Hi, friends! Our team has been talking about routines and schedules, and how challenging it can be to formulate one that works well. Whether you’re a brand new mama, a mama of four grown kids, a student in college, or retired, navigating a schedule can be difficult (especially right now). Every new season looks different and requires transition, new routines, and resilience. We find comfort in hearing from other women who are going through a similar day-to-day, and we're grateful when paths have already been paved for us that we can adapt to our own households.
So, brace yourselves for the long post. We looked inward at our own lives to create example schedules for y’all based on our own routines. These schedules aren't perfect, and you can be sure they change daily–– holding your routines loosely is so important, especially in this season! But we love having a routine to come back to each day, and we hope that one of these can serve as a stepping stone for you to form a well rounded routine in your own life.
Work-from-home mom of three kids (ages 5, 5, and 9). Homeschooling.
- 6am: Wake and workout, answer emails, throw load of laundry in.
- 7am: Breakfast, kids dressed, kids do chores
- 8am: Begin e-learning (we take a mid-morning snack / play break)
- 11am: Outside time
- 12pm: Lunch
- 1pm: Quiet time in rooms / Mom works (snack afterward)
- 3pm: Independent play / Mom works
- 4pm: Prepare dinner / kids have screen time
- 5pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Begin bedtime routine
- 8pm: Bedtime / Mom wraps up work
Work-from-home mom of three kids (ages 5, 5, and 9). Kids in school.
- 6:30am: Wake, throw load of laundry in, get breakfast ready.
- 7am: Breakfast, kids dressed, kids do chores, kids off to school.
- 8am: Workout (fold and put laundry away during lunch time).
- 9am - 2pm: Mom works
- 2pm: Pick kids up from school, kids do homework, play outside / unwind with something screen free.
- 4pm: Prepare dinner / kids have screen time
- 5pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Begin bedtime routine
- 8pm: Bedtime
Work-from-home mom. 3.5-year-old at home.
- 7am: Wake, get ready, check emails, check iCal & to-do list for workday
- 8am: Get toddler dressed, make breakfast, start a laundry load (one per day!)
- 8:30am: Independent play nearby while Mom works
- 9:30am: Activity or play with Mom or Dad, snack
- 10:30am: Mom work as needed & able, switch laundry to dryer
- 11:45am: Lunch, clean up
- 12:30pm: Nap time / Mom works
- 2pm: Screen time / Mom works
- 3pm: Run any errands / get out for a bit
- 4pm: Play inside or outside with Mom, help with easy chores
- 5:30pm: Make dinner, play with Dad
- 6:30pm: Dinner
- 7:15pm: Kid bath & bedtime routine
- 8pm: Bedtime / Mom catches up on any work from the day, fold & put away laundry
Work-from-home mom. 3.5-year-old at school.
- 7am: Wake, get ready, check emails / iCal / to-do list for the workday
- 7:30am: Get toddler dressed, make breakfast, start a laundry load (one load per day!)
- 8:20am: Leave for preschool drop-off
- 8:45am-4:15pm Mom powers through work / to-do list / meetings, switch laundry to dryer
- 4:30pm: Preschool pickup
- 5pm: Decompress with a show & snuggle
- 5:30pm: Make dinner, play while Mom & Dad prepare dinner
- 6pm: Dinner
- 6:45pm: Kid bath & bedtime routine
- 7:30pm: Bedtime / fold & put away laundry
Work-from-home mom. One-year-old at home.
- 6am: Wake and get ready for the day
- 7am: Breakfast, thaw meat for dinner, start one load of laundry
- 7:30am: Indoor activity – puzzles, Magnatiles
- 8am: Outdoor activity – swing, go for a walk, find “treasures” in the backyard, bubbles
- 8:30am: Indoor free play – books, box of toys in the living room
- 9am: Nap / Mom works
- 10am: Snack / fold & put away laundry
- 10:30am: Run errands or outdoor play – sand dig, sprinkler, pool, water table
- 11:30am: Lunch
- 12pm: Indoor activity-finger paint, play-doh, kinetic sand
- 1pm: Nap / Mom works
- 3:30pm: Snack
- 4pm: Indoor activity – free play, books, puzzles, stacker toys
- 5pm: Prepare dinner / iPad time
- 5:30pm: Dinner
- 6:30pm: Bedtime routine
- 7pm: Bedtime
Work-from-home mom of two kids (ages 10 months and 7). Homeschooling.
- 7am: Wake, quiet time, check Asana
- 7:30am: Baby up, changed & dressed, nurse
- 8am: 7-year-old up, dressed, fed / kids play
- 9am: Baby down for a nap / Homeschool
- 10:30am - Baby up, homeschool done, snacks (any errands that need to be run or special trips, play dates, etc.)
- 11am: Free play outside, with friends or each other, easy lunch
- 1pm: Baby down for nap #2 / 7-year-old quiet time / Mom works
- 3pm: Back outside, lots of snacks, play, run, find a friend / Mom preps dinner, Quick clean up
- 6pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Bath time, play with dad, book, nurse, baby in bed
- 8pm: 7-year-old bedtime
- 9pm: Time with husband, friends, or extra work
- 12am: Bedtime
Work from home mom of three kids (ages 8, 5, and 2). All kids at school.
- 6:30am: Mom awake, quiet time
- 7am: Wake up kids, dressed, breakfast
- 7:30am: Take kids to school
- 8am: Mom workout, shower & get ready
- 9am - 2:30pm: Mom works
- 3pm: Pick up kids from school
- 4pm: Prep dinner / kids play
- 5pm: Dinner
- 5:30pm: Family time
- 7:30pm: Bedtime routine
- 8pm: Kids in bed
- 8 - 10pm: Adult time
- 10:30pm: Lights out
Work from home mom of three kids (ages 8, 5, and 2). 2-year-old at home.
- 6:30am: Mom awake, quiet time
- 7am: Wake up kids, dressed, breakfast
- 7:30am: Take big kids to school
- 8am: Mom workout, shower & get ready
- 9am: Mom/daughter (or son) time
- 11:30am: Lunch, nap time
- 12 - 2:30pm: Mom works
- 3pm: Pick up big kids from school
- 4pm: Prep dinner / kids play
- 5pm: Dinner
- 5:30pm: Family time
- 7:30pm: Bedtime routine
- 8pm: Kids in bed
- 8 - 10pm: Adult time
- 10:30pm: Lights out
Work-from-home mom of four (ages 13 and 17 still living at home). 8th grade & Senior - both e-learning.
- 6am: Wake up, have coffee
- 7am: Make sure girls are up, breakfast
- 8am: Mom works / e-learning for senior
- 9am: 8th grader starts e-learning
- 11am: Lunch for 8th grader (grab & go prepped the night before)
- 12pm: Lunch for senior, mom, and dad (grab & go prepped the night before)
- 2pm: Afternoon coffee / snacks / brain break
- 4pm: Work and school done
- 5pm: Prep dinner
- 6pm: Dinner
- 7pm: Prep for the next day (make coffee, pack lunches, pick up house)
- 8pm: Watch a show, read, etc.
- 10pm: Bedtime
- 6:30am: Wake up, coffee on the back porch
- 7:30am: Get toddler up, have a cup of milk, read together on the couch
- 8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:30am: Head to the outdoor Farmer's Market, go for a walk / play in the garden.
- 11am: Lunch
- 11:30am: Nap time
- 2pm: Snack
- 2:30pm: Afternoons are usually pretty open. Reading, coloring, a Busy Toddler activity, or time in the pool are our go-to's!
- 5:30pm: Dinner
- 6pm: Clean up everything downstairs
- 6:30pm: Reading on the couch, bedtime routine
- 7:30pm: Lights out, bedtime
Work-from-home gal.
- 7am: Wake up, coffee, check email
- 8am: Get ready for day, walk pup
- 9am: Team meeting, at desk for productive work
- 12pm: Lunch, walk or play with pup
- 1pm: More work, but in the kitchen for a change of scenery
- 4pm: Workout class or walk with friends
- 5:30pm: Shower, dinner, straighten up house, laundry
- 7:30pm: Spend time with family or friends (movie or game night, ice cream date, etc.)
- 10pm: Bedtime and snuggle pup!
Work-from-home gal #2.
- 7am: Wake up and have quiet time before starting the day
- 8am: Get ready for the day, make coffee
- 8:30am: Check email, prioritize the day's to-do list
- 9am: Time at desk for productive work
- 12pm: Break for lunch and a workout
- 1:30pm: Continue working with a second cup of coffee, sometimes with a change of scenery
- 4:30pm: Wrap up things for work and start prepping for dinner
- 5pm: Cook dinner, laundry, tidy up workspace, and run any errands that need done
- 7pm: Spend time with friends and family, or tie up any loose ends for work
- 9pm: Unwind for the day, shower, and get ready for bed
- 10:30pm: Bedtime
Retired Nana, who functions best with a routine.
- 6:30am: Wake, make bed, coffee, dress, news update
- 7am: Walk / park with pup
- 8:30am: Shower, one load of laundry (if needed), wash, fold, put away
- 9am: Breakfast, reset kitchen, errands, daily project or something on the to do list and daily cleaning task
- 1pm: Lunch, reset kitchen
- 2pm: Rest time and whatever I want to do. I’m retired!
- 4pm: Prep dinner
- 5pm: Dinner, reset kitchen, news update, walk pup
- 7pm: Relax / screen time
- 10pm: Bedtime