2020 changed how so many of us work and parent, and at this point, I think we can all agree it wasn’t all been bad. Being in quarantine during 2020-2021 forced me to discover some new time management skills that I’ll be sure to carry with me for years to come.

Time management skills I’ve learned:

Time block your days

Whether you use a paper planner, the calendar on your phone, or both (that’s me!), take time to determine when you’ll do the activities you need to accomplish each day. This may or may not include things such as exercise, getting your kids ready for school, showering, in-person or virtual meetings, independent projects, returning emails, making dinner, etc.

Schedule time for your priorities

“You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce.” Sure. But you may have more responsibilities with less help. Don’t let that intimidate you, but don’t let it be an excuse if your dreams are big enough. If you find yourself without time for certain activities, you may need to reprioritize your time management. Consider the following:

• How much time do you spend scrolling social media?
• Can you get up an hour earlier to get work done without interruption?
• How much time do you spend on Netflix or Hulu?
• Can you multitask? Watch your favorite show while working out? Listen to the podcast during your commute?

Give yourself some grace

We may have some pretty big goals and outcomes we desire – and that’s great! But as I preach with my health coaching, it’s all about balance. Not every day is going to go as planned. We need to be okay with that. Give yourself some grace, and learn to adapt and pivot. It may mean transferring some activities from one day’s schedule to another’s. You can do it – be flexible and open to change.

In short, staying productive in this day and age takes planning, setting realistic expectations, and forgiveness. If you do these things, I have no doubt you’ll be successful with your time management as a work at home parent.

Lastly, I hope you’ll explore the rest of my balanced, healthy living tips found on my blog. Be sure to check them out for other health hacks!