The question I receive most often, is how I squeeze my work from home business in to my routine. I have to admit, when I started my business it was a lot easier. I was 6 months pregnant, and while I thought I was busy- that doesn’t compare to the “busy” I am now with a one year old running around. However, I have found a way to fit my work into little pockets of my day. Then I can be fully present with Addison at the same time.
Work From Home Schedule- 7:00 AM
Wake up (for Addison). I usually try to get up between 5:00 & 6:00 to get a head start on my day. Sometimes that means reading my devotions before Addi is awake, or answering a few emails, scheduling posts, etc. Addison has started “sleeping in” until 6:30-7:00 AM, and I have been enjoying my mornings for some time for myself. This also gives me the opportunity to get a head start on the day. Our wake up isn’t complete unless we get kisses from our Charlie-dog!
8:00 AM
Breakfast- I set Addison up in the bathroom with her breakfast while I get ready for the day. I like to be put together, so if I need to run out and do errands I’m ready to go. Plus, I’m more productive if I’m “ready” instead of lounging in my pajamas all day.
9:00 AM
This particular morning, I had an appointment with our lawyer to set up my business as an LLC. Addison tagged along with me, and she was such a trooper.
10:00 AM
Since we were already in town, we made a stop at the bank to open a savings account for Addison. I had been keeping her birthday money in our safe, and decided it was time for her to have her own account so we could start saving for her future as well. Addison was a big fan of the signing pad 🙂
11:00 AM
I knew we were going to be out and about around lunch time, so I packed a lunch to go for Addison. I stopped at Subway to get subs for the guys in the field and myself, and we headed out for a visit. P.S.- This is one of our favorite baby led weaning options- ham and pepperoni, mixed fruit, and a nutrigrain bar. Super quick, simple and nutritious.
12:00 PM
We extended our stay in the field past lunch. We see very little of A.J. during the harvest season, so we take every opportunity we can to see him a little longer. Addison is constantly talking about her dada, and she lights up when she gets to ride in the tractor with him. It’s so much fun to watch her explore all the controls and buttons!
1:00 PM
We headed home for nap time and took a few minutes to wind down and read books. Addison loves the touch and feel books, and got a few new ones so we have been reading these over the past few days. Our favorite one right now is “Never Touch a Dinosaur“.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
This is when the magic happens. Addison takes about a 1.5-2 hour nap in the afternoons, and I try to knock out as much of my work as possible during this time. It is extremely hard to stay disciplined and solely focus on my work- the dishes are in the sink, there’s laundry to be folded, and of course This Is Us to catch up on. But I have to remind myself that if I was working at my full time job, I would be stuck there for 8 hours and not have the option to change the laundry, or load the dishwasher, or catch up on my favorite TV shows. Taking 1-2 hours to be super focused on my work gives me freedom and flexibility over the rest of my day.
My work space is not glamorous. I set up at my kitchen table, with reheated coffee from the morning, and the baby monitor close by. Do I have dreams of a dedicated home office someday? Of course- but right now my priority is to be present for Addison, and work at my kitchen table when the time allows.
I get a lot of questions about “what I do”, and this post talks more about my work from home gig.
5:00 PM
We headed in to town to go trick-or-treating at the local businesses. We met up with our friend, Elli, who was the cutest little cow. I can not get over Addison’s old lady costume, and I might put it on her every day just to soak up her cuteness.
6:00 PM
Eating on the go again! We grabbed a quick bite to eat in the car before heading off to Trunk or Treat at our church.
7:00 PM
We ended the night at our Fall Festival at church. It was cooling off, so we added our crocheted headband, and it made her costume even better! There was food, trunk or treating and carnival games. We are so thankful for our church community!
8:00 PM
We made it home with a very tired little girl. This picture really captures what it looks like working from home. My bed hasn’t been made in weeks, the load of laundry on the bed should be washed again because of how wrinkled it is from sitting in the basket too long, I have a make-shift black out blanket hanging on the curtain rod because I haven’t found the time to install our new blinds, and my dresser hasn’t been cleared off since Addison was a few months old. But tonight, I get to put my baby to bed and not work over time at a job I hate because it’s harvest season. I get to put in a couple of hours after she is in bed, and be the one who is there when she wakes up from a bad dream. Are there times that it’s tough and tiring? Yes- but to me, it is so much better than the alternative <3.
