Rewriting the Rules of Productivity

With a new baby and a new schedule (I talked a bit about how Ben is working long shifts these days here– and no, he’s not a doctor), I’ve been trying to get myself to do more. When I think about being a better mom, it’s more time on the floor playing with Lincoln. When it’s being a better homemaker, it’s more healthy meals around the dinner table. When it’s being a better blogger, it’s more hours in front of the computer, more emails sent, more posts written.

It turns out though, there are only 24 hours in a day (and I need to sleep for at least six of them to function) and that more is only the key to my stress, not my productivity. I thought, as a rule, I needed to be expending more time and energy on things for them to improve. Really though, I spend plenty of time with Lincoln and Elle, enough time on the house, and what often feels like too much time behind this computer screen. So, in the spirit of “less is more,” I’m rewriting my rules of productivity like this:

Be on task // Whatever it is I’m doing, I’m going to be 100% there. When I’m with the babes, my phone is away and I’m not checking emails. When I’m at my computer, I’m not scrolling facebook or heading into the living room (just for a minute!) to see what Lincoln and Ben and laughing about. I’m not very good at this, but the times I am I get SO much more done or just feel a lot better about the quality of time I’ve spend with people.

Exercise // What I’ve missed most since having Elle is going to the gym everyday. All through my pregnancy it was still a regular part of my routine. For the first few weeks I wasn’t physically able, and now I’m still not comfortable leaving my little baby at the daycare, but I know I’m a better mom,
a better wife, and a better me when I’m in shape. Always Infinity makes exercise (if it’s that time of the month), comfortable. The pad is made from SmartFoam™ and absorbs 10 times its weight while feeling like nothing. It makes it easy to be active anytime, all the time.

Replace the to-do list // I’ve been reading up on productivity recently and found a few places that encourage you to write a to-stop list. By being consistent with the things you cut out and say no to, you have more time for the things that matter and you’re happier in that time. For me it means saying no to worry, specific types of projects, and late night netflix binging (I haven’t quite committed to going cold turkey again like I did in January but I’m getting there).

Embrace the schedule // This is another thing that has been tough with a newborn and Ben’s new job. The few months before Adelaide Lincoln and I had a great schedule worked out. Lincoln thrives on the consistency of routines and I didn’t realize how much I relied on them till they were turned upside down. I spent less time deciding what to do and more time just doing it. I’m working on building new routines into our crazy life right now, while still accommodating for the whimsical sleep patterns of our youngest family member.