What makes a house feel like a home home and cozy

There is nothing better than a cozy home. A home that brims with an ambiance that makes you want to stay forever. I have a dream that my kids will look back on a home that they were raised in with love and light.

A home that was cozy and comforting. There are elements to a home that makes them feel like a home vs. a house. To me houses are just structures, no love, laughter, a empty places with empathy emotions. A very museum like atmosphere.

But a home is somewhere that is brimming with security, love, happiness, encouragement, and all good emotions. I want my girls to be able to look back on our home with positive light. To remember mom made a home. This is why I love the phrase homemaker.

This is such a beautiful job, to be someone who turns a cold boring house into a home bursting with warmth and goodness.

So what are some things that can make a house feel like home.

Blankets:

Blankets all by themselves are so darn cozy. Snuggling under a blanket and reading a book,knitting, or just cuddling is the exact thing that makes you feel at home. Adding a blanket ladder, basket or just one draped on the side of your couch or chair will immediately add some warmth into your living room.

Cookies/Baked goods:

What is more warm and sweet than a chocolate chip cookie? A plate out or the smell of some cookies will add a loving light into the house. We all know that an ingredient for cookies is love and love makes a house a home. So having some cookies around is a sure fire way to make some place feel just like home.

So many baked goods can help your house feel like a home. Brownies, cookies, scones even.

Homemade Bread:

I swear I LOVE a home that smells like fresh bread. There is something that screams homemaker is making some bread. It is not super hard to make but gives off a ton of effort. It is a great activity to make the bread with the kids and show them how to do it. They will love it. Also fresh bread and butter is the best thing that’s ever been.

Dancing in the Kitchen:

Making sweet and sincere memories with your kids will fill your house with your love. A house filled with good times and memories will reflect that in the atmosphere. Your kids will look back on these moments and see love and know that you did your best to make a home for them.

Candles:

Something that will elevate the coziness in your home is how it smells. Lighting a candle always helps with aromatherapy for your home. And the aesthetic of a candle is very snug. Picking a seasonal candle also can make you seen on top of it and add to the fun.

Love and happiness:

While these are not tangible things, they can be felt when you walk in somewhere. Giving your family all the love you can and trying to make your house a home can be felt no matter what. Making your home cozy is most important for the ones who live there and showering them with affection.

Books:

Books are magically and help you dive into another time or adventure. They also add some comfortable decor. Our family are huge readers and there is always books galore. Cuddling up under a blanket with a good book is peak cozy. Having some books on an end table or even a book case around will add sophistication and add to the coziness to it all.

Lighting:

Natural lighting will bring a snug and welcoming space. Opening windows and allowing sunshine into your space will let in tons of warmth and bliss. The sun is the best light you can get into a home. Research also shows that natural light can reduce stress and gives you vitamin D. Win win.

Tidy spaces:

Now having a spotless space is also welcoming and homey. But it’s not necessary to have a comfortable space. Though having tidy rooms adds a fresh look to your home. Cleanliness also is good for your mental health that raises your mood, productivity, and more. I know it’s hard keeping a tidy home with kids but if you try to clean a bit mid day and after they’re asleep it can help it more manageable.

Throw pillows:

Being able to lay down on a couch with cute pillows will immediately upscale your house. Having some pillows add some cozy and whimsy vibes. It immediately brings up the appeal of the room. They are comfortable and you can literally never go wrong. Throw pillows also make a space look ready and put together with not a lot of effort.

Seasonal decor:

Another thing that can so easily elevate a space. Even with minimum seasonal decor it will adds a cozy feeling and up lights your room. It also is super exciting. I love to have seasonal toys in our decor bins too, so that the kids have “new toys” while I decorate and keep a fun twist on the holiday.

Rugs:

Rugs are an excellent way to bring warmth to the aesthetic of the room and literal warmth to the floor. Rugs are a great way to add a cozy flare to the room and tie the whole room together. Rugs are such a great investment because they are practical and beatiful. You walk into a space with a nice comfy rug you will immediately feel more at home!

Plants:

Nothing brings a space more alive than something alive… like a plant! Green is the easiest color for our eyes to process, so having plenty of plants around makes a space very appealing. Another plus is that their is so many different varieties that it adds a ton of variation to the room.

Your things:

It is easy to get caught up in the comparison merry go round. Seeing what is on Pinterest and what is viewed by everyone else as cozy and an aesthetic that other people like that we sometimes lose what we like. If you find a certain look nice and want your home to embody it then go for it.

You are the one living in your home and it should reflect you and what YOU like. When you come home it should be your happy place and be where feel comfortable.

Conclusion:

Home is what you make it. By making it inviting, cozy, and warm. Make your space comfy by implementing some or all of these ideas.

Understand what you find comforting and intimate then add it to your home. What do you find cozy? How would you be able to add that your space to make your house a home?

Love cinnamon rolls? Make them once a week or buy a candle that smells like one so you can enjoy that smell and find ease in your space.

Loving what you come home to is important and will benefit all parts of your life.

Things that take 7 mins to clean

Keep your home clean and spiffy 7 mins at a time. Now all of these are affected by how often you do them, how big your house is, etc. But for the most part these will all be quick things you can clean to keep up on your home.

If you know you only have 5-10 mins to do something quick but a tidier house these are the best tasks to do. You will be able to keep your home where you want it and also take no time at all.

Keep a clean house without feeling like you clean 24/7! It does not have to be the worst to maintain a happy clean home, sometimes it can be so difficult to keep it up. Though cleaning is such a great thing to do, maintain a spiffy house.

Trying to manintain the mindset that if it has value you keep it clean and tidy. You take care o f what has value to you. SO keeping your house clean is a great way to show gratitude for your home. It is so much easier to feel at peace in a clean and well kept space.

Something that I found that has helped is continuing to try everyday. There is not always a clean sink at the end of the day but I do not let that stop me tomorrow. You want something and need to start making that habit in your life?

Do not stop trying to do that. I want to journal more, I do so good for a week then drop off. But the next time I think about it I sit down and do it. I do not let it stop me that I did not journal for a week, today I did and I will try again tomorrow. Today you did no cleaning? That’s OKAY!!!! Tomorrow try again. We are in a crazy season and it is okay to take it day by day but if something means something to you, keep trying. Do not give up. But without further ado, what you actually clicked on this post for, the list of things that only take 7 mins to clean or less.

Wipe down counters/clear counters:

Something sooo clean looking about having clean counters. By keeping counters clear and wiped can take no time and makes your house immediately look so much nicer.

This is a great end of the day task, because then nothing else will be put on them during the night and you can wake up with clean counters and a clean slate.

Wipe down cabinets:

I don’t know why a kitchen looks so much nicer when the cabinets are all nice and clean but it does. Something that immediately feels better to me.

You do not realize how dirty things get on your cabinets until you stop and take the time to wipe them down. Little fingers and drips just happen so subtly but make a lasting mark.

Or until you get that sponge or wash cloth and wipe that muck away. Wiping down cabinets doesn’t take too long but yet, will elevate your kitchen.

Clear and wipe down the bathroom sink:

The bathroom is my least favorite room to clean. It is just some mental block that I have since separated I actually don’t hate any of it. The tub, okay I will clean it. The sink and mirror? Sure, I got that.

But when I see that it is bathroom day, 8/10 my inner Miriam groans and rolls her eyes. But having a tidy bathroom is SO dang nice.

Especially if you light a candle. Set the tone for the place that you maintain hygiene. This is the room where you clean yourself so it really is a good rule of thumb to have it at least sort of clean.

Clean the toilet:

Takes not a lot of time but man it is nice to have done. Check that off your list in less than 7 mins and then don’t mess with it again.. well until next week..

I think having a clean base of a toilet really shows that I clean. No one looks, really no one cares. But something says to me I did this. I kept this house clean because I cleaned my toilet.

Now, I only clean mine once a week and often if I am holding or feeding the baby my sweet husband will clean the toilet. But again, it does not take long.

Sweep/vacuum one room:

Having one room vacuumed is so much better than having no room vacuumed. This is one of my favorites to do when I am feeling like cleaning or I know that it is my midday pick up.

We pick one room clean off the floor lickysplit and then I vacuum and mop. (I use this dual one from shark and I love it. I will link it here. It is for mild messes, not super heavy stuff but works like a champ.)

I always let the girls take a turn cleaning the floor too and then it turns into a fun little game. I love instilling in them that we take care of our stuff.

Clear the table:

I don’t know about you but my kitchen table is my catch all. I put stuff there when I don’t know where else to put it or plan to put it away later. That is truly not the way to keep a clean house.

But by taking 7 mins to clear it or at least tidy it up you will change the whole look of the room. Even just straightening the things on the table will make your house look cleaner and make you feel better.

Clearing and wiping down the table will elevate you dining room and give you a clean slate for the rest of the day.

Put away some laundry:

Now I say put away some laundry not all the laundry. Because if you’re anything like me it would take more than 7 minutes of laundry to get them all put away. Laundry is my weak spot when it comes to keeping up on things.

This is okay though! Just do what you can. If you only have 7 minutes to put away some that is way more than 0 minutes to put it away. Laundry is a never ending chore and you will always have some to work with.

Clear the floor in one room:

Now I get it, if you have little kids this might take more than 7 minutes, I totally understand that. But still taking 7 minutes to pick up will put a size-able dent into keeping the houses clean.

Sometimes all you can do is put a dent into the mess and that is okay. If 7 minutes is the only bit of time that you have to give to cleaning then 7 minutes is all you need!!!

Having clean floors make life so easy. Not stepping on toys, stepping over clothes, stepping around things. This is so annoying. So taking some time and making that better will be worth it.

Make your bed:

Influencers shout this from the roof tops that this is the best thing to do when you first wake up. Personally while I do love a made bed every other morning I pull the covers down to air out my bed.

But making your bed does not even take 5 minutes, so it the freaking easiest. Then you already have that done. And your room will look way better even if there is stuff all over the floor but the bed is made it makes a huge difference.

I love having a made bed, it makes bed time so amazing because I get to unwrap that comfortable bed and sleeeeep.

Unload/load the dishwasher:

I timed this one a while back and it took me 4 minutes to load and 2 mins to unload. It is so quick, but does so much. Dishes are a never ending chore and will always be there for us… Which is why unloading and loading the dishwasher taking such a short bit of time is life changing.

The girls LOVE to join me in unloading the dishwasher. They think it is so exciting to help me clean and I want to keep that love of cleaning alive.

It is also SO nice to have a clear sink so this is one of my favorite things to do if I have a minute. The feeling of walking up with a clean sink and clean dishes? Life changing.

More tips:

Set a timer-I swear this changed my life. I set a timer for the time I am willing to clean and then go ham. I get after it for that amount of time and man it just pumps me up have to work against a clock or see how much I can do in a certain amount of time.

Houses get messy. It will take more than 7 minutes. It will take me more than 7 mins to clean my house right now. But you can truly get so much done in just 7 minutes. It is mind blowing.

Find a groove that works for you!! We do a focus room everyday, mid day clean up after lunch and then after dinner before bed I have the girls help me.

I had the thought the other day when I cleaned the girls playroom that one day will be the very last time I picked up these toys. That broke my heart. I love the age my girls are at. I love hearing them play, I love watching their imagination explode. So the thought that one day they wont need that kinda hurt my feelings!! So I want to cherish these times while I can.

These are precious exhausting days and I wouldn’t change it. You got this momma!!

Keeping a clean home with Kids

I adore having a clean house. It makes me mentally feel so much better, but I have 3 kids ages 3-0. SO sometimes that makes it complicated when it comes to having a clean home. But I have learned a lot from my years of motherhood.

My mother also kept a very clean home, and I picked up plenty of tips regarding keeping a clean home from her. I am so excited to share those here with you guys. They will help you keep a cleaner home and some sanity!

Now do remember that my house is NOT spotless 24/7 but it is clean and picked up at the end of the day. Do not get stressed if your house has moments through out the day that it is messy.

But without further ado, lets get into how I have a decently clean home while having kids.

Focus on one room a day:

I think I picked this up from the Clean Mama, but where I found it. This rule has changed my life.

The gist of this one as you focus on deep cleaning a room each day. So Mondays I focus on the bedrooms it’s when I wash the bedsheets when I vacuum and move things around.

And try to give our bedroom a fresh start for the week. I’ll include a little template that shows what I focus on each day. This helps me know when the last time something was deep cleaned because it’s most likely deep cleaned last week. I don’t have any room that I focus on on Sunday as it’s the day I rest

5 minute clean ups:

This is something I picked up from my mom and have carried through my entire life as children the house got messy there were six of us kids and very quickly the house went from clean to dirty. My mom said a timer for five minutes and all of us siblings!

Would clean up one room at a time this made everything go so much quicker yes there was a lot more help than just one person. But you’ll be surprised what you can do in five minutes.

I’ve started doing this with my three year old when it’s time to clean up we set the timer for five minutes and we work as hard as fast as we can. And once the five minutes is done we move onto the next room. Truly you’ll see that you can get so much done in five minutes

Include the kids:

They love to help me clean other things. They love to mop load the dishwasher and unload the dishwasher and fold laundry I’m hoping to instill a love for having a clean home with them while they’re young

It is so much easier to clean everything without their help, but it’s so rewarding and encouraging that they want to help. I’m sure at some point they won’t want to. Also when they do get older they will have chores they responsible for and having them help me while I do those chores now will help them in the future when it’s their responsibility to know exactly what they’re supposed to do in mom‘s expectations for this chore.

I do require the kids to help me clean up their toys at the end of the day, but as of right now I don’t require them to help me with any of the other chores they do all that very happily involuntarily. I hope to keep that energy going as long as I can.

Clean up something before starting something new:

I have the kids clean up an activity before we start another one, I want them to learn to clean up the mess they just made before starting a new mess. It definitely is easier said than done as my three old isn’t always the most excited to clean my 18 month old definitely isn’t. But it’s a habit they were starting now.

I also abide by the same rule. If I am doing some thing I don’t stop in the middle of it and swap gears, I don’t like to start a new chore until one of my chores is finished. I don’t have to do the laundry, and then start to do the dishes. It’s important to remember just a focus on one thing at a time the rest of your to do list will come

Microwave rule:

I definitely learned this one from Jordan Page

It also has changed my life, I’ll start the microwave for something warming something up rice pack food for the kids lunch. And I’ll clean while the microwave is going the microwave is never on for very long.

But I found I could get a good bit clean. I could get a counter cleared off if not all of them. Some of the dishes put away. I could change the way a room looked just in the time it took to heat something up on the microwave. This is a really good strategy for the whole house two minutes you can make the whole room look different.

Stay on top of it:

It’s so easy to be distracted as a mom with young kids and let your house get on top of you. It is important to take 5 to 30 minutes every day and clean your house.

By focusing on one room every day I spend no more than 30 minutes cleaning but my house is decently clean always.

I stay on top of it and I don’t let my thoughts get ahead of me. I’ll try to just do a little bit every day and I find that that keeps me from being overwhelmed in my house much cleaner

Don’t kick yourself:

How easy is it to kick yourself when you’re down. If your house starts to get on top of you, it’s quite easy to sit there and belittle yourself and your home making skills

But truly where does that get us? No where. If your house and routine seems to be getting on top of you, then give yourself grace and keep trying.

Life happens, and the house and routine sometime gets all messed up. And that’s OKAY. Take a mental health day and ignore the to do list and don’t guilt yourself.

It helps no one and nothing to be mad that sometimes things and routines don’t go to plan.

Have systems:

Having a system for cleaning will help you maximize the amount of time you actually have to clean.

I find having systems on how I clean certain things and where to start helps me clean most affectively.

For instance I was start with clearing the table when I clean the kitchen, then I go to the dishes, then stove/counter tops, and then finally floors.

Have a certain place to start and way to handle each room. I just find that having systems makes my life easier and simpler.

Conclusion:

These are the tips and tricks that I use to keep my house moderately clean all the time.

During the day our house is lived in during the day, after the kids go to bed the house is clean and we start the day with a clean sink and house.

It is so nice mentally for me to start the day with a clean home, and I am more motivated to keep the house clean if I start the day out with a clean home. Do not fret if somedays the house is not clean.

It is not life or death to take a day off and relax.

Organizing Tips and Tricks for Moms

As a mom it is easy for the house to get cluttered and overwhelming. But it does not need to be. There are simple tricks and tips that I do that help me have a clean house while having small kids at home

Now you need to remember my home is clean and organized at the END of the day.

I am aware as a mom of two little girls and our third is on the way that my house will be messy during the day. But at the end of the day with these tips I have a clean home and a relaxed mind. These tips and tricks are what keep me sane and my home organized.

By adding these tips to your life you will be able to conquer the clutter and mess!

Keep a Planner:

Since being consistent with my planner, my life has changed drasticially. When you want an organized home, it is important to start with your mind. Having a planner can absolutely help with this.

You can put everything in your planner. Use it as a brain dump, keep track of the chores you want to get done, your appointments, etc. What you put in your planner is endless.

By having a space to dump everything or make notes on what you need to get done you will be able to organize all your thoughts!

I keep track of what room to focus (more on this later) on in my planner and my monthly + annual chores. By having my chores written down in my planner I already have my cleaning to do list.

This helps me know what I am doing today. I am someone who needs to know what is going on and when. Having a planner has been a life saver for my mind and my home!

Everything has a place and everything in its place:

This one sounds super obvious right? Duh you need to put your things away to be more organized. But man I find this one so hard.

I am so guilty of having things that do not have a home in the house, BUT I want to keep them. Recently we just moved into our own home, and I was able to really look at what I used and what was going to be able to have a home in our new house.

By making sure that the things you own have a place they need to go to at the end of the day. Do not have a corner of the home where you place things that do not have a place.

Doing this you will cut down on so much clutter. If you do have an object that does not have a home, take a hard look and decide if you actually need it or not.

If you decide you do need it, then look around your home and see if there is somewhere it could go, even if you need to get rid of something else to give this object a home.

Meal Plan:

Keeping an organized home doesn’t just include your counters your drawers. As a mom it’s important to have all of your life organized.

And that includes your meals. Having a meal plan and a schedule for what you’re going to eat that week will eliminate so much stress from your life.

Meal planning no joke has changed our lives and it has been a wonderful experience. I have a whole post about meal planning how to get started and what I do for our weekly meal plan, I will link it here.

Clean as you go:

This may be the most important tip to have a clean house. It took me years to start doing this, and wow I wish I had done it sooner.

I heard somewhere if the task will take less then 5 minutes do not hesitate and just do it right then and there. This has changed my life. If I see something on the table or the counter and it will take literally 1 minute to put it away, I just stop and do it then.

By cleaning up a tiny bit through out the day you will have WAY less to do when the kiddos are asleep and you do your last round of cleaning through the house.

Before you leave a room look around and look to see if there is anything in there that belongs in the room that you are heading to. For example, before you leave your bedroom, look and see if you have any cups to take to the kitchen.

When you do this you will notice a huge change, and you will truly spend less time cleaning. Even though it sounds like you may be cleaning more since you’re doing it all the time, BUT really you are cutting down the time you clean in half if not more! Awesome right?

Have a daily to do list:

Having a daily to do list will help keep you organized, you know what you need to tackle that day and you also know when you’re done. It’s important when you’re organizing and trying to keep your home cleaned to not overdo yourself.

Getting your home organized and where you want it to be will take time. Making your house a house an organized home does take more than one day, so do not stress.

I like to make my work to do list and my home to do list the night before, because that’s when I sit and I can think of all the things I didn’t get done today. But instead of thinking of it is all the things I didn’t get done today think of it all is all the things you’re going to get done tomorrow.

Respect your things:

When we respect her things we don’t leave them on the floor or on the counter for an extended period of time. We don’t have a huge dumping ground where the things are forgotten and never thought about. Having things that only matter in your respect will help you find what you don’t need in your house.

I found if my my stuff does not have a home within a month I really don’t respect it. Or I don’t really need it .

When we decide to respect our things we want to put them away and keep them in good condition. And that will really help motivate you to either clean up, or to keep it organized. Because you care about your things and you want them to last long.

Time block:

Just like meal planning is a important part of keeping your life organized, so is keeping your schedule.

Time blocking as a mom, or just in general will truly help you stay organized with your life, your home, and really everything. You’ll find that you have more time and you can get everything done with the time block method.

I also have a whole blog post about time blocking, I will link it here. Turn walking is a wonderful way to organize your time organize your to do list/tasks. It also helps break it down so it’s not super overwhelming. Isn’t that awesome?

Make your bed:

Now you may be thinking how does making my bed keep my house organized. But the thing is getting out of your bed and making it first thing in the morning helps you accomplish something immediately.

It’s a great way to start your morning by organizing some thing. And keeping your bed orderly.

When you start your morning by tackling a task, you’re more likely to be motivated to tackle more tasks. And not just get back in the bed and say oh I’ll do it tomorrow.

5 minute clean up:

This trick is something my mom taught me, she was extremely clean. And taught me many cleaning tips.

As a child she would set a timer and we would clean for five minutes and one room. It was pretty amazing that it in five minutes we could get a room cleaned up.

You wouldn’t believe how much you can truly get done in just five minutes. I know I do the same thing with my three year old, we set a timer and together we clean a room for five minutes.

If I really don’t want to clean that day I just tell myself just do a five minute pick up. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but you do accomplish a ton and normally I am motivated at that point to just finish cleaning the room. But it normally does not take that long.

If you implement the five minute clean up to your routine, your house will stay cleaner and it will be easier and easier to tackle.

Toy rotation:

If your kids are anything like mine, they have more toys and they know what to do with. What I like to do is about every 2 to 3 weeks rotate their toys.

I will take some of them away and either put it in our basement, or my closet if the kids ask for them I see that they really do play with these ones.

If not I may decide to donate the toys, to kind of light in the amount that they have. Another thing you can do is to rotation is take them away for a week or two, then bring the toys back out and it’s almost like your kids have new toys. This helps them play by themselves as well.

But by discovering which toys your kids actually play with, and actually care about you can lighten the amount of toys you have. Which helps you keep their toys organized and not overwhelming.

Focus on one room:

Hey if you are trying to go through your entire house and organize it, starting in one room will be incredibly helpful.

Start in one corner of the room and slowly make your way to the other side of the room. Putting things back where they belong, or deciding do I truly need this or not.

by focusing on one room at a time you break your house down to sections and it will make your organizing more straightforward.

Try organizing one room at a time for 30 minutes a day. And slowly make your way through the house, this will help keep the task of organizing and decluttering much more manageable and not overwhelming.

Especially if you have kids you don’t have 10 hours to decluttering your home. You need to tackle it in more bite-size chunks

Conclusion:

Getting your home to be clean and organized at the end of the day with kids will take time. Do not stress if it takes a little bit to get your home where you wanted to be. Rome was not built in a day and neither is a happy home.

It’s some thing that takes effort, and time. These are the tips and tricks to help me keep my home clean and organized every day.

I hope they help you as well! You got this momma!

Work from Home Mom Schedule

As a mom our lives are crazy in general with kids. But if you add in a job then it just makes life all the more chaotic. Though it does not need to be! Let me share with you the tips that help me get it all done, and be incredibly present with my littles.

Even if you do not work from home with kiddos, having your kids on a schedule is so crucial. They thrive knowing what will happen next and knowing their needs will be met.

Back in the day I worked in a law office as a paralegal, and my oldest daughter went to her Aunt’s while I worked. When I got off work we had no schedule, no routine. I was so worried about just filling in what ever I had missed with her through out the day.

I felt like I only got dinner and bed time with my own daughter due to my 8-5. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved my job and my boss. But that does not take away the feeling that I knew somebody else got the majority of her day Mon-Friday.

And when it comes to my kids, I am a bit selfish with my kids time. I want the majority. I love being with them and spending time with them. So it was a huge blessing in disguise when COVID hit and I was home all day with my little one.

That being said, I had 0 idea how to balance staying home full time with my 9 month old and also work full time as a paralegal. My daughter still nursed and needed plenty of attention. That is when I was on Youtube trying to figure out to balance it all. I found Jordan Page’s channel and I watched her Block Schedule Video, I will link it here. That video changed my life forever.

Flash forward to today, I am expecting my third baby in 4 years, work as a paralegal still but now full time from home, and I have the blog. Time management is a huge piece of my day and how I get things done. I still use the block schedule today. It will change how you think, work, and parent.

Using the block schedule will help you balance life, kids, and work in a way that is not stressful. I once read a book called “A Billion Hours of Good”, another life changer. I will link that book here. And teamed with the block schedule, I really do get 99% of what I want to get done, done.

In the book, the author talks about how 1% of your day is only 7 minutes. When I think about that and break my day down into blocks and also 7 minutes it changed everything. It does not take even 1% of my day to clean the bathroom, or start a load of laundry. Sometimes I will do certain tasks (like folding laundry) for only 7 minutes. It helps me stay up on it and not fall behind and it is only 1% of what I did that day!!!

Combining the 1% rule and a block schedule I can get so much done and still have oodles of time with my babies. Now how does the block schedule work and how do I use it as a busy mom and a employee? Lets get right into it.

What is a Block Schedule:

The idea of block scheduling is that you treat a period of time almost like a class in high school. from 1:30 to 3:30 you are in that specific class and that is what you should be focusing on. The thought is the same. You set how long your blocks are, I would recommend 2-3 hour blocks.

I personally have 2 hour blocks. I found that it is the best for me and my routine. If 2 hours is not working for you then try 3 hours. I also have an alarm on my phone that reminds me that my block ends in 15 minutes, and then again that notifies me that my block has finished and the next one has started.

If at the end of the block you did not finish every task that you had in that block, don’t fret. You can start the next blocks tasks and if you have time after then you can try to get things you did not finish in the block above done. If you don’t then do not stress. It can go in the blocks for tomorrow.

How to use the Block Schedule:

It can make it simpler to have certain tasks that are similar for example an errands block, and you schedule all of your outings in this block to batch you tasks outside the home. You can also have unplugged blocks where you make sure to put down any electronic and enjoy some time without screens.

My day to day schedule does change due to my work meetings. Even then meetings are only scheduled 8:30, 10:30, 1:30, 3:30. So I know that there is certain blocks that the meetings will be in. But I do not have meetings every day, so my blocks do change day to day.

The night before I will sit down and map out my blocks for the next day. If that morning I think of something I need to do I will add it in to a block that it fits or make a note to add it to tomorrows blocks.

Make Your Own Flexible Block Schedule:

Everyone’s days and blocks will look completely different. I work as a paralegal with almost 3 kids and a husband who works half the week. So my blocks are going to look very different from most people. What is nice is how flexible the block schedule can be so you can fit it into your lifestyle with your family.

Sit down and try to map out what your blocks are going to look like, and if you need to move things around do not be afraid to. This schedule is meant to serve you and your family.

If you find that certain tasks are not fitting into a certain block then move it around. Maybe you want your 10:00-12:00 block to be your errand block, but your kids like to eat 12:00 on the dot then you may need to move your errand block around, just in case your running around takes a bit longer.

Life does happen and you will need to move things around and regroup. This is the joy of the block schedule, you can move it around, you can shorten how long you do something,(maybe down to 7 minutes), or even move a task to tomorrow.

When you do need to move your blocks around, make sure to talk to your kiddos about it. Kids thrive on structure and routine, but also need to learn to be a bit flexible. By moving maybe one block or two one day can help them learn that being flexible is good, while still having some structure for your day.

Keep in mind your season of life:

Right now I have a job, a blog, and 2 kids. But here in the next couple weeks we will be adding a new born into our life. This will drastically change how our day goes. But that is just the season of life that we are in right now.

We will need to keep in mind all that goes into having a newborn and how that changes all of the time management. How long it takes to get her ready and the other kids, how long she will need to nurse, and how often are just some things to think about when mapping out my day.

If you need extra buffer room in your schedule while you transition into a new season of life, do not be afraid to give that to yourself. This is another big benefit of time blocking.

Get into the mindset:

It is important to be able to be consistent with time blocking that we are keeping our blocks in our mindset. If you don’t then it will not work.

Just like any habit or thing we do in life. If we want to stick with it we need to prioritize it. You may need practice in the beginning just like with anything. This is new, so do not fret over if things do not go the way you planned or if you scheduled too many things into a block.

You will learn your own rhythm for your day and your blocks.

A glance:

I will include what my time blocks look like and the tasks that I do through out the day and when. This may help you get an idea for your own blocks. But do not forget that mine will look different than yours. Truly in the next 6 weeks mine will look different too. Keep in mind your season and that these blocks are flexible to fit you.

Block 1: 6-8 AM

This is my morning block. Tasks you may find in this block would be:

• Workout

• Bible Study

• Make Breakfast

• Get Dressed

• Work on the Blog

• Girls get up

• Unload dishwasher

I like to get up before the kids, so that I have some time for me. I do most of my work while the kids are sleeping in the morning for the blog. I found this out months after I started the blog. It took me quite a while to find the system that works for us.

I also found that I thrive if I wake up before the kids and I don’t wake up to them calling me and needing things immediately. This gives me some time to wake up and be the best mom to them that I can be.

Block 2: 8-10 AM

My mid morning block stays pretty much the same everyday. While sometimes I have an 8:30 meeting for work, it is super rare. So 9/10 you will find tasks like this in my midmorning block would be:

• Clean up breakfast

• Read with the girls

• Do some work on my paralegal cases.

• Kid’s have free play

• Lucy’s Preschool

The kind of lawyer I work for represents kiddos in foster care. My tasks for the cases we work changes everyday. I sometimes need to schedule to see the kids, call their parents/foster parents, their caseworker, or do legal resource, etc. So this block will look different depending on my work to do list that day.

I no longer work full time as a paralegal, it is more of a part time job, but it is still important and can be very time consuming. If someone calls not in a block I have scheduled to be a work block I will still answer the call. If I do I will just right it down in that block, so I can remember to bill for it.

After I get through some of my to do list or all of it, I will take a pause and do the preschool activities I have for Lucy. I also like to take a pause in this block and make sure I read to the girls and maybe have some music time.

If I make sure I give them some good attention before starting my to do list they normally play much better and do not need something every 2 seconds. That being said we do have days like that and my to do list barely gets touched. (thank goodness my boss is super understanding and flexible)

Block 3: 10 AM-12 PM

My early afternoon block is one that does change day to day more so then the others. That being said it still is very similar everyday. I try to get my errands done in this block. I find it helps tucker the kids out so after lunch they’re more likely to take a nap. On a normal day this block looks like:

• Outdoor activity (weather permitting)

• Errands that take me out of the house, like grocery shopping or the post office, etc.

• Work on Pinterest for Blog

• Work on new Etsy listings

• Fold a load of laundry

• Load dishwasher from breakfast

I do not have errands that take me out of the house every day. Though every Thursday is when I do our weekly grocery pick up and I always try to keep it in this block. I will make the order Wednesday so that I have the pick of any time the next day to make sure I can keep it in this block.

During this time the girls will normally still be doing free time and playing, if not there sitting on my lap and helping me schedule out my pins, or making the templates I sell on Etsy. My desk is located in their playroom so I am literally right there if they need me. We often sing songs while I work and I do talk to them the whole time.

This is why we put my desk in the playroom, so that while I tinker around on the computer and work I can still be as present as possible. Once I finish my pinterest, and Etsy tasks, we load the dishwasher together.

My girls LOVE to help me with the chores around the house, having them help me makes the task take 10x longer, but these are one of the joys of being home with the girls. I love seeing how simple and magically anything is to them. They love matching socks and putting away silverware, so I do not care it takes longer. It is building quality time.

Block 4: 12-3 PM

This block is the largest of the day, but also the most laid back. Mostly because if my 1 yr old Lyra does take a nap it is in this block, and she contact naps. So that kind of ties me up. Our block often looks like this:

• Make lunch

• Clean up lunch

• Lucy gets her 1 movie or 5 ish episodes of a tv show

• Lyra and I rock to sleep.

• Play with the girls.

• Clean the focus room for that day*

If Lyra does not take a nap, I try to make connections with the kids. I will color with them, play a game, read, etc. What ever they are wanting to do.

We do limit screen time quite a bit in our house, we want the kids to grow up playing outside and with toys much more than watching a movie. I feel it is not common practice these days but it is what Bryton and I find to be best for our family.

Now, if the weather is permitting we will spend a good chunk of every block outside. My girls LOVE to play outside. So if it is warm and sunny, that day Lucy may not get a movie at all. If she does not ask for it after lunch then we will go straight outside to play.

*I will be doing a post on focus rooms. I do believe it is a concept from the Clean Mama Blog. Basically one day a week I have on room I focus on cleaning more than the others. For example Monday is our bedrooms. So I wash our sheets, make sure I clean up misc. things that have gotten there through out the week, or really anything I need to do. I try to deep clean one room a day. Truly since I do this every week it never takes more than 25 minutes.

This is the block that I am most likely to have a work meeting in, but it is perfect since it often lines up with Lyra’s nap. I can rock her and take the calls I need to while still snuggling my little one.

Block 5: 3-5 PM

Normally this is the block I try to do a craft or an activity. And we make dinner. Depending on the dinner it may take up most of the block. So here is a glance at the tasks that may be in this block:

• Art project

• Puzzles with kids

• Start dinner

• Start dishwasher if needed

• I will also catch up with anything that I did not finish in the other blocks.

During this block, if dinner does not take that long we may make some cookie or baked good. Also I tend to make bread in this block on Wednesdays.

The girls always help me make the baked goods and bread so we spend some more time together. Often one or both girls will help me with dinner, but depending on the activity we do that day they do not help me.

Also, if Lucy did not have her movie in the earlier block this is where I will add the tv time in if she asks. (If she does not ask, I do not remind her).

This also tends to be the block that I will try to put the tasks I did not finish in. If I did not get to fold the laundry then I will try to fit it in this block. It is a really good swing block.

Block 6: 5-7 PM

This evening block is also pretty laid back. If my husband does work that day he will come home in this block. Then we have dinner and time with Dad until 7. A typical evening block looks like this:

• Dinner

• Bryton gets home

• Play time with Dad

• Unload and Load the Dishwasher

• Clean up the kitchen from making dinner.

Bryton works 3-4 days a week and he works from 5:30 am-6:10 pm. He is gone most of those days. So as soon as he gets home we have dinner. While I pick up dinner and load and unload the dishwasher he will play with the girls.

This is such a fun block because we get a lot of family time. Even if Bryton has been home that day he tends to entertain the kids while I pick up which is super helpful. It is great to tag team with your spouse and allow them to have some great one on one time with the kids.

Block 7: 7-9 PM

The Bedtime block. Ah the one that as a parent you look forward too. Our bedtime block looks like this:

• Clean up the toys

• PJ time

• Scripture and prayer time

• brush teeth

• Sing the girls their bedtime song and lay them down

• Me time

Once it hits 7, we have the girls clean up. We help them clean their toys since they are so young. But we want them to learn responsiblity. They played with the toys they need to help clean them up.

When the toys are all picked up we go and pick out jammies. Once jammies are on we read a passage from a kid bible book and as a family we pray.

After we read the scriptures and prayer then Bryton brushes the girls teeth while I gather their special blankets and stuffed animals. When that is finished and the blankets are all gathered, we sing a song to them and lay them in their bed.

The girls are normally very good and will go right to sleep. So when they are down, I will finish a chore IF needed. But 9/10 I do not have to and I can start my me time!

I was truly born an 80 year old woman. My me time rotates from doing a puzzle, sudoku, playing some solitaire, and reading. I always have a book I am reading, but sometimes I will not read the whole time. To make sure that I have enough time to sleep and get up at 6 am I go to bed at 8:30-9. So I have some time for just me for about an hour or two. This helps me recharge to parent.

Conclusion:

The block schedule while a simple concept is truly life changing. Especially as a mom that works from home. The ability to be flexible but also have structure is the BEST. If you are a work from home mom the block schedule will make things easier and less stressful.

You will be able to attempt this to you, your kids, and your work schedule. Don’t forget that your day and blocks are not going to look the same as any one elses. Nor do you want them to. You need to find the routine and schedule that works for your family! That is the most important thing.