Daily Schedule – Flexible & Freakout-Free (for Working and/or Schooling From Home) – FREE VIDEO WORKSHOP
The freakout factor is real right now. Schools are closed. You’ve been instructed to stay out of the office and start working from home. Some or all of this is brand new, and it’s all been dumped in your lap with no instruction manual for how to manage it all and stay sane!
You need a daily schedule that is FLEXIBLE and SIMPLE. Now is the time for tools to help soothe your stress…. not compound it!
No matter your situation, this schedule has you covered. It’s flexible and easy to personalize to what works FOR YOU.
UPDATE: I’ve added a FREE Trello template & training to make this even easier for you to start using right away!
In case we’re just meeting, here’s a brief rundown on how I’m qualified and why I am passionate about helping you with this:
:: 14 years total working from home as a full-time stay-at-home-mom
(7 years working remotely for a corporation in the medical field + 7 years running my own wellness coaching business online)
:: 5 years homeschooling my kids simultaneously with running my business
:: 20 years with my husband, supporting his military career. I have learned how to balance work & life with him home… all by myself when he’s been deployed for weeks/months … and through relocating all over the country every 1-3 years
:: I have been using this flexible block schedule myself for the past few years, since personally suffering through a period of debilitating burnout.
:: UPDATE MAY 2020: I am a Certified NeuroHealth Coach I’m currently studying for Certification in Neuroscience Health & Leadership Coaching.
I understand the importance of nervous system health for overall wellbeing, and I include science-based protocols in all of my current work.
My personal and professional mission is to help purposeful women reclaim control of your energy so you can avoid burnout and stop coming last in your own life.
It is crucial now more than ever before.
Print the worksheet below, read the key points listed below, and then watch the video to create your personalized block schedule in real time.
3 KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Every day won’t be perfect.
Give yourself permission to be OK with that. This is a framework to help keep you grounded and recenter when needed. Try to give yourself grace when -not if- days don’t go according to the plan.
2. Make this YOUR OWN.
Trying to cram your life into someone else’s box is frustrating and will deplete your energy.
I’m an expert at supporting women to craft custom-fit wellness and work-life balance routines. I’m sharing some elements of that process with you here in this workshop.
3. Enlist partner support/ delegate.
If you need help with creating boundaries, getting hubby and/or kids to contribute to household tasks, asking for / receiving help, etc. so you can actually get some focused work & sanity-saving time to yourself, my‘How to Get 60 Minutes of Guilt-Free ‘ME Time’ workshop is ideal. I’m offering it at a special 75% discount through March 31st.
3 SIMPLE STEPS to BUILD YOUR PERSONALIZED SCHEDULE
1. Choose anchor points & build your time blocks out from there.
Example #1:
Anchor point=wakeup time 6 am. If you use the full allotted time for each block, your daily schedule would look like this:
6 am Sanity-Saving Morning Routine
9 am Family Morning Routine
11 am Work / Kids Independent Learning
2 pm Family Midday Routine / Hands-On Learning
430 pm Work / Independent Learning / Quiet Time
730 pm Family Evening Routine
10 pm Relaxing / Bedtime Routine
11 pm Bedtime = 7 hours sleep
You can shorten or rearrange any block as needed to make it work for your life.
Example #2:
Anchor Points= wakeup time 6am / bedtime 930pm. Cut each 3-hr block by 1/2 hour.
6 am Sanity-Saving Morning Routine
830 am Family Morning Routine
1030 am Work / Kids Independent Learning
1 pm Family Midday Routine / Hands-On Learning
330 pm Work / Independent Learning / Quiet Time
6 pm Family Evening Routine
830 pm Relaxing / Bedtime Routine
930 pm Bedtime = 8.5 hours sleep
Other anchor points might be: Family dinner time, partner return home from work time (if applicable), regularly scheduled meetings or appointments, etc.
2. Make lists for each category of tasks.
Brain Dump for Each Category
Work: High Focus Tasks / Low-focus, lower priority tasks
School: Hands-on lessons & projects / Independent Learning & Quiet Time Activities
Physical Activity: Family time, personal
Self-care and Stress Relief
Household Tasks / Chores
Family FUN Time
3. Fill in MUSTS first.
The tasks that MUST happen during each segment get scheduled first. Then fill in any time leftover with lower-priority tasks. Make sure to be mindful of how long tasks realistically take to complete.
Examples of MUSTS for Each Segment:
Work:
High-focus tasks during no-interruption times = deadline-oriented work, client sessions, staff meetings, project tasks, creating/writing, video content
Kids Learning:
Assignments from school, study of core subjects, life skills, reading, physical activity, creative play or projects.
Family Time:
Meals & snacks, outside time, play, connection.
If you need help with making sure you’re not stuck in the kitchen prepping snacks & cooking alllll day, or how to make the most of the food you’ve got stocked up in case of long quarantine, my masterclass ‘Batch Prep Bliss’ is a perfect fit. I’m offering this at a special 75% discount through March 31st.
Selfcare:
Take the ‘energy boosting’ and ‘stress relief’ breaks I have included on your schedule. THESE ARE HIGH-PRIORITY!
In addition to those, have at least one thing you do each day JUST FOR YOU.
Workout. Journaling. Reading. Meditation. Yoga. Art / Coloring. Phone call / video chat with a friend or relative. Anything that feels good FOR YOU.
Use the Sanity-Saving Morning Routine time block for this, or get the kids engrossed in an activity that’s hands-off for you and step away to go take care of yourself, OR include the kids in these stress-relief activities – this is a vital life skill!
It’s really as simple as that. Use this as your baseline. It will help you stay grounded and have a framework for scheduling more detailed elements of your day.
Here is my filled-in sample daily plan. Use this as a point of reference to help you with ideas of activities and tasks from your own life that can be plugged into each block. Or you can print and use as done-for-you!
COMMENT WITH ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS! I will respond to every comment. I want you to be able to USE this tool.
Bonus resources are listed below, including 5-minute energy boosters and 2-minute stress relievers.
BONUS TIPS
- Follow your natural rhythm.
– Not everyone is a morning person. Adjust your block schedule in the way that feels best FOR YOU.
– Be aware that your rhythm might clash with your kids’ … and that’s ok. - Supporting kids who need more 1:1 time or interaction
– Be mindful of triggers: wacky sleep schedules, lack of sleep, change in diet, missed meals or too much time between snacks
– Add some extra 1:1 time mini segments into your blocks (15-20 minutes). Fill their cup first. Explain when you need alone time for focused time or stress relief. Let them know what you’ll be doing together when you finish.
– Set a special toy or activity they only get to use when you really really need focused time alone.
BONUS RESOURCES
This is fabulous! I appreciate the details and organization
Hey Nancy! I’m so glad you found this helpful. Please do let me know how it goes over the next week or so! <3