The Time Management System That Helped a Mom Reduce Overwhelm and Start Her Dream Business
Some routines are born out of necessity, others from inspiration—and sometimes, they come from a little bit of both. In today’s This Routine Life community feature, we’re hearing from Aileen, a mom who transformed the way she manages her days after learning a few key time management strategies.
From juggling a busy toddler’s schedule to keeping her own priorities in check, she’s built a colorful, alarm-filled Google calendar system that turns potential chaos into a calm, organized flow. Her story is proof that with the right mindset—and a little tech savvy—you CAN find the time for motherhood, work and building a business!
What routine/self-care habit would you like to share with the This Routine Life community?
Time management tips, specifically time blocking and reminder systems, I learned while working with Kristen, and how I’ve managed to still implement them a year after working with her.
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have one son and he’s 3 years old.
When and how did you start this routine/habit?
Last summer, I reached out to Kristen because I was feeling stressed with my lack of time management skills. I was constantly running late to work or appointments. And I was forgetting about upcoming events/commitments. I would waste time wondering what I should focus on next, and the days just kept slipping away and I felt like I wasn’t accomplishing anything.
I wanted guidance on how to better structure my day so that I wasn’t constantly running late or forgetting about something important. I also wanted to find time to do more learning/education on topics of interest, specifically starting an online coaching business helping new nurses in women’s healthcare.
How consistent are you with this routine/habit?
I’m not 100% consistent with using time-blocking or my task management system. But it’s been the tactic that has most worked for me in the long-run.
How is your life different because you make time for this routine/habit?
My life has made a complete 180 since implementing time blocking and my task management system. I continue to add and tweak as I encounter stumbling blocks and so it only gets better with time.
After working with Kristen, my life became even busier and yet it didn’t feel overwhelming like it did in the past. Even with added responsibilities, I kept up with my commitments and daily chores.
Related Posts: How to Time Block Your Schedule as a Stay-at-Home Mom + How I Use Google Tasks to Make Life Easier
How do you treat yourself if you miss a day of your routine/habit?
I no longer beat myself up for not being ‘perfect’ every day. I just have easy days and busy days, easy weeks and busy weeks, and either way it’s ok. I just keep going and refer back to my time blocks. I try to just learn from days that don’t go as planned and be accepting that there’s no such thing as perfect.
Why do you think you’ve been so consistent?
Changing my mindset and not giving into perfectionist thinking has helped me stay consistent. I don’t beat myself up when things don’t go as planned, which helps me stay productive instead of stalling and procrastinating.
If we were to watch you go through your routine/habit, what would we see?
A lot of alarms and colors on my Google calendar, but I promise there is a method to what may look like madness! I basically create a “new calendar” for anything that is not a personal appointment. So time blocks have a calendar, my son has a calendar, his daycare events have a calendar, my husband’s events have a calendar, the local library events have a calendar, my gym’s schedule and events has a calendar, etc. I see calendars as “categories” on my Google calendar and I can turn them on or off as needed, but I don’t have to use brain power remembering when things open, close, or occur. I can just open up my Google calendar and see the answer and how it fits into my day.
How do you make time for this routine/habit?
The time block schedule has made it so I don’t have to “reinvent the wheel” every day/week according to my schedule. And this is so helpful because my work schedule changes up frequently. Once I created a task management system, it could be easily replicated and/or adjusted so that became easy to follow.
What advice do you have to give to a mom who wants to start making time for herself or wants to start a new routine, but is struggling to make it happen?
The goal isn’t to create a flawless plan—because no plan will ever unfold perfectly. Instead, it’s about giving yourself a flexible structure that allows you to welcome new opportunities and reflect on what works (and what doesn’t) for you and your family. Every day is different. Every day brings its own challenges. But when you’ve set aside time to handle those challenges, you’re no longer in constant “putting out fires” mode—you’re navigating your days with more calm and intention.
Since we’ve stopped working together, Aileen has started her own coaching business where she helps burned-out Labor and Delivery nurses reclaim their time + peace. You can find out more about Aileen at @aileenonnights
If you’re interested in creating a time block schedule and task management system to lessen your overwhelm and help you enjoy motherhood more, just like Aileen did, check out the “Routine Mom Coaching” program by clicking here!
