Work Outside-Home Mom: Managing Personal Downtime

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As a busy working, homeschooling mom, who works outside the home, I have experienced quite a challenge to make the time to wind down and spend some time trying to “soothe” myself. I have always proved that it all comes down to scheduling my personal time in my planner as well.

Planning and writing personal time in a planner guarantees that you become accustom to that time, and that it actually happens. At least give yourself 15-30 minutes of daily focused time for yourself. Plan to also have an extended time during your off day(s) from work.

Some ideas on how to spend downtime:

INDOOR:

Bible studying and/or creative journaling.
Reading, while drinking coffee or tea (my hobby right here).
Listening to good music while adult coloring, drawing, or practicing calligraphy.
Planning while decorating your planner (planning can actually be a hobby too!)
Creative writing, journaling.
Taking an online course.
Scrapbooking.
Exercising.
So many others, which ever your talent might be.

OUTDOOR:

Gardening
Bird watching
Walking
Skating
Running
So many more!

These are just a few of the huge list of possibilities you have. Just do what really makes your heart happy.

3 Tips for Scheduling your Personal Downtime

Prevent from overcommitting and over scheduling your planner.
Leave margin of at least 15-20 minutes in between time blocks.
- This will allow you to have time left to do what ever you want. During those margins, you could use it to be your free time. Time for a quick read with coffee or to also take care of unexpected quick tasks.
Schedule your actual downtime,
- This could be first thing in the morning, half way into the day, or sometime before bedtime. Which ever works with your schedule.

By taking care of yourself, you will be able to care of your loving family, and to pour more love and dedication to them. Alway spend time reading/studying the Bible, If you need help with this you could use a study guide. Ask God for wisdom in prayer, so that He can give you the clarity to be able to achieve all that you have to do not just productively but also with joy and contentment. Managing and scheduling time is a process that requires building habits one step at a time.

In the past, since reading is my hobby, I have taken advantage of my downtime “productively” by reading resources that could actually help me improve my life at home, with homeschooling, with work, and productivity in general. I have purchased the annual Ultimate Homemaking Bundle 4 times (and I continue to do because it’s different every year), and I have found my best organizational sources from there. You can learn more by visiting their site:

I hope this gave you an idea of how to plan your and schedule your personal downtime of relaxation. For a full month on successful schedules of working moms visit: