Happy New Year!
Welcome to week-#1 in our eight week series on Grace and Productivity!
It is not a coincidence that we cover productivity in unison with the start of the school year.
Since mom’s lives tend to run on the school calendar, we like to think of this season as the Mom’s New Year.
It is the time to get back into a rhythm that delicately blends productivity with grace; which can be right up there with brushing your teeth while eating Oreos… a little bit messy, however, in short order, you will find your groove.
You will settle into a routine of retrieving the Oreos from their secret hiding place after the kids go to bed, eat them in blissful silence with a cool glass of milk (wine), and THEN brush your teeth. See, you’ve got this!
Don’t believe the lies
We are led to believe that productivity is synonymous with grind and hustle. Moms in particular wear exhaustion as a badge of honor because it is proof of just how busy we are.
But in the end, being busy says very little about how productive we actually are.
In doing my research for today’s newsletter, I came across an article that I nearly scrolled right on by.
It’s called 5 Productivity Myths Dispelled by Slinky Productions. The title caught my eye, however, the content was geared toward employees and business owners and hence didn’t initially seem applicable.
Nevertheless, I read it and quickly recognized that the 5 myths were spot-on for moms. So, I’m borrowing them and offering my spin on how to layer them with grace.
Myth #1: Working Longer Hours Equals Greater Productivity
The irony in this myth is that being a mom is a 24-hour gig, so working longer hours is technically impossible. However, we do have agency over how we manage our time and energy.
“Longer Hours” in motherhood often result in burnout, not productivity.
Do these two things to break that cycle:
1) Set boundaries, then give yourself permission to stick to them.
2) Do not hesitate to ask for help!
Myth #2: Waking up at 5am will make you more productive
This is true for some, but not for all.
We encourage you to get to know your sleep type or Chronotype which determines when you are most productive during the day.
If 5am is not that time for you, you have permission to stop feeling guilty about it.
Myth #3: Being Busy Equates to Being Productive
This one goes hand in hand with myth #1 where motherhood is concerned.
Give yourself grace by being realistic with your expectations of your time and energy.
Organize and prioritize your to-do list. Determine what MUST get done today and what can be moved to another day to spread your workload throughout the week. This will also help you make space for the inevitable daily chaos that is bound to come your way.
Myth #4: Just Copy the Habits of Billionaires
The reason this doesn’t work is because it means you’re comparing your chapter one with someone else’s chapter 20. Stop comparing and, instead, commit to understanding which habits are effective for YOU.
Lean toward habits that help you maintain your energy. This will positively impact your productivity.
Here are some examples: consistent sleep, healthy eating, daily movement, sufficient hydration and making time for your mental well-being.
Myth #5: You have to set Big Goals
After years of believing this myth with little success, I came across the advice to set small goals – micro goals.
The mental shift this made for me was extraordinary. Here’s an example of how to get started.
If you want to start moving your body more, rather than setting a goal to walk 3 miles, set a goal to walk to the end of your driveway. Chances are, you’ll make it that far easily and then keep on walking.
It flips the narrative you’re telling yourself. If you only go 2.5 miles (or even half a mile), you haven’t failed, you’ve exceeded your expectations!
Build upon your goals as you build the stamina to consistently achieve them.
Don’t just take it from us…
Now that we’ve dispelled some of the myths around productivity, listen to some productivity truths specific to moms in this week’s featured podcast episode called 3 Productivity Truths as a Mom from the Motherhood Simplified podcast.
And have a happy mom’s new year!
👩🏽💻 The Grace Lab
Join us on Fridays, at 2pm ET in The Grace Lab on Zoom for our weekly community call.
We start every call with a podcast chat. Where the conversation goes from there is dictated by the group. The hour flies by and we all head into our weekend with a little more grace.
Listen to the episode on tap for the week found here, then join us on Zoom! The episode is also the first one on the playlist below…
🎧 The Podcast Playlist for Busy Moms
Click on the image below to listen to this week’s podcast playlist. Remember to 💚 it to save it to your Spotify library so you can chip away at it all week while you sip your coffee, drive, walk, exercise, organize, fold laundry, cook, clean, etc.!
🐝 BIZI: An Online Community for Busy Moms
Question of the week: What is one small thing you can do to improve your productivity?
Post your response here in our online community (and/or check out what other moms are posting!)
And because we don’t only talk ‘business’ in our community…
📺 Here is what I’m currently watching.
📚 Here is what I’m currently “reading” (listening to).
🤯 Here is what has Amanda fascinated this week.
Share what you are in to this week here!
❤️ Thank you for being here!
We truly appreciate you! If you’re enjoying Grace in the Race (the newsletter, BIZI – the online community, the weekly Zoom calls, and/or the podcast playlist), please consider sending us a note to let us know what you like… or show your love with a cup of coffee:
At Grace in the Race, our mission is to help moms do what they can with the time, energy and resources they have; all while believing that’s enough.
How Important is Family Dinner?