No Experience Necessary: A Guide in Creating Your Daily Routine

Whether you are a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM), a mom on maternity leave or just have some extra time with your kiddos, this post is for you. Daily routines have become a saving grace. Even before I became a SAHM I wanted to feel accomplished at the end of my day. I wanted my children to have learned something, even if it was how to put their clothes in the laundry basket. I noticed that I was feeling like the day had gone by and nothing had truly been completed, or that I did not know what to focus on. So, out of that feeling a list was born. I want to share with you my daily routine, which can change upon circumstance but gives me clear goals on what I want to accomplish during the day. Let's start by listing things you can add to your day and then I will give you a run down of what my day looks like.

Tasks or Groups of Task to Add to Your Schedule

• Personal Quiet Time

• Workout

• Cleaning

• Independent Play

• Storytime

• Nap time

• Cooking/Meal prep

• Laundry

• Family Devotions

• Outdoor Activities

• Chore of the Day

• Academic Time

Morning Schedule (5:00am-8:30am)

As I have thought through what is important to me and what I can sustain, I realized that getting up before my children is important. I get up and have my quiet time, which includes reading, praying, getting dressed and sometimes a household chore (a load of laundry).

My children are normally up between 5:45-6:30am. Once they are up we brush teeth, get dressed for the day and have breakfast. At the breakfast table I normally like to read them a story or listen to kids praise and worship music. I try to also give my children a task so that they can feel a part of setting up breakfast. My three year old can take his plate to the table and get silverware for the table. My two year old can bring the water bottles to the table and then seat herself. The baby has the gift of being carried to the table and everything done for him!

Mid-Morning Schedule (8:30am-11:00am)

This is normally our academic/outdoor/independent play time. As a former teacher, it is in my blood to educate. On my dining room wall we have posters illustrating shapes, colors, letter sounds and numbers. We try to review these everyday for about 5-10 minutes or whatever their attention span can take!

Then they have a choice to either go outside and play or do an activity inside. Indoor activities can include play-dough, coloring, painting, building blocks, playing with their car tracks, etc. I like to let them take the lead in this area. There is normally a snack time built into this block of the schedule. If I need to run errands, this is normally the time period I like to get out and back home before nap time. While they may be outside or doing an independent activity, I am normally thinking through and planning dinner or completing a cleaning chore.

Lunch Hour (11:00am-12:00pm)

During this time period lunch is made and had at the table or out wherever we might be. While sitting at the table for lunch, I try to read a story since they are nice and still and I normally have their attention.

Once lunch is over ,my two younger children go for their nap while I do a short reading lesson with my three year old. We also take this time to clean up any messes that were made during independent playtime.

Nap-time/Quiet Time (12:00pm-3:00pm)

This time block has become a necessity for me and the kids. During this time my children are taking a nap (the baby may be up at some point). Generally all three children are sleep. There are times where my oldest child is awake, but playing quietly in his room. For our household, a quiet time is needed to rejuvenate and rest. My goals during this time is to eat, take a nap if needed, prep for bedtime and or do a household chore.

During this time, I may cook or spend time with my husband when he gets home from work. Either way its my time. Grab this time mommas! If you do not have a set nap time, I encourage you to develop one. You will thank me later!

Family Time (3:00pm-5:30pm)

After nap time, the kids will get a snack and usually we head outside or to the park. During this time block we also try to have our family devotion and prayer time. This time is really dedicated to being together as a family so whether its the park, out in the backyard, watching a movie or scrolling YouTube, we do it together.

I try to be consistent in serving dinner at 5:30, just so that everyone is aware of what time they will eat! I am a traditionalist in this area and I love having our meals at the table together. This gives us a concentrated time to debrief and talk about whatever is on our minds as a family or just to sit together.

Bath Time & Bedtime (6:00pm-7:30pm)

We made it! It is the end of the day and we are all worn out. This time period is serious business! We are winding down. I will normally give baths starting at 6:30pm. They will have time for one show, but it has to be something calming (Daniel the Tiger or Baby Einstein Mozart). Sometimes the kids will have one more snack, the perpetual drink of water and then it's off to bed.

Encouragement

You can do this momma! If you are looking for just a little bit more structure in your day and wondering where to start, look no further. You can use the schedule above or create one that works best for your family needs. A few guiding questions to help you consider what should be on your schedule:

• What tasks are most important to you, whether they be weekly or daily tasks?

• Are there certain tasks or lessons you want to teach your children (colors, numbers, how to read, potty training etc.)?

• What will make you feel accomplished at the end of the day?

• Are there specific family needs that happen daily or weekly (grocery store, playdates, library time, school, cleaners pick up, gym, sporting practices)?

• What do you want family time to look like and how often?

• Are there needs that your spouse needs you to take care of daily or weekly?

Remember to give yourself some grace as you begin this new routine. Try it and see if it works, if it doesn't work go back to the drawing board and start again!

Additional Information

Just as a bonus, below I am going to share with you my cleaning schedule:

• Monday: vacuum and dusting

• Tuesday: clean main bathroom

• Wednesday: clean master bath

• Thursday: wash linens and towels

• Friday: wash clothes

• Saturday: clean out refrigerator

There are tasks I do everyday that I am sure everyone does: dishes, wiping counters down, sweeping and vacuuming high traffic areas. I hope this was helpful! Feel free to share with me what your daily routine looks like and if this post was helpful!

Do you have a daily schedule? If so, what tasks are included?

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