To-Do It Like A Mother: My Super Simple Organisation System

When you’re tired and permanently exhausted, you need a planning system that doesn’t require your brain.

After having kids our heads are just so FULL; we’re now caring for new little people, as well as (trying) to still look after ourselves, have family time together, do life admin, keep a business going, get the housework done… the list goes on, however much support or help we have.

When life is this chaotic and busy, you need to do the ‘thinking’ work once, when you do have some headspace, and then have a go-to system you can rely on to implement when the tiredness and brain fog is too much yet you still just need to crack on.

However.

The problem with any shortcut or ‘system’ that the internet/Instagram/business coaches typically sell is that they aren’t designed BY you, FOR you. They can feel like they are for someone shinier, perkier, more sociable, extroverted, better networked, more into public speaking…. etc etc. They are specifically successful for THAT person, at THAT time, with a particular set of resources, level of energy, and amount of hours available. We get sucked in, sign up, then draw a blank when we don’t have the resources we need to operate in that way.

That is why you need to develop your OWN planning methods. Your bespoke To-Do.

I did this myself when I realised that I had plentiful small windows of time to work around my two kids, but it was taking me half of my 45-min availability to crank my brain into gear and get back into a flow. As soon as I got started I’d have to stop again; as naptime or my too-short evening was abruptly over.

Changing how you approach your to-do list overrides the need to do the thinking again every time. It means you can pick up work when (and where) you have the time available, and get results straight away, not see you faffing and watching those precious minutes slip away.

Your system need to be:

Simple

Don’t overcommit or overwhelm yourself. Start small and build. Take some time to list out everything; get it out of your head first then get RUTHLESS and start striking things off your list, and circling those that are ESSENTIAL. What has to happen each week to A) maintain the status quo and B) move forward your favourite, most important business/life projects?

Suitable

For you! It needs to be practical and fit into your life. If you only have your phone to hand – what apps can you use? Batch similar things together, for example: use nap time for jobs that require focus, when you’re out and about anyway at the park or on a nursery/school run do other errands/shopping, when you’re around the house (but liable to be interrupted) schedule non-important calls to make, and save research jobs for unexpected quiet moments on your phone when you’re a car passenger or perhaps too tired to be creative, but have a spare hour in the evening.

Strategic

It needs to move the needle and actually get you to your goal. Do the stuff that matters, not the fluff! What’s the outcome you are seeking and what’s your one thing that will deliver that?? Work on the 80/20 Pareto principle; of 80% of results coming from 20% of your efforts. Focus in on that 20% that pays off.

Satisfying

Build in wins and stuff that makes you feel good! Vanity metrics are called that when they don’t give you results, so what are the life/business wins that do and that you can celebrate? Give yourself mini rewards for ticking those tasks off your list.

If you are still struggling with an overwhelming to-do list, then speak to me and I’ll see if I can help. I offer a free 30-minute consultation call if you’d like to find out how coaching can support you to get back in control and making progress again in your business (and life!). Book in here.