PARENTS: STAYING VIGILANT AND ORGANIZED

I was looking for my keys one day, and my 4-year-old told me, "You need to put your glasses on, mom." I told him, "I am not blind; my glasses just help me see better," and he said, "so they can help you see the keys in your hand." Yes, I couldn't find my keys, and I didn't realize they were on my finger on the same hand I was holding my phone with (hides in shame). That was the day I said enough is enough! I have to find a better system to stay organized and on track. It's embarrassing to admit that your 4-year-old sometimes reminds you where you put things, especially when they are in your hand!

I try to remind myself to stay vigilant and be present. Vigilance to me is being consciously aware of what you're doing. It's being fully present. Lately, I have not been, and it was starting to show. I started missing small things because my mind was thinking of something different in those moments. How often have you read a text or email where you mentally respond and forget to reply? Or you couldn't remember if you locked the door, so you ran back to make sure? We don't know what we're doing in those moments because our mind is in a different place. We're wondering if we'll make a big sale or thinking about lunch when we haven't even eaten breakfast yet lol—staying organized as working parents/co-parents is often challenging. We're all so busy working, trying to have a life outside of work and kids, building businesses, and raising children into adults who don't need to heal from their childhood. Without a system and balance, life can seem hectic. When you're not vigilant, time can easily pass you by.


That's why I am always looking for ways to be a more organized mom and a more organized businesswoman. I work a full-time job outside of the home that I consider my side-hustle. My schedule is constantly full between that job, my photography business, printables, illustrations, and being a mom. I don't have it all together all the time. I am a work in progress, constantly evolving and learning as I grow through life. I make mistakes, forget things, get distracted, and waste time. I am always trying to be better at time management. I want to fit all the things I want to do and need to do in my life. Sometimes I get distracted and off-track then life pulls me back to where I need to be.

Everyone is different, and for me, if my space is cluttered, my mind is cluttered. It's so easy to accumulate items. Over the years, we've accumulated a lot of supplies, clothing, toys, and items that are no longer needed. This summer, I slowly de-clutter and get rid of things that no longer bring us joy. The fewer things we have, the easier it is to stay organized.

My day always goes better when I have an early start. I set my alarm clock for 3 am every morning. I know this isn't ideal for most, but it works for me. You might wonder what I am possibly doing at 3 am? Well, it's the perfect time for me to have my morning reflection, work out, and get organized for the day.

Having an excellent nighttime routine sets the pace for my early morning start. I plan out my schedule for the following day during my night routine. If I have a rough night, I'll most likely have a rough start in the morning.

When I'm spending time with my son or working on big projects, my notifications are turned off until I need them. My goal is to be intentional with my time and to stay vigilant. If I'm teaching my son how to ride his bike and responding to messages, I'm not giving him the full attention he needs. There is a time and place for multitasking. You have to figure out when that works for you.

Meal prep for me is making a list of everything I would like to cook for the week on Sunday and adding a free day. You never know how the day may go. If I don't know what I want to make, I'm most likely to say forget it and grab some takeout.

There's a time when you have to recognize that you can't get it all done alone, and that's okay. The more tasks you delegate, the more time you have, the easier it is to stay organized. If you don't have a family to help out, determine which task doesn't require your touch and hire someone.

I often get lost in cleaning and will deep clean the whole house. I created my home cleaning printable to help me keep track of my home. With this printable, I'll deep clean a particular area in the house every day.