready, be organised with everything that you need so there’s no time wasting, no procrastinating! Set an alarm for forty five minutes where you go to the toilet have a break do something but under no circumstances can you do anything else do not let your brain think about something else just give it a moment just give it a two minute break , then back to it for the next forty five minutes.

Now in just an hour and a half you have achieved something massive and incredible congratulations, give yourself a pat on the back make yourself a cup of tea, Go and have a dance, have fun and celebrate what you’ve achieved. This timeblocking is incredibly helpful if you have bigger kids, put the timer where they can see, let them know you are all theirs after the timer goes off. It won't take long, if you fill their buckets before and after ÿour time" they will usually be quite happy to do their thing if they know how long they need to play without you.

Planning is everything

Prioritise the most important thing

Sent everything a time frame

Get the kids involved

Celebrate Success - You must take the time to have fun

‘In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!‘ Mary Poppins

The game changer in our house was when I implemented cooking day. I would spend the day before planning and shopping, then it was cooking day

Prepare all veges and package in tupperware for stirfrys etc

Make 2-3 big dishes double or triple serves to split up and freeze

Cook a roast with heaps of roast veges to have in salads or with a protein for dinner or snacks

Bake cakes, cookies or muesli bars

This is a massive day yes, if you have a child care (or grandies) day this is what you do to set yourself up for a week of calm and happiness. Use every dish in the house, cook up a storm, wash all the dishes and clean your kitchen. For the rest of the week, you can turn your brain off food, yes, there is something to eat, you don't have to go to the shops 100 times to get something, it's all in the fridge ready to zap and eat. Make double or triple your freezer meals and you might even be able to take one in 4 weeks off cooking all together. then you can go get a massage or sit and read a book!  

I'd love to hear how you go with these few tips, is it a game changer in your house?