One of the best things you can do for your sanity is create a stay at home mom schedule.
It took me several months after being home and going a little in sane myself to realize I needed structure each day.
Before using a stay at home mom schedule, my days were all over the place.
Some days I took a shower at 9 a.m. other days 2 p.m.
Most days I accomplished very little before lunch, and I stressed myself out trying to do all of my housework a couple of hours before my husband got home in the early afternoon.
I felt overwhelmed with the house work and didn’t spend the time I needed in prayer or reading God’s Word which lead to a feeling of stay at home mom depression.
After being frustrated for several months, I finally started using a schedule.
Sticking to a daily schedule helped me feel less frustrated, my kids were less whiny, I got more accomplished, and I actually had plenty of time to rest!
Not every day runs exactly as planned, but following a flexible schedule provides stability even on days when not everything goes smoothly.
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a free stay at home mom schedule template that you can print off right away and use today!
Create Your Stay at Home Mom Schedule!
1. Start with the things you must do each day.
Write down everything that you absolutely must get done each day.
I like to call these the anchors. They anchor the day and everything else fits around them.
- 7:00 wake up time
- 7:30 breakfast
- 8:30 preschool
- 12:00 lunch
- 2:00 nap for toddler
- 6:00 family dinner
- 8:00 kids’ bedtime
- 10:00 parent’s bedtime
There will also be anchors that only happen once a week. So take those into account too. Each day may look a little different.
After you have written down everything that must get done, you’ll want to will fill in the other things that you would like to do.
If you find yourself getting bored at home, get creative and come up with a list of ideas you can do with your kids and by yourself.
2. Allow for extra time in your schedule.
One of the problems with stay at home mom schedules is trying to squeeze in too much. You know, that as a mom things can change in an instant, especially with kids.
You never know when one child will get sick or need a diaper change. You may decide to spend extra time reading another book or playing a game.
You’ll want to have extra time for moments to show your kids they are loved and valued.
If your schedule is too packed and rigid, you will become frustrated and be able to deal with things that come up.
So instead, allow for extra time and don’t pack your day too full. You’ll also want to consider a schedule for your kids. Here is a simple one year old schedule.
3. Break your schedule into blocks.
It can be helpful to think of your day as a block schedule where you focus on one thing at a time.
For instance, I like to break up my day according to morning, afternoon, and evening activities.
MORNINGS: housework and errands
In the morning, I like to get housework done and run errands.
I only schedule appointments for the mornings if at all possible, and I meet with friends and playdates in the mornings only.
I have an entire post where I shared a more detailed breakdown of my morning routine plus 5 morning habits I believe all stay at home moms should have.
AFTERNOONS: rest for kids and work time or relaxation for mom
Afternoons are nap time which my toddler absolutely needs! It is also time for me to get work done.
So I keep afternoons clear on my schedule. This is also a great time to do something for yourself like a hobby!
EVENINGS: family time
Evenings are for family time at our house. Since I already got my errands and housework done, I don’t have to try to do those things at night.
The only housework I do is cleaning up after supper, but that doesn’t take long because I keep up with it throughout the day.
I do work a few times a week in the evenings after the kids go to bed too.
If block scheduling sounds intriguing to you, check out Jordan Page from Fun, Cheap, or Free. She has a detailed video all about block scheduling that I personally found really helpful.
It is 27 minutes long, so you’ll want to schedule a time to watch it. 😉
4. Follow “mini schedules” or routines throughout the day.
You can also create mini schedules and routines throughout the day that you follow at specific times.
The most important routine is a morning routine because it starts your day off right and you are less likely to procrastinate. Here are a couple of example mini schedules:
Morning Routine with Kids
- eat breakfast and read Bible story
- clean up breakfast
- get dressed
- play together
- preschool
Afternoon Routine with Kids
- clean up after lunch
- pick up toys
- play outside or go for a walk
- read a book
- nap for toddler and quiet time for preschooler
Example Stay at Home Mom Schedule
These times are approximate. I’m not a stickler for doing everything at the exact minute. But it is good to have direction for each day.
Get Up Before Kids Schedule
6:30 Read God’s Word, Journal, Prayer and throw a load in the laundry
6:45 Exercise
7:00 Shower and get ready for the day
7:30 Breakfast and get kids ready for the day, spend time with the kids
8:30 Run errands, household chore, appointments, or preschool (3x a week)
11:30 Lunch
12:00 Play outside or go for a walk
1:00 Read books and pick up toys
2:00 Toddler takes a nap and preschooler has quiet play time. I work on projects that I couldn’t get done earlier in the day, and then work on blog work.
3:00 Son has play time, TV, puzzles, or play dough. I will play with him and also use this time to work or do something on my to do list.
4:30 Start supper
6:00 Clean up the kitchen. You can read more about my evening cleaning routine here.
6:30 Family time
7:30 Get kids ready for bed
8:00 Put son to bed. If you are looking for a bedtime routine, check out my one year old’s bedtime routine.
8:00 Me Time! (Blogging, TV, Call Someone, Read Book)
10:00 Go to bed.
Get up After Kids Schedule
7:00 Wake up with kids and feed baby
7:30 Everyone else eats breakfast and then cleanup kitchen
8:00 Get kids dressed and set them up with an independent activity
8:30 Get a shower and dressed while the kids are occupied
9:00 Run errands, meet a friend, or go on an outing
11:00 Outside play time
12:00 Eat lunch and clean up the kitchen afterwards
1:00 Do a household chore
1:30 Go for a walk and push the kids in the stroller
2:00 Nap time or quiet time for kids while Mom gets free time.
4:00 Quiet activity for kids at the table
5:00 Prep for dinner
6:00 Dinner time and family time
6:45 Clean up after dinner and spend time with kids before putting them to bed.
8:00 Time to self or with husband
10:30 Get ready for bed
11:00 Go to bed
DOWNLOAD A STAY AT HOME MOM SCHEDULE PRINTABLE
If you don’t already have a plan for your day, I hope this has been helpful and given you some guidance.
It will take a little time to figure out the best schedule for you, but it is absolutely worth it!
When you get intentional with your days, you’ll find that you are more productive and still have time to rest or maybe even start a hobby!
Your whole family will thrive when your day is structured and focused.
Overwhelmed at home? Have a clean house, dinner on the table, and family time with the free BALANCED MOM CHECKLIST!
Watch the video for more tips to create a stay at home mom schedule!
Here are more helpful posts for stay at home moms:
Overcome Stay at Home Mom Depression!
Tips for Bored Stay at Home Moms
Essential Self Care Tips for Stay at Home Moms
The best way to get things done is to first know what actually needs accomplished. So get specific and write down what you need to do each day. Second, make a plan. Figure out when and how you will get each task done. Just be sure not to add too much to your list.
First, decide on a wake up time and a bedtime for yourself. Then fill in the schedule with things that happen every day: naps, meals, ect. Last, Fill in the inbetween times with things you’d like to get done: cleaning, reading to kids, errands, meeting a friend, ect.
12 thoughts on “Motivating Stay at Home Mom Schedule (Free Printable Template)”
I feel ya! I totally have to write my day out then give everything a good time slot or i am like a mad woman! I don't want to be that way! Thanks for sharing,new follower here!
Glad to know I'm not the only one that runs around like a mad woman when there is no schedule! 😉 They make such a difference in how the day goes. Thank you for visiting. I love meeting new blogger friends!
This reads like my schedule as well. I was like you. Before I had one in place, I would run around the house like a madwoman and struggle to get things done. Now, everything seems more pleasant and runs more smoothly. I did have to adjust a bit after my daughter got rid of her morning nap, but it works itself out eventually. Thank you for sharing, Emily So glad I'm not the only one with a working schedule as a SAHM. Happy to have found you on Manic Mondays blog hop!
It is amazing how much of a difference a schedule makes. The first week I stuck to a schedule, I felt like there were more hours in my day! This last week my son seems to be transitioning to one nap as well. My schedule definitely depends on nap time! Thanks for visiting from the blog hop!
It's been crazy at our house, since my teacher husband is home with us. We're loving having Daddy home, but between trips and relaxed summer days, my schedule hasn't been great either. I was just thinking how I need to get out my list notebook again so I can at least check things off that again. Come August, we'll get back into our serious schedule again!
Summer vacation is great, but it can be hard without a routine. We enjoy having Thomas at home on his days off, but it is always nice to get back to a schedule when he goes back to work! I love crossing things off of my lists too. I just have to remember to make the lists! 🙂
This sounds like a great schedule! Love the idea of sitting down and first figuring out the must-do's. Thanks for linking up at the Manic Mondays blog hop!
Thanks, Meredith! This schedule has worked great for me. I have really enjoyed linking up to your blog hop and finding some great blogs!
Schedules definitely help me get more done in my days off!
That is great! I think schedules help keep the day focused so more can be accomplished.
I have never really thought of my day as a sit schedule but yet it is. I just never wrote it down! It really helps to get things done on time but yet be flexible for life’s moments. Great post
Yes, I have learned to be flexible. There is always something that comes up!