Sanity Saving Tip: Create Two ‘To-Do’ Lists

Have you ever had the scenario when you sat down to write an email that in your life-before-children would have taken less than five minutes, but with children at home takes at least half an hour with five interruptions – and ends up with you frustrated and stressed out?

Brain science shows that when we get interrupted from a task, it takes time to get back on track. This is why when our focus is interrupted from a task, it takes much longer to get that small thing completed, and when it happens again and again, we can feel the stress escalating.

I was meeting with a client a couple of weeks ago,  and I shared a strategy that helps me to keep a *little* bit of my sanity when I’m at home with my children. I create two to-do lists titled ‘With Kids’ and ‘Without Kids’. I have them stuck up near my desk so that I can remind myself of the tasks that are better done when kids are in bed, at school or being taken care of by someone other than me! This is because I am much more efficient at some tasks when I get a chance to do them without interruption.

An example of the things on my list:

WITH KIDS

• Cooking
• Cleaning
• Craft
• Decluttering
• Reading
• Planning
• Laundry

WITHOUT KIDS

• Study/online learning
• Sewing
• Project work
• Business planning
• Writing

It’s a simple tool, but doing this has helped me to keep my expectations a bit more realistic. And it means that I’m more likely to be there for my children when they need my attention, because I won’t be getting frustrated as I try to ‘get things done’.

I hope that this tip helps you as you navigate your days!