The Key to “Doing It All”
Snapshots of my days via instagram (come follow me!)
Last week I gave a little talk during Boston Design Week with my friend and collaborator Stacy Kunstel about how we “do it all”.
Here’s how….. we don’t.
It became very clear a few minutes into our talk that in order to be busy entrepreneurs that wear many hats, work at several jobs and try to be good mothers, partners, friends and daughters A LOT has to be sacrificed. In fact, I was worried we were making our lives sound a little bleak! In a culture where being “busy” is revered and working until ungodly hours is a badge of honor, I want to share with you how I attempt to manage and divide my time between my interior design business, this blog and social media, my product line, consulting on other creative projects and writing books WHILE being a mom and wife too- and it doesn’t involve staying up until 2 a.m. It’s a lot, I’m not gonna lie, and some days I feel like a massive, hideous failure and others I literally karate chop the air because I feel like such a multitasking bad ass! It’s all ups and downs, just as everyone’s life is, of course.
Things I Do:
- Outsource– Luckily I am able to hire people to help me get everything done because I CANNOT do it all by myself- from my amazing team at the design studio who can anticipate the businesses needs without my direction (priceless) to my loving, diligent nanny who makes it possible for me to go to work and not worry about Henry’s happiness and welfare (this is HUGE for me). I also have a cleaning service come in every other week, we have our groceries delivered via Peapod, a landscaping company that mows the lawn and rakes leaves and a dog walker a few times a week to make sure the pups have nice long hikes with other dogs. It’s expensive to have all these people working for us (Andrew is just as busy with his company), but when I calculate out what my time is worth, it makes financial sense if it allows me to bill more hours and focus on the business.
- Rely on My Husband– As I said, Andrew is just as busy as I am right now as his company grows so we have a erratic but coordinated dance we do to keep things afloat. So we have to tag team a lot of stuff now that we have Henry- I feed Henry dinner but Andrew makes us dinner every night (or orders take-out) and I put Henry to bed after his bath. On weekends we take turns letting each other have alone time to work out, run an errand or just read a magazine or call our families.
- Say No– This has been a new one (and a hard one for me!) Having Henry has made me realize that I not only need to use my work hours wisely, but also that I should only take jobs I really want to do with people I will enjoy working with and for. And it has to make financial sense. I used to feel so badly/stressed turning anyone down, but now I’m much quicker to say no if I know in my heart I won’t enjoy it or it simply will not fit in my schedule or work well with the brand I’m trying to build. I have to have confidence that the work will continue to flow and not take everything thrown my way.
- Maintain a Daily Schedule- I am a creature of habit and like to have a schedule that I repeat. It certainly needs tweaking and changes but goes something like this:
- 6:00 wake up (Andrew takes Henry while I get ready, have a cup of coffee and check my email)
- 6:45- we swap and I take Henry while Andrew gets ready
- 7:30- Henry and I (and sometimes Andrew and the dogs) walk to Starbucks and get coffee. This little ritual is so nice for me to have with Henry- it makes us both happy and is a nice start to our day.
- 8:00- our nanny arrives and I leave for work after checking in with her on his schedule and needs for the day.
- 8:30- work on finishing up daily blog post
- 9:30- check e-mails and get back to everyone I need to and create my to do list for the day
- 10:30- 4:00 This varies day to day but in general I work on client projects and delegate projects to the team, review and create concepts for next collection for the product line, coordinate blog partnerships, schedule meetings/ have meetings on site with clients, coordinate photo shoots for next book, etc. It’s very busy and I always eat lunch at my desk.
- 4:00- Three days a week I am home at 4:00 to let the nanny leave, two days a week I have her until 5:00. On those days I am supposed to work out but often I end up working more or running errands. Some days I take Henry with me for a jog around the lake.
- 5:00- We go to the playground and park as a family and let the dogs run around and Henry play. It’s so nice to live walking distance to so many things!
- 5:45- Henry has dinner and we give him a bath and lots of snuggles. It’s important to me to focus on him fully in the time between when I get home and when he does to bed. I do not answer my phone or try to do any work during this time.
- 6:45- Henry has story time and goes to bed. The I get back to work on the blog while we eat dinner.
- 8:15- I stop working and Andrew and I watch an episode of whatever show we’re currently obsessed with. We do this every night no matter what because it’s our only quiet time together and we know we need to shut down or we’ll be dead in the water the next day.
- 9:15- I read for a bit and go to sleep by 10 totally exhausted.
5. Drink Wine- Yup, I said it. Mama loves her wine time at night. Not so much that I need it, but the ritual of having a glass of red at the end of the day signifies that it’s time to shut down, enjoy my family and get some rest.
6. Take Half Days– Sometimes I just need time off to keep everything in check, and being my own boss allows me to do that on occassion. When I’ve had a particularly hairy few weeks I will take part of a day off to get a pedicure or my hair done (the greys are getting more noticeable!), go to the dentist or doctor– anything I have a hard time fitting into the week.
Things I Don’t Do (Good & Bad!):
- Shop– I hardly ever physically go shopping for clothes- I order almost everything online. It’s nice to be able to try things on in my own home when Henry is napping or sleeping. On occasion I will take a couple hours on a weekend and go shopping alone when I need a break, but it’s rare.
- Entertain– We never have dinner parties or entertain beyond having friends over for a glass of wine or a simple dinner (i.e. pizza). I don’t have the time or energy to throw full out parties anymore- I wish I did!
- Work Out- This is BAD and I need to find time in my schedule to do this more often as I always feel more mentally alert when I get a good workout in, especially yoga. Also this whole “post-breastfeeding weight gain” thing has me bummin’.
- Obsess Over my Social Media- This is good and bad- I need to be better about posting stuff every day because it’s part of my business, but I also simply can not curate a perfectly filtered Instagram feed- mostly because I am such a busy, hot mess most days.
- Bring my Phone Into the Bedroom- I never, ever sleep with my phone next to me. I leave it plugged in downstairs at night so I’m not tempted to check email before bed, which I know will disrupt my sleep. It’s a habit I’ve kept for a very long time.
- Work on Weekends- Since I work all week, I don’t work on weekends. No meetings, no travel-that time is for my family.
- Eat Well- Another thing I need to work on- there’s a lot of eating on the run for me- protein bars every morning in the car, salads or sandwiches at my desk, dinner in front of the computer (usually my healthiest meal, but last night it was pizza and ice cream- whoops.) I need to make an effort to eat a better breakfast and lunch and DRINK MORE WATER!
- Utilize Technology Enough– There are so many apps and websites out there that I know would help me and my team stay more organized- Asana has been recommended to me a couple times and I do not use my phone properly to track hours and appointments, store photos, etc. Must get on that!
- Have Enough Date Nights– Andrew and I go on a date night maybe once a month- it’s pretty pathetic. We are such homebodies and are so tired at the end of the week we’d rather just stay home and lay low. We need to make more time to do this (and find more babysitters) so that we can make sure we spend enough time as a couple, not as “mom and dad”. We’re still new to parenthood, so I’m sure this will improve, but it’s worth noting!
There are so many things I could be doing better, but you know what, sometimes good enough is, well, good enough! Are there any tricks or tips you have that help keep you and your household running? I’d love to hear them!
Browse:
I really love this list. I’ve been trying to be so much better about managing my time and saying no. I actually quit my blog and started a new, purely for fun one as I’m a mom of two and a full time teacher. Saying no and cutting things out of my life that used to bring me joy but maybe not so much anymore- that’s been a huge lesson for me since my son was born.
Also since he was born? The working out thing has gone out the window. You are not alone! But my weekdays would involve getting up at 5am to work out or doing it at 8:30/9pm after not having a break all day. Needless to say I’m trying to be better but most of the time it’s just not happening!
When I started following you, I adored your posts. They were short, witty and applicable to home design and sometimes fashion related. Over the years, I have followed you on social media and thru your process of exposing real life issues and the trials and tribulations of becoming pregnant. Now I just think your posts are mostly hearing you whine about hard your life is, unrealistic and just bogus really, it is almost like you are so excited about your success you have to make up things to complain about so you can try and relate to other women. I mean really, you wake up and walk to Starbucks each day pay $5 for coffee and some days you get home at 4 and then some days at 5pm. Cry me a river Erin, Wake up. The majority of women in this world would give their right arm to be in your place with your cute baby, cute house that you love to brag about, and a book and design line. Most women have a real grind, and they come to your blog to have an outlet not see you complaining about your “hard” life. Rethink your approach!
Hi Lynne! I’m Liza. When I first read Erin’s post, some of the points you raised occurred to me too. Her typical day sounds like a dream, and the work portion is a lot smaller than most working parents. She has a true parenting partner in her husband, which is also not something most working Moms have successfully negotiated. But the thing is, she has built this life, and the business that offers all the flexibility and income that she enjoys. She works for herself, so she gets all the control. I think it’s important to note that when you contrast her day with others. Her employees and family depend on her and that responsibility is the price she pays for all the awesome stuff she enjoys. I think she should be commended and celebrated for taking the risks and accepting the burdens of entrepreneurship. You can’t have it all, but sometimes you get more of what you want if you create your own business.
[…] I loved reading how Erin “does it all” — definitely an organizational inspiration! […]
What a lovely schedule! Sounds like you have nailed this challenging early toddler time.
I will be going back to working part time (in my own business) next month after two years more or less off with my now two year old so it’s very nice to see another mom’s schedule.
Now if I could just night wean this baby I’d be set :)
Erin. Thank so much for your honesty – it is really helpful to hear this and learn how you make it all happen. My one question for you…how do you maintain friendships with this schedule? I don’t mean that critically…I am more just being inquisitive. My girlfriends are everything and trying to fit it all in is so hard. Do you give up date nights? Time with your son? Maintain girlfriends is vital as when things go haywire (work, kids, husbands, life)…they can support you in amazing ways. So I would love to hear how they fit into your world. Thanks!
I love this post; love seeing how other working moms manage schedules!
i have a 6 yo and 6 month old…life, esp mornings, definitely gets easier with 1 as they get older…adding baby has brought a certain level of chaos back into our lives but for us it has been so worth it!
my hacks: wunderlist app to make grocery, target, to do lists that i can share with hubs & nanny; nike training club app for workouts i can do in my basement; i also use the tone it up app and pop sugar’s printable workouts. some of the workouts are just 15-20 mins but i figure it’s better than nothing and i feel like it’s a lot easier to expand a habit of short workouts than try to start a workout habit from scratch after some time off!
i do miss entertaining/socializing but i feel like we’ll get a second wind when my girls are older…half days for personal care are a MUST, taking one today! and i indulge in long weekday lunches with wine a couple times a year to catch up with mom friends who can’t easily swing weekends/evenings out.
I think you’re doing really well considering how many balls you’re juggling.
For meals-get stuff that’s preprepped to make our life easier. Pre-washed greens, pre-cut veggies, the rotisserie chicken, etc. It’s easier to make the good choices if they’re right in front of your face.
For workout-I’ve been doing the free exercises streaming on youtube from Fitness Blender. They’re a couple with a nice healthy attitude towards fitness. She’s had some of the same struggles as you with body image, etc. They have longer and shorter workouts. Sometimes all you have 10-15 minutes and it’s nice to get a little something in.
Thank you!!!
Pregnant here with my first and still trying to wrap my brain around my future schedule because right now it is out of control, when will I have time with baby?!?!
Up at 7a
Breakfast/Get ready for the office 7a-8a
Work/Office (incl commute) 8a-6p
Gym (incl commute) 6p-7:30p
Dinner 7:30p-8:30p
8:30p-10p Prep for the next day and run the household (shower).
10p Sleep
I do everything else on the weekends, groceries, dry cleaning, etc (you’re right, shopping in person never happens!) I like the idea of outsourcing groceries – that will save me 1 hour/week.
Also, we do plan to hire a nanny – how did that go for you? That is something that I need to do in the next 2 months and it is totally daunting (and time consuming)! Would you post something on how you did that?
Thanks for this post, you are superwoman, for sure!! I share one absolute with you…I have never taken my cell phone into the bedroom at night. Always downstairs in the kitchen recharging. I also try not to look at it after 8ish b/c I don’t want to get involved and disrupt sleep. My mom friends are younger than me (I was like you…had my child when I was a bit older) and they laugh that they can’t reach me after a certain time. But it works!! I didn’t realize people even did this until I started hanging out with younger people after having kids (amazing how your daily social world changes isn’t it?). I went on an overnight recently with 2 other moms and I plugged my phone in in the bathroom to charge, then laid in bed. I looked over and they were laying on their backs going through social media, posting selfies, chattting online, texting, etc. It seems crazy to me, but they said they do it every night! Stick with that one, it works for sure!
I needed this post for today. We are all trying to do so much – and I never feel like I can get through it all. Your post reminded me that maybe none of us can – and perhaps decompression time with a glass of wine should be the reward at the end of the day for me as well!
Awesome, awesome post!
“Karate chop the air” 😂😂 best line ever! You are an inspiration! Great post!
I loved that too! Great line!
We’re homebodies too, so we rarely have date night. But we try and run together a couple times a week, and often walk the dog by ourselves (we have teenagers so this is possible). We also have a hot tub, and love sitting in it when weather allows. The last time we heated it our 10 year old came out in his swim trunks armed with all his plastic boats and submarines. So much for alone time!
I’ve always loved how down to earth you are and how honest you are about your feelings. This is one of your all time best posts! There’s so much I relate to, even though my family is “raised and out the door”. xo
Hello, Erin!
Great post. I’m taking a lot of ideas from it! I love that you underline how our underline glorifies “not wasting time” and being super busy doing super productive stuff all the time. That’s a conversation i always have with my friends… Sometimes I feel guilty and try to apologize when i’m not being “productive”. Now i’m coming to the realization that i used to i work and work without even questioning if what inwas doing really resonated with me, and if it was worth putting this before friends, family, my health and leisure. So much” noise” didn’t allow me to listen and assess what I really wanted. I’m still in the process!! we all have different life circumstances but your message is so relevant and very healthy for working women.
i admire this post! you have a very balanced life, outsourcing, saying no and switching off !!! Great great post!
just one question: how do you get ready in 45 mins?!?! there you mean ready as in with make up hair etc? I need TWO (dos) hours every morning… to come back to life from my slumber, have breakfast and get ready. I don’t have kids!!
Thank you for this post! I would have loved to be at your talk!
* how our *culture* glorifies “not wasting time.”
Also, I think your message is for everyone. Not only working women but men. Stay at home moms and dads, too!
My son is 12 weeks old today, and this week is my first week back to work full time. It’s encouraging to see your schedule and views on all of the different tasks to juggle, as I anxiously await for my current ‘routine’ to become, well, more routine! Thanks Erin!
Hi Erin! Thank you for this post! I that I want to be a working mom someday. This post re-affirmed that it can be done. (I’m currently working full time and going to business school at night – I see this as the dress rehearsal for when I’m truly busy with a job and baby some day :) ).
Thank you for this post!! I’ve been following for so long and I love reading about the evolution of your life and how you’re doing what you’re doing. Thank you, too, for including what you DON’T do!
LOVE THIS! i have a 1 year old , so this was a very helpful reminder and i picked up a lot of great tips and motivation — i need to get back into yoga and not bring my phone to bed :-/ ALSO fully on board with the nightly glass of red wine.
Such a fun and helpful post. You fit a lot of meaningful things into your day—it’s inspiring!
Sounds like you’ve gotten into a great routine! I love hearing how other professional moms make their lives work!
I saw someone above mention sensible sitters, and having a service to find your babysitters for you is invaluable. I use Savvy Sitters, and for a small fee, they have to find my sitter, and find someone else if something comes up for that person. It’s been beyond helpful in being able to go out at night and know that someone trustworthy and vetted is taking care of my kids. And I don’t have to call like 5 people myself! Amazing!
Spot on! Great post.
Well, thank you for continuing to keep up your amazing blog!!
Erin, Emily Henderson just wrote a post along the same vein and it both of you make excellent points and structure things very well. I’m a stay at home mom, and yet the crazy thing is how much we all have to learn to say no to things that don’t matter ultimately. I really enjoyed reading this post!
A stay at home mom is also a working mom! You just don’t outsource stuff– you try to do it all yourself. Bad news about that is– when the nest is empty, so are you. I am very proud of my daughter and cannot for a second imagine doing it all– but I wish I had had the courage and support to try!
Erin,
This was one of your best blog posts! Of course, I love all the ones where we get a glimpse into who you are and what goes on in your personal life – that sounds creepy. Thanks for sharing your day. It gives me a sense of camaraderie as a fellow mom. As crazy as our days are, it’s definitely true that we make time for the things/people that are important to us. Some call me crazy, but I get up 3 out of 5 weekdays at 4:30 a.m. to make it to a 5 a.m. Orange Theory class. I do it because it’s the best time that works for my family’s schedule and it checks off one of the boxes on the “things I do for myself” list! I’m obsessed and get an awesome workout in an hour. One bonus feature is that you get charged when you don’t show up (and must cancel within 8 hours of your class) so you WILL get out of bed and go versus lay in bed and think about skipping. With your timeline, something that early would fit in perfectly! Of course, this means that I have to be aware of what time I go to bed the night before. With all the craziness/busyness during the week, the weekends are just for everyone to unwind. We try not to schedule too much stuff so we have time to relax, but also prep for the week to come. With having kids, circumstances are always changing so you just have to keep adapting. Hope you have a great rest of the week!
thanks for sharing the nitty gritty of your day! i love seeing other working mom’s schedules and how others balance things! go girl!
Erin, lovely post! Would love to hear how you also continue the self-care needed to manage your mental health, anxiety etc? How do you incorporate that?
This is such a great post! I am always looking for life hacks as a working mom. The two things that have recently helped me are 1) doing food prep on Sundays (it doesn’t take long to hard boil a bunch of eggs and grill chicken and chop veggies). Then I always have a quick, healthy snack and I just add rice to my chicken/veggies for a healthy lunch or dinner. 2) committing to an early (like, crazy early) workout. It’s so hard to wake up at 5, but it lets me get to a 5:15 barre class or I do weights/treadmill at home and I’m done by 6am! Then I still have 30 minutes to shower before my baby gets up. I’ve been doing this 4 days a week since April and it’s become second nature (I take Monday’s off–I’m not superwoman!) One more thing: I wear the same uniforms for work and play: yoga tights and cute sneakers on weekends and skinny pants, d’orsay heels, and a silk top for work. I have every color variation on these staples, and they always function right and look presentable. I swap out jewelry and jackets, but these are my “uniforms” now.
Thank you for posting this! Sounds very similar to my schedule. My husband and I both work full time and are new parents too (named Henry too). It’s hard and always nice to hear about fellow working parents. No advise; sounds like you’ve got it covered!
Great post, Erin! Thanks for sharing your tips, I must learn to outsource more and be less of the control freak that I am.
I love this! As someone who aspires to have her own business and (probably) a family, I appreciate the realistic take on what it takes!
One thing that jumped out at me was your desire to have a better social media presence. Why not get an unpaid PR/design intern a few hours a week? There are tons of media savvy students at nearby schools that could do this as a resume builder and you might be able to give school credit too! Or pay in Starbucks coffees :)
Erin – great post! As another full-time working mom with a young ones, I really appreciate your honest take on a day in the life. One thing that I’ve added to my routine is making the most of my commute to and from work each day. In the mornings, I listen to a podcast or NPR to hear the news. I feel smarter and informed when I get to the office. In the evenings, I make it a point to call family or friends to say hello and check in. A text simply doesn’t accomplish what a phone call can, and to have a quiet car for a period of time to actually have a real conversation is priceless!
You’re level-headed , hard-working and honest, you’ve won my admiration. I’ve been in your position, and can offer one piece of advice, keep your busy routine and schedule, check items of your daily to-do lists, yet train yourself to NOTICE, FEEL and REMEMBER the moments along the way. Don’t let the utility of the daily demands make you mechanical. Sooner than you can fathom, this part of your young life will have passed.
Now go karate chop the air, because you are bad-ass. Good luck, friend. You have the support of mamas you’ll never meet. :)
Erin,
Just read your blog and it reminded myself of how I was when I was younger. At your point I was teaching, my husband had a business and we just added to our family and adopted a precious baby boy who just left the nest. What you are doing with your life is wonderful, it doesn’t matter if it pizza and ice cream , what Henry will remember is all the love he is surrounded by, most of all he will be a reflection of his parents and that is the greatest joy of all.
This was wonderful to read. As another busy executive mom with babies, my life and schedule look remarkably similar to yours! It’s nice to know I’m not alone. (Dinner partis? No.) Thanks!
Hi Erin! I live in New Hampshire and couldn’t get childcare to come to your talk in Boston, so I was so happy to see this post!
As you say, no one can do it all, and it was nice to hear you concur. I’ve been trying to get my own design business off the ground up here, and with 3- and 7- year-old boys and no more help than the occasional babysitter, I too feel like I never get enough done. But I try to live in the present and realize that this work is for my own happiness and what I can give to others, as long as it is not at the expense of the people I value most!
It seems that a lot of commenters have *very* young or only one child. Let me just say that though the schedule does get a bit crazier afternoons and weekends as your kids get older, the mornings, school hours, and bedtimes get WAY better. And don’t knock a once-a-month date!! It’s great! Families aren’t healthy if mom and dad’s relationship isn’t first above all.
I actually think your life looks amazingly balanced. Great job! You have a baby, work full time and still manage to go for daily walks, park outings, leave work early, get to bed early, etc. Give yourself credit. I think a lot of moms reading this would aspire to your schedule (me included).
great post! as a working mom with two little kids (3 and 1), the one piece of advice i would give you is entertain, travel and do date nights more before you go for baby #2 (taking the liberty to assume you will :)). i thought one child was exhausting but looking back it feels like a breeze compared to adding a second to the mix. Don’t know how moms with 3+ kids do it!
A coworker told me that she noticed her friends starting to look better in their 40s – because their kids were older/more self sufficient, and they finally had time to get decent sleep and work out! I have two under two and I just remind myself that for better or worse, it’s all temporary. They will never be this little again, so not working out is worth it because I get more time with them.
Oh my goodness this blog post feels so close to home and very relevant today! It is so reassuring to know how others manage, celebrate what we do well & admit that we can’t do it all. Have had a day off work today to be home for an engineer visit. Since I got up I have not stopped. Got so much ticked off my ‘to do’ list, some of which have been there for months! Life is like a constant treadmill so today I have made the most of every second of a rare day at home. Really appreciate your take on this subject and your honesty. Now for that glass of red……
P.S. am in the UK so a glass of red at this end of the day is very much ok. Its not morning here!
I love this post! And I love your Instagram because it is real and reflects your actual life.
Our schedules are very similar and I enact many of the same safeguards as you (no phone by the bed, etc.) and struggle with the same things – working out, etc. I have 3 kids, ages 9-12. They are in school everyday, and I am determined to pick them up, which means my workday ends at 2:30 sharp. Hard to fit everything in, so I have become a beast at productivity hacks. Outsourcing is key, and also being able to manage interruptions during the day to actually get the work done! A few things that have helped me: no appointments on Monday, Blue Apron!!!, Barre 3 online and podcasts when I’m in the car to keep me focused. I admire you Erin!
Totally looking into Barre 3 online – I feel like I waste so much time getting to and from workout classes! Any additional thoughts/advice on it Sara?
This is great! It is too easy for me to romanticize that others do manage to do everything…perfectly…in a perfect house…in perfect clothes! Thanks for sharing this with us, but for the record, I still think you do a lot!!
I think its particularly impressive you write all of your own blog posts still! Most bloggers have others ghost write for them… all of your posts still have your voice! you’re great keep going! :)
That has been a point of discussion many times as people keep suggesting I do that, but I just don’t want to. I don’t want to farm this blog out- it’s still such a joy for me.
This post is perfect timing for me as I am in my last week of maternity leave and heading back to work full time on Monday 😔.
How did your daily routine differ when Henry was younger? My husband and I have been trying to figure out what our new routine will look like once I am back at work and the thing that trips me up is that our daughter is not sleeping through the night so I need to feed her (and also pump since she’s never gotten the hang of the whole breastfeeding thing). How did you manage to get enough rest and still balance out the rest of your schedule?
My husband and I just started doing this a couple days a week – after our 2 year old is asleep, we go sit outside on our back porch with a couple glasses of wine, leave our phones inside and just talk. And there is only 1 rule…no talking about our son! Haha. It was hard the first night but then it got super easy and we started to feel more connected and would tell stories, laugh, etc. Try it sometime. It’s kinda like a date night but at home!
Don’t feel too pressured to have “date night” — sometimes the best weekend nights for my husband and me are putting the kiddos down early, getting good take out, opening up a good bottle of wine, and renting a movie we have been wanting to see.
And get a good jogging stroller and you take the first shift with Henry in the morning. I use to think if I couldn’t get in at least an hour of work out it’s not worth it. Not true. Put Henry in the stroller at 6:00 and go for a quick 3 mile run. You will feel great the rest of the day!
Have you watched American Housewife on ABC? I am a CT girl also and it is set in Westport. It’s really funny and brings humor to the busy life of a mom.
I really enjoy such an honest post. It’s also a great reminder that we can accomplish a lot – we just have to be smart and prioritize. I don’t like the phrase “having it all” – I think it’s unrealistic and creates added anxiety & stress. The idea of working for myself has always scared me, but you make it seem accessible. Great job, Erin!
I love this post.
My days are similar in feel to yours, although my kids are in school so the actual schedule breakdown is a little different.
I have one tip that might work for you – eat the same thing for lunch every day (if you can stand it). I have a deli near us that has the most delicious Greek salad with grilled chicken. It’s super healthy, tons of vegetables, and I just order it like clockwork every day. No decisions to make (cuts down on decision fatigue!), and I know that lunch will always be healthy no matter what we end up doing for dinner. (I actually eat the same breakfast every morning for the same reason – 2 eggs with toast. Every. Day.)
Also – I think you are already doing this but I wanted to articulate it for other readers – I think one of the most important things one can do is be thoughtful about the schedule. If at the end of the week you can reflect on what went well, and what didn’t, and what adjustments might need to be made for the upcoming week, it’s SO helpful. It makes me feel like I am not just reacting, but I’m planning and being proactive about how my time is allocated.
OBSESSED with this post Erin! I agree, a routine is key. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person out there trying to “do it all” and your words really helped me remember that we all struggle, and no one has it figured out perfectly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic – I am especially impressed by your commitment to “family time.” Happy Wednesday friend!
xo,
Kira
http://www.theimperfectionistblog.com
love this post! my old boss once told me her philosophy was if someone else could do the job she was trying to do at least 70% as good as she would, she outsourced it. so buying groceries, answering her email, stuff like that, she hired it out. us moms are all doing the best we can I think!
xo, Brittany
what we are loving lately for mama + baby over on my blog today!
https://www.notablob.com/
Actually your life looks pretty balanced for a busy career couple with a toddler. Henry gets his special time, and you and Andrew have couple time (even if it’s just watching TV) and you even sneak in a little me time.
You do need to eat healthy and sneak in a little yoga because it helps with centering and healthy body image which is so important with a history of eating disorders.
I think you’re doing great! it does sound like a lot of balls in the air but you’ve made smart choices to outsource as much as you can. Maybe add a meal service like Blue Apron? I’ve never used it but others seem to just love it. There are other meal service options out there … just don’t remember the name of any of them. Perhaps your other readers could share their experiences with this issue.
This is so encouraging – I’m in such a similar boat working from home on Thimble Collection. It’s so nice to see someone else who sets strict time limits and it’s also a good reminder for me that I need to do more limit-setting around technology (a work-in-progress). I think I need to make a list like yours to spell out what I’m getting and what I’m giving up and see where I want to make tweaks. Great thought-starter.
We have really appreciated using Sensible Sitters here in Boston – we mostly use it for dinners out with friends or date nights after our daughter goes to sleep. The process is so easy – you pick well-vetted sitters, schedule times, and pay all online. We did a good job for a while of booking someone every Thursday night at 7:30pm and it was a great forcing function for us to actually do something (we only stopped because we started having too many post-bedtime commitments on other nights). We’re also working on doing one night a week without TV (so hard) because it takes away the easy option and forces us to do something new or more meaningful.
As always, thanks for your candid thoughts Erin!
Great post! I admire all that you do in a day!