Every new mother or mother-to-be can struggle to be productive. The pandemic has thrown a lot of questions out there with regards to productivity and working from home, but how can working mothers-to-be stay productive, with so many different life changes?
Being Flexible With the Schedule
This is so important because everybody needs to learn how to track their time. When we become aware of how much time we are wasting, it helps us focus our minds on the most important tasks. Because when we are going to those important appointments, whether it’s an ultrasound scan or checkups, it keeps us in check. You don’t want to be checking emails while a wireless ultrasound probe is gliding over your belly! It’s important to be flexible with your schedule, but also realize that when you are doing work, you focus on it. It’s so much more important to focus on the baby rather than the work. And it’s something that we can all forget about sometimes.
Committing to a Strict Schedule
One of the best things we can do when we’re pregnant is to get a schedule as soon as possible, and this is doubly true when a baby is born. Whether you are pregnant or your baby has just been born, you have got to be strict with your schedule. This means getting the baby into a strict sleep schedule and make sure that they get up and go to sleep at the same time. It’s not always going to be easy, but if you are trying to work at different times, and around the baby’s nap, if they don’t have a schedule it’s going to be a lot harder for you. Instead, focus on getting the baby’s sleep down straight away, and this will serve you well, at least up until the 9-month sleep regression!
Being Aware of the Baby’s Changes
As we already mentioned, the baby can undergo a 9-month sleep regression, but there are things that we need to be aware of as well. The baby will go through developmental leaps and this will throw the sleep schedule out of order. There’s a fantastic app you can download to show you the leaps, but when you know a leap is coming up, it’s best to dial down your working days. At the very least, try to do things that are not so labor-intensive.
Don’t Forget to Take a BreakIf you really want to stay productive, it’s important to realize when you are powering through and it’s not working. It is not easy, and these are the moments where you may want to think about having a shorter working week just to see you through these tough times, but if you are looking to keep going, such as if you are running a business you will need to take a break because it will help you recharge. There will be one less thing to think about. It’s not easy, especially if you are trying to navigate pregnancy or a newborn, but with the right mindset, you can stay productive.