This “How I Structure My Day” Series started from a post I did on the topic in my own life, under which a woman asked if it would be possible to see how a woman working a more full time job did it. I asked women to share, and here are their responses! If you would like to contribute, you can here. All responses are shared anonymously here and on Instagram. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I do!
The Woman:
- Partner: No
- Children: Yes – 9 & 5 (share 50/50 custody with sons’ father)
- WFH with travel ~2x/month
- Michigan
Typical Morning:
- When I have my kids, I try my best to get up with an alarm around 7am and do the bare minimum to get ready, then get them up and encourage them to be independent.
- We prep every single thing the night before.
- We leave by 8:30, I drop them off around 8:40, then go to the gym from 9:15-10:00am.
- I live in EST time but work CST, so I’m able to login around 9:15am CST, unless I have meetings I want to be more presentable for.
Morning “Make Life Easier” Hacks:
- Everything is on the calendar and everything is packed before – for both me and the kids. Clothes are laid out, breakfast is something that’s ready to grab or heat up quickly, backpacks are packed, water bottles are filled and snacks are packed (my kids buy lunch- that’s something I’ve taken off my plate).
- I’ll also catch up email at night after my kids go to bed and schedule emails during my morning workout, which helps for me to login with responses on things I need answers on!
Transition into Work-Mode:
- I don’t. As a single mom, I launch hard from work to mom life. But on my days without my kids I’ll catch up and prep for the kids so I can focus on being present when I have them. I try to do stuff for me too.
What my work day looks like:
- My day is typically meeting filled, but I do my best to “propose new times” for meetings I’m able to so I have blocks of meetings and then block the rest of the time for things that need to get done – both work and personal.
- I have blocks for my workouts, lunch, time to start and close out my day (typically email) and for drop off/pick up.
- When I’m WFH, I get done as much of the deep work as possible, and plan specific blocks for each, especially in the morning when I focus best. Lately I have been traveling to the office or events about twice a month, and that’s where I’m ON. It makes me feel less guilty when I log off to get my kids and focus fully on them. It’s all a juggle!
Lunch/Snacks
- I try my best to take a few minutes to eat, but more often than not, it’s during a meeting where I feel comfortable eating. The other person is usually eating too!
Breaks
- I schedule time for working out and for lunch, and try to be very intentional during my work travel to have slower, long mornings because I can.
- I also use plane time for reading and catching up on shows.
- And, if I have weekends without my kids where I’m home, I schedule self care type activities and time with friends, and like to block of a “rot” day at least once a month or so.
Leaving work
- Work always finds me- but I step away when I’m with my kids, which is oftentime during work hours. So, I catch up later and fit in work when I have the time.
Transition out of work mode
- I have an office in my house, and before I end my day, I write my plan for the next day in my daily planner. Once that’s done, I try to stay out of my office at least when I have my kids.
After work hours:
- I have a hard rule that all “work” can get done when my kids are awake or during pockets of time during the day – so I don’t do chores or prep after they go to bed!
- Sometimes, after the kids are asleep, I have to do more work, but I need at least an hour or so to myself each night to reset before bed!
- I wait to eat dinner until my kids are in bed, so that’s my time – I’ll watch a show, get ready for bed, and read to wind down (with bedtime reminders set on my phone!).
Nighttime Non-Negotiables:
- Laying out clothes and breakfasts for me and the kids,
- Setting out my greens and pre-workout,
- Packing backpacks/snacks (my kids help with this and have a checklist they do right when we get home),
- Doing my skincare and taking long showers a few nights a week.
- I’ll do dishes and laundry in the morning and put away the dishes as I make my morning coffee – I put away laundry once a week with my kids.
Afternoon/evening “make life smoother” tips:
- Everything is on the calendar
- Meals are planned
- My kids have a strict bedtime!
Outsourcing:
- I have my lawn and snow done
- I have house cleaners once a month (which I wish I could do bi-weekly, but as a single income household I’ve scaled back)
- Do delivery or pick-up for errands
- My kids do a lot of chores to earn allowance!
Exercise:
- Yes, I workout about 5-6 times per week. I go to Burn Boot Camp and actually work there about 15 hours a month in the childwatch room in exchange for a free membership (and I get paid!). It’s a win-win because it’s one less bill, a little extra money, and it keeps me occupied when my kids are with their dad.
- I’ll also do yoga, Pilates, etc. a few times a month and use these as social outings with friends.
That’s a wrap for this one!
Thank you so much to this woman for generously sharing. This is part of a series, so stayed tuned for more each Thursday here and on Instagram. The goal is to show how women from different industries, with and without kids, with and without partners, with family living with/near them and not, wfh to 1+ hour commutes, etc. structure their day. Enjoy!
And if you would like to contribute (all posts are published anonymously to allow you to share the nitty gritty details without concern), you can by filling out this form. Thank you!
A reminder of the ground rules to ensure women continue wanting to share about their days and feel safe doing so:
- Encouraging comments always welcome!
- If you have questions or even hang-ups about what someone shared, you are welcome to ask a question for the sharer in the same kind, genuinely curious way you would if you were looking at that woman in her eyes. She might respond through me.
- If comments are judge-y or mean-spirited, I reserve the right to delete comments. I can handle being criticized about my own work here (and even still, to a degree – I’m also a person), but I go into full mama bear mode when people come after my people – including women who are being vulnerable and sharing in the first place.
- Thanks to the vast majority of people who are so kind!
New here? Welcome!
I’m Kelly Nolan, an attorney-turned-time management strategist and mom of two. I teach the Bright Method, a realistic time management system designed for professional working women. In addition to this fun new series, I share bite-sized time management strategies here and on Instagram. Thanks for being here!
