Of all the things you anticipate modifying or giving up when you become a mom, one of the least anticipated things for me was my mornings. Mornings before baby were just…easier. Not that I don’t love mornings now. I love seeing Bastian’s smile when I get him out of bed in the morning. And I absolutely love watching him eat breakfast. But there’s less lying in bed until I feel like getting up. We have to get breakfast started pretty quickly so Bastian doesn’t get cranky. Sometimes, I really miss the easy and productive mornings before had a baby. But then I watch my son eat his breakfast with so much enthusiasm and giggle the entire time, and I realize that I can still have a productive day. They just look different now.
Make overnight oats the night before
Seth and I are a “hot breakfast” kind of family. We rarely have cereal in the cupboard. Instead, french toast or eggs and bacon frequent the breakfast table. About 3 days a week, Seth goes into work around 7 am. On those days, I often find myself making breakfast for just Bastian and I after he’s left. At least, I always pray that I have to make breakfast alone, because that means Bastian slept in past 7, haha. On these mornings, I like to make overnight oats or chia seed pudding the night before, to share with Bastian in the morning. I have never successfully made an overnight oat recipe from scratch that didn’t turn out with a consistency of anything besides glue. Nasty. I also tried quaker overnight oats once and I was unimpressed.
My favorite overnight oats come from Daily Harvest. They ship it to my door, and then the night before I pour milk in the container, and stick it in my fridge. In the morning, bam, breakfast. It’s easy and healthy and that’s really the only reason I do it. If I wanted something that would require effort, I’d just make eggs.
It’s okay to stay in pajamas
At least, until nap time. I usually change Bastian into his clothes once breakfast is over, because I have to clean him up anyway and he’s kinda sticky by then. But it’s a lot easier to stay in sweats until nap time, than trying to keep my baby from emptying the contents of my dresser while I get changed. This way, I can focus on spending time with my sweet baby and have a more productive day, overall.
Make a to do list
This suggestion isn’t new to anyone, I know. But if I forget to make a to do list, I don’t get anything done. As soon as my baby is taking his morning nap, I sit down and write out my to do list. I find it easiest to remain motivated and productive if I include easy tasks as well as things less likely to get done. A list for me will include things like “post on instagram”(easy, obviously) as well as “stay sane”(less easy).
Be patient with yourself, not every day will be a productive day
There’s only so much you can do in a day, you’re human. I used to get so upset at myself for not doing EVERYTHING in a day I wanted to get the kitchen clean, and work, and blog, and package orders, and play with my baby, all the while keeping both of us fed and tend to my emotional and physical health. It’s a lot to do in a day. I write my to do list, but I know I won’t get it all done. And that’s okay. I still consider myself to have had a productive day if I spent quality time with my baby and did one work related thing. I get the majority of my tasks done after the baby is in bed for the night. I’ve made peace with the fact that my living room is always messy, and I focus my productive energy elsewhere.