There are a few facts about myself that I sometimes have to say out loud:

“I work from home. I am a disorganized human being. I am extra-good at procrastinating. I am not as good at working on a tight deadline as I was in college.”

In college, I could go to bed early the night before a paper was due, wake up at 4 am, crank out a passable 5-pager, and take a nap after class. (All while under the influence of college-aged hormones, mind you.) Now, I can barely get up at 5:30 am (on a full night of sleep) in order to exercise with my friends. Waking up at 5:00 to work is something that only happens in very dire situations.

I just cannot afford to procrastinate anymore. When I procrastinate, work builds up. Laundry builds up. Stress builds up. None of these things are good, so I’ve been doing my best to boost my productivity and motivation and, for the most part, it’s been working fairly well.

Here are a few things I’ve learned:

1. Beat the stress by confronting the stress.

When my plate gets overwhelmingly full, the only way I can pull myself out of the stress-quicksand is to make a list of everything I need to get done, and start crossing things off of it. I’m really good at building my workload up so high in my head that I paralyze myself with stress. Usually that workload is significantly smaller than what my brain has imagined, and the simple act of realizing that can help pull me out of the rut.

2. Plan it out.

Whether you use a planner or are strictly digital with your scheduling, having your near-future plotted out will save you from surprises. Remembering a dentist appointment 12 minutes before you’re actually supposed to be there is not helpful when you’ve got a deadline and no babysitter. Write that stuff down. In one place.

I’ve been on an epic search for the best planner to balance both home and work life, and have found only one option to truly fit my needs. You can purchase the files created by Miss Tiina on Etsy, but are responsible for printing and assembling, which made me almost lose my mind. I didn’t realize until it was a little too late that I could simply have had Office Max put a spiral binding on it, and so I gave up and bought two separate planners:

The Passion Planner: I am going to try to use this one for business. It’s simple but goal-oriented, and I think it’ll work nicely.

The Design Love Planner: I’m trying this one out for home. It’s also simple, but has spaces for budgeting and bill-paying, which is important to me. Also, since I’m not using it for both work and home, there is room for meal planning each week as well.

3. Make the most of your time.

I’ve recently stumbled on the “Pomodoro Technique,” and I can’t stop singing its praises. There’s actually a lot of strategy put into it, but let me boil it down to the most basic of basics:

Work for 25 minutes, break for 5, work for 25, break for 5, work for 25, break for 5, work for 25, break for 15. Repeat. 

Now, since I don’t work an 8-5 shift, I rarely fit  in more than 4 sessions of 25 minutes, but this technique has been a total game-changer. If I know that I’m going to get 5 straight minutes of unabashed recreational internet usage, I can work on something for 25 minutes. I’m not sure what it is about the 25 minute time increments, but it’s perfect. Right as I feel myself getting distracted or frustrated with an assignment, the timer will go off. I set the break timer and watch a silly video, and am fresh for the next 25 minutes.

The cool thing about this technique is that it doesn’t just apply to people who work at a desk. I’ve used it for folding the 9 loads of laundry that have been moved from our bed to the floor and back to the bed again. Turn on an audiobook and those 25 minutes will be over before you know it.

You can use this website or find an app for your phone. Obviously you can also just use a stopwatch… but that’s not nearly as fun.

4. Budget

Money stresses me out. Feeling up in the air about finances stresses me out. Going through our bank accounts once a week and just making sure I know exactly where we stand can turn my stress-dial down significantly. It’s almost become an exercise of zen for me to write down bank amounts in colored pens.

Seriously, give it a try. You’d be amazed at how productive you can be when you don’t have a dollar-bill-shaped-rain-cloud hanging over your head.

5. Just get something done.

There is great power in crossing something off of a list. Even answering an email you’ve been avoiding can give you the motivation to move on to the next task.

Just. Get. Something. Done.

Even if you’ve got giant things on your list that are more important, you’ve got to start somewhere. Work your way up to the big stuff by taking care of the little stuff. It usually lights a fire under my butt that’s hot enough to actually make me get to work.

What about you guys? If you’ve got productivity tips, I’m more than willing to listen. In fact, I can hear the laundry on my bed calling to me now…

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Check out our new Keepsake Companion Journal that pairs with our So God Made a Mother book!

Order Now
So God Made a Mother's Story Keepsake Journal

Lauren Bonk

Lauren Bonk is a freelance copywriter out of Omaha who's been wrangling family life and words since 2010. She always shows up with a healthy dose of optimism, a mug of coffee in her hand, and a solid high five. (But not too solid, because coffee is hot and that would be painful.)

Children Don’t Get Easier, We Just Get Stronger

In: Inspiration, Mental Health, Motherhood
Children Don't Get Easier, We Just Get Stronger www.herviewfromhome.com

“This too shall pass.” As mothers, we cling to these words as we desperately hope to make it past whichever parenting stage currently holds us in its clutches. In the thick of newborn motherhood, through night wakings, constant nursing and finding our place in an unfamiliar world, we long for a future filled with more sleep and less crying. We can’t imagine any child or time being more difficult than right now. Then, a toddler bursts forth, a tornado of energy destroying everything in his wake. We hold our breath as he tests every possible limit and every inch of...

Keep Reading

I Don’t Have Anxiety—But My Husband Does

In: Health, Mental Health, Relationships
I Don't Have Anxiety—But My Husband Does www.herviewfromhome.com

I don’t have anxiety but my husband does.  We should have realized this years ago but we missed it. The realization came suddenly and as soon as it popped in my mind, it came out of my mouth. “You have anxiety.” I said. He looked at me trying to determine if I was joking or serious. “I am serious, you have anxiety.” His eyes left mine and found his phone. He picked it up and said, “Hey Siri, give me the definition of anxiety.” As the virtual assistant read off the definition she may as well have been reading my man’s personality...

Keep Reading

I’m Not Sure How Long I’ll Need an Antidepressant to Feel Normal…and That’s OK

In: Cancer, Child Loss, Grief, Mental Health
I'm Not Sure How Long I'll Need an Antidepressant to Feel Normal...and That's OK www.herviewfromhome.com

I tried to wean off of Zoloft and couldn’t. And that’s OK. I had never really been aware of the world of antidepressants. My life has been relatively uneventful—with the normal ups and downs that most of us go through. I knew people on medication for depression but never understood. How can you be THAT sad that you can’t just be positive and make the best of your circumstances? How can someone be THAT unhappy ALL the time to need medication? I didn’t get it. I felt bad for people going through it. Then my 2-year-old was diagnosed with Stage...

Keep Reading

To the Mom With the Anxious Soul

In: Journal, Mental Health, Motherhood
To the Mom With the Anxious Soul www.herviewfromhome.com

I see you, mama. You’re the one sitting alone at the family party. You’re the one hovering a little too close to your sweet babies at the park. You’re the one standing in the bathroom at work for just a moment of quiet. Your thoughts are swirling constantly, faster and more fearful that a “regular” mama. You find yourself spaced out at times, and hyper aware at others. You’ve heard the words “just relax” and “everything is fine” more times than you care to count. Sometimes you wish you could make everyone understand why you are the way you are...

Keep Reading

I Know You’re Exhausted, Mama—But Experts Say You NEED That Momcation

In: Mental Health, Motherhood
I Know You're Exhausted, Mama—But Experts Say You NEED That Momcation www.herviewfromhome.com

I waved as our old blue truck rolled down the road away from where I stood, planted on the sidewalk alone. There I was staring down my first solo stay away from my husband and sons, and the only thought I could muster up was what on Earth was I thinking planning a weekend to myself in the city?  Would my kids be okay without me? More like, would I be OK without them? The answer to both questions was of course, yes, but in that moment I couldn’t help but have doubt because, well, you know—”time off” doesn’t exactly...

Keep Reading

A Morning in the Life of a Mom With Anxiety

In: Child, Journal, Mental Health, Motherhood
A Morning in the Life of a Mom With Anxiety www.herviewfromhome.com

I wake up to the sound of my kids in the kitchen, the morning sun peeping through my window. I immediately cringe at the thought of having to parent today. And why? Because my anxiety and depression is so strong that I want to curl up in a ball and cry. I start thinking about all the things I need to get done, and then I remember that one child has baseball practice for two hours tonight. The other child won’t want to go and will pitch a fit. I roll over to get the sun out of my eyes....

Keep Reading

Our Daughter Hated School; We Finally Discovered Why (and How to Help)

In: Child, Mental Health, School
Our Daughter Hated School; We Finally Discovered Why (and How to Help) www.herviewfromhome.com

I wish we had clued in to our daughter’s generalized anxiety disorder a lot earlier then we did. It’s not for a lack of information available, it’s just that you don’t research it when you believe your child simply hates school. I mean our generation struggled with complicated friendships, PE class, and strict teachers too. Even our great-grandmothers had to survive the “mean girls”. So, our children will make it through, too, right? The problem is sometimes it’s more than just struggling to fit in; it’s a debilitating anxiety that leaves them feeling like they are treading in water over...

Keep Reading

What It Feels Like to Parent With Anxiety

In: Child, Mental Health, Motherhood
What It Feels Like to Parent With Anxiety www.herviewfromhome.com

When my second child was born he wasn’t crying. I immediately sat up in the hospital bed and asked the nurses what was wrong. “He’s fine. Everything’s fine.” But I knew they were lying. A mother knows, and my anxiety-ridden heart was in full-blown panic until I knew my boy was OK. He had swallowed some meconium and turned blue as he struggled to breathe. He had a rough start, but in the end he really was fine. My heart, however, was not. Having anxiety is hard. Having anxiety when you are a mom can be crippling. When you are a mom with...

Keep Reading

To the Husband Whose Wife Has Depression

In: Mental Health, Relationships
To the Husband Whose Wife Has Depression www.herviewfromhome.com

To the husband whose wife has depression,  First of all, it’s already a blessing to your wife that you have chosen her to spend the rest of your life, even eternity, with. Depression is never a battle you’d want to face alone. So having you as her companion, either standing next to her or carrying her in your arms and being that support to her (sometimes, even literally), is a gift she may not always be vocally appreciative of. But trust me, she is deeply and unequivocally grateful for it.  It’s no question that she has her “off” days when...

Keep Reading

Divorce is Not God’s Plan A

In: Faith, Mental Health, Relationships
Divorce is Not God's Plan A www.herviewfromhome.com

Divorce is not God’s Plan A. How can it be? It violently tears apart two people God himself knit together. It rips to shreds the hearts of those who once stared into each other’s eyes and said “I love you”; it makes meaningless the words and promises of lifelong love, commitment and “death alone can part us”. One day there is love. Then, something deeper and stronger takes hold of that love and crushes it until it is dead. For me, that “something” was mental illness. It stole my husband. It destroyed my marriage. He was attending seminary to become...

Keep Reading