How To Stay Productive & Organized As A Busy Mom

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One of the questions that I get the most is how to stay productive and organized as a single mom.  The fact of the matter is that before transitioning into being an entrepreneur, I was working a full time job, getting graduate degrees (an MS and a PhD), and being a single mom in which my son’s father had no involvement. And I did not stop or drop any of it.

Before we get into how to be productive and organized as a single mom I highly suggest you watch my video on why you should level up.  As a single mom one of the things that I found has been most important in making my life better and my son’s life better is leveling up so that we can have. You can watch that video down below and don’t forget to subscribe to my channel by clicking here. 

1. How To Stay Focused And Motivated ~ What do you want to have?

The first tip on how to stay focused on your goals is to know what your goals are. Now, remember what I said about leveling up so you can have? The first thing you need to keep in mind when knowing how to stay productive and organized is that you need to remember why you want to do it. 

For me, I had to balance all of these things so that I could have more disposable income, so that when I started my business so that I could work on my own time so that I could have the life that I wanted to have so that I can finish degrees to get a better job.  Knowing what I wanted to have forced me to learn how to stay more productive and organized with my time.

In those days when it seems like everything is getting out of control and you simply cannot be on top of things, I want you to always remember what is it that you want to have? And know that every time you choose to not be productive or complete your goals for the day the only person that is suffering is you.

When you are late for work time and time again you suffer, when you are not able to do your homework for school you suffer when you do not work on your business that day because you are too tired from everything else you suffer.  Overall you are just delaying yourself from getting the things you want to have.

2. How To Stay Focused On Goals ~ How To Stay Organized

So, I literally did a blog post on the Kon Marie method that you can click here to read.  Also, I HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest that you get her book, which you can view her books below. As she has some for home, work, and so much more as a permanent and easy way to keep your life organized. 

As someone who hates to organize and clean up because it took so much time, this book will teach you to organized your home in a way that remains permanent and so that things are much easier to find.  And even on the days where I do have to reorganize or clean up, it takes way less time because I followed this method first.

So, what this means is that you spend less time organizing and cleaning up meaning that you will have more time to do other things. And as a single mom, since this organization method is kid-friendly your kids can find things or put things away on their own without bothering you to do it.  Which brings me to my next point. 

3. How To Stay Productive ~ Utilize Your Kids

One of the ways on how to stay focused and motivated is to use those around you. I wrote about this in my single mom’s morning routine that you can click here to read.  When I had to get up and go to work, sit in a 2-hour commute my morning routine had to be flawless, and my son needed to be apart of that so that I was not late for work and he was not late for school.  

This is why one of the main ways on how to stay organized and productive is to put some of the responsibilities on your kids.  And this will help THEM in the long run.  Giving your kids age-appropriate chores to do, such as cleaning their room, helping around the house, washing the dishes, vacuuming, whatever it is frees up your time to be more productive, and keeps your more organized.  

Even when my son was in preschool as I was washing dishes I used to hand him plastic bowls and cups and let him put them in the dishwasher.  I also use to let him push around the vacuum. Before you get on me and tell me it is too young. I will say that although he was not vacuuming and putting dishes away perfectly and I had to still intervene. It helped him NOW as he has aged he has been able to take initiative and do these things on his own.

Just like the Bible says: Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

My son has taken initiative to put up groceries without asking, to organize the pantry without asking because that is how he was trained, and he wants to help his mom.  The result of that is that it helps you be more organized and productive when your kids can take initiative to help around the house instead of you doing everything. 

4. How To Stay Focused On Goals ~ Time Management

This is the best thing that you can do when it comes to how to stay productive and organized.  When it comes to time management the best thing that you can do is to pick a day, at the beginning of the week preferably and plan as much as you can.  What you need to do for the week, meal prep if that is your thing, what you need to do each day. Write them in a journal or books such as the ones below.

For me, I know exactly what I have to do each day for my business, for my life, for my schedule and it is unwavering. It can be very hard to stay productive and organized if you get up in the morning and you are flustered about what you have to do that day and spend hours out of the day trying to figure it out. An hour wasted in the morning, another hour wasted in the afternoon, and another two in the evening.  Four hours wasted that did not have to be wasted if you just plan in advance.

And also get your kids on board with this.  My time management was so good that literally my son knows what time we have to get out of the door each morning and even when I am more than 10 minutes late my son will remind me that its time to go.  Because BOTH of us understand time management.  We both understand what needs to be done for the day and what time.  And we both try to stick to that schedule.

So, you don’t have to sit around, reminding your kid what should be done and at what time they just know. And the same for you, you know what needs to be done in the day, you have a time frame on what time everything should be done, and you stick to it no matter what.  And once you do you will notice that your days will run a lot smoother and more productive. For your kids and yourself.

So set out your goals on what you want to do each day, how long you want to do something each day, what time you want to start, and what time you want to finish.  And stick to it regardless. For the days you do not stick to your list do not make excuses for yourself, figure out why you did not finish. 

Was too much on your plate that days,  did you lollygag around for too long causing you to be less productive, did you spend too much time going back and forth with your kid about something causing both of you to be unproductive? If that is the case, then adjust and figure out a way to decrease these occurrences.

5. How to Stay Productive And Organized: Raise Independent Children

Some single moms experience mom guilt (which I have a separate blog post on click here) when they are not around their children and sitting in their face all day or doing something with them.  DON’T.  One of the ways on how to stay productive is that your kids can learn to keep their own self-company without tearing up the house or coming to bother you every five minutes.

My son can occupy himself for hours while I work without bothering me because he knows that I am working.  If your kids are at home, then it can be beneficial to have snacks within arms reach for them to get on their own or to be able to fix a lunch for themselves.  No matter if it is a lunchable or something in the microwave this all can be helpful.

However, you can figure it out, allowing your kids to learn to be independent to do things on their own so that you can be more productive is not child abuse.  It is a life lesson that it is teaching them to do for themselves, to learn how to occupy their own time, and learn how to solve problems on their own without bothering you.  You can watch my video below for additional parenting tips.

But all and all, you can schedule days and times in which you do activities together.  My son and I have times and days that we sit and watch movies together, go to the movies, go out to eat or do something together as a family.  But it does not have to be your job to do something all day every day with your child. 

In fact, it is beneficial if you don’t because it teaches them independence.   During their scheduled time alone, they could go in their room to read a book or take a nap.  Of course, this is going to vary depending on age. But as the child is more school-aged, you should start to foster some type of independence.

Alright I really hoped that this helped you learn how to stay productive and organized as a single mom.  For more advice to help you on your single mom journey then be sure to check out my best-selling book for single moms by clicking here.  And if you are not sure then you can click here, and I will give you the first few chapters for free.