Analise, Podcast Host of “Mommy Mindset” on Being Productive Without Sacrificing Family Time
Are you a working mom who feels pressure for being productive plus having to put quality time aside for your family?
We interviewed Analise, the podcast host of “Mommy Mindset,” she gives tips on being productive without sacrificing family time.
A quick background about Analise is that she is a mom of two, a mommy mentor, and is on a mission to help other moms gain their time back and put themselves on the priority list. With working full time, having a podcast, two kids, and taking care of everything else in between, Analise was tired of feeling burnt out and she found a system and rhythm that eliminated burnout, increased being productive, and increased time for self-care.
We interviewed her so that self-employed moms have a resource to get tips and advice about having to juggle so much on their plate from babies and work to self.
So let’s get started and don’t forget to follow her on Instagram or listen to her podcast, all the links will be below.
What’s a funny story about a time when you found yourself hilariously juggling productivity and kids?
Something that always seems to be piling up at my house is laundry, can you relate? So every time I am in the laundry room, my toddler has to follow me and “help” me. I give her a sock to put in the dryer or play with. One day I walked away and when I came back all of the laundry was taken out of the dryer and into the basket along with my toddler.
Instead of getting frustrated, I thought she likes to help me and this is teaching her independence. Now every time I do laundry, I have her come help me and this is not only getting the laundry done, it is always allowing me to spend time with my daughter and talk and laugh with her. It’s the small moments like this that make my day.
How do you prioritize tasks to ensure both being productive and quality family time?
The main things I do to prioritize are prep, plan, and schedule. I prep things that I might need to get things done ahead of time like: meal prepping, working out, and grocery shopping. Then I plan out my months, weeks, and days. This gives me a clear view of what is important at certain points in time to get things done. Lastly, I schedule things in and not just work but also family time. My schedule is blocked off by 4 pm for family time, this is where the night routine starts, prep for cooking dinner, family time, bath time, then bedtime. I set very clear boundaries of when to do certain things and schedule them.
What strategies do you use to maintain a work-life balance while managing a busy schedule?
The main strategy I use is time blocking. I like to identify a certain amount of time for a certain task or a group of tasks. For example, all of the house chores, I get done in the morning or late afternoon. Then all of the work stuff… I get done in the morning. I block off time to make sure in that allotted time I am focusing on one thing to make sure it gets done. Being productive is much easier when you are aware of your energy levels and depending on what tasks you like to do first.
Can you share tips for integrating work and family responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed?
It all starts with mindset, working on your mindset towards integrating your work and family is a constant journey. You first have to let go of perfectionism or trying to be in control of everything ALL the time. The other part of it is understanding yourself better, I know when my most productive times are and when I have more energy and I know my lower points throughout the day. Understanding this will help you schedule your day more efficiently and get more productive. It is the lack of clarity that can get you overwhelmed constantly feeling like you are drowning. Get clear on your priorities then it will melt away the frustration of chaos.
How do you handle distractions while being productive with your kids around?
I have a 10-year-old and a 2-year-old, so I take different approaches with both. I communicate and talk to my oldest to let him know ahead of time, that I am trying to get something done and give him my attention before I start and when I am in the middle of work, I will tell him to give me a second, find a stopping point, give him my attention and see what he is needing.
On the other hand, with my 2 year old it can be constant distractions with her, so I ensure to prep and plan ahead to make sure I will have things to occupy her while I am working. When she needs my attention again, I find a stopping point, give her my attention, and then get back into it. The overwhelm is when our attention is pulled in different directions by distractions and trying to keep focus. I found that if I give the 2 minutes of attention my kids are needing from me, then I am able to get back to what I am doing and finish.
What are some effective time management techniques for busy parents who run their own businesses?
Along with my method of prepping, planning, and scheduling, you also have to treat your business like work. Have set work hours, have set boundaries around the areas of your life, and schedule certain tasks to certain days. For example, depending on your schedule group your marketing and content days for Tues. and Thurs. Or your admin days on Mondays. Instead of trying to do everything every day, organize your days.
How do you involve your children in your work or productivity routines while still fostering independence?
Like my story at the beginning of this, sometimes we will do laundry together and it helps them foster independence and helps me get things done. Letting your kids get into everyday chores around the house with you can show them how to be independent as well as doing things together. A big thing that helped me be more productive in our home, is a system for our home, this can be advanced for some but start small.
Can you discuss the importance of setting boundaries to protect family time while pursuing professional goals?
As busy moms, time flies so fast and if we aren’t careful, we can miss so much because we are on autopilot most of the time. A solution to that is setting strong boundaries to protect family time because your family needs you the most. Kids don’t stop growing up just because we have a deadline at work, setting boundaries around your time with your family is so important. Boundaries can look like not working past a certain time or not working during the weekends. You can still be productive and have set boundaries in place.
What role does communication play in managing expectations with both work and family commitments?
It is probably the biggest role in managing and taking control of your life. Trying to do it all yourself or not effectively communicating with what you need help with causes us to get burnt out faster. It is a simple solution to avoid even more stress.
How do you deal with feelings of guilt or pressure when trying to balance productivity with spending time with your family?
I give myself grace and going back to mindset, I am letting go of trying to get everything done, trying to be perfect at everything, and having that cloud of guilt over me. I also have very strong communication with my family so they know that I have working hours and I also have non-working hours. Even if I am feeling pressure of the weight of everything or feel guilty for working so much, I create time for myself to fill up my cup, this can be having uninterrupted fun with my kids or a self-care day.
Thank you so much Analise for sharing all your insights about being productive and managing family life.
Discover Analise’s Links:
Follow Analise on Instagram
Read the previous interview, “A Closer Look Into Brand and Web Design with Jackie Burtch.”
