From Burnout to Balance: 9 Sanity-Saving, Productivity Habits for Remote Working Moms
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Creating Your Stay-at-Home Mom Schedule That Actually Works
1. Time-Block Like a Boss
2. Establish Clear Boundaries (Yes, You Need Them!)
Cultivating a Productivity Mindset (Without the Toxic Hustle Culture)
3. Practice the "Power of Three" Technique
4. Embrace "Good Enough" as Your New Perfect
5. Use the "Touch It Once" Rule
Self-Care That Actually Fits Into Your Real Life
6. Create a Morning Ritual (Before the Chaos)
7. Schedule Micro-Breaks
Finding Your Support System
8. Build Your Virtual Village
9. Outsource and Delegate Without Guilt
When to Seek Professional Help
Your Action Plan: Start Small, Stay Consistent
According to a 2023 study by McKinsey, 42% of working mothers report feeling burned out often or almost always – that's almost half of us! And for remote working moms specifically? That number jumps to 53%. We're literally in the danger zone when it comes to burnout risk.
The thing is, burnout isn't just feeling tired. It's that bone-deep exhaustion where you can't remember the last time you felt excited about...well, anything. It's when your productivity tanks, you're snapping at your kids over little things, and that cup of coffee (your third today) just isn't cutting it anymore.
Creating Your Stay-at-Home Mom Schedule That Actually Works
I know this article is literally me breaking down a plan, but if having some sort of perfect schedule is the thing stopping you from feeling in control, let's ditch that idea right now. There's no one-size-fits-all solution here. Cliche as that may sound, it is true.
Instead, let's focus on creating routines that flex with your unique situation:
1. Time-Block Like a Boss
Time-blocking changed my life, period. Here's how I do it:
Power Hours: Identify your 2-3 most productive hours (for me, it's 5-7 AM before the kids wake up – yes, I'm that crazy early bird mom!)
Deep Work Sessions: Schedule 90-minute focused work blocks during your power hours
Buffer Zones: Add 15-30 minutes between important tasks or meetings (because something WILL go wrong, trust me!)
I've got a whole separate article on Time-Blocking Techniques for Busy Moms if you're like me and need ALL the details on how to make this work.
2. Establish Clear Boundaries (Yes, You Need Them!)
Okay, so boundaries might be the hardest thing for us moms, you know what I mean? We feel guilty saying no, but you know what? Boundaries aren't selfish, they're kind of necessary.
Try these boundary-setting techniques:
Visual Cues: When my office door is closed, my family knows it's focus time
Communication Systems: I tell my special needs son the night before or right before my work day starts that mommy needs to work. It’s touch and go the first few times I did this, but he eventually got it (but he still sometimes needs reminders).
End-of-Day Ritual: I literally shut down my laptop and put it away in a drawer at the end of my work day to signal work is DONE
A study in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that workers who established clear boundaries between work and home reported 37% lower burnout rates. I say, that’s huge!
Cultivating a Productivity Mindset (Without the Toxic Hustle Culture)
Productivity isn't about doing ALL THE THINGS. It's about doing the right things at the right times.
3. Practice the "Power of Three" Technique
Each morning, I identify just THREE key tasks that would make the day successful. That's it. Not 20 things on a never-ending to-do list.
This works because:
It forces you to identify what truly matters
It gives you clear wins to celebrate
It prevents that overwhelming feeling when you stare at a massive to-do list
4. Embrace "Good Enough" as Your New Perfect
Listen, I used to be such a perfectionist, but motherhood and remote work taught me that done is better than perfect.
Research from the University of California found that perfectionists are actually 33% more likely to experience burnout. So repeat after me: "Good enough IS good enough."
5. Use the "Touch It Once" Rule
When you check an email, respond immediately or schedule a time to deal with it – don't just leave it sitting there taking up mental space. Same goes for house stuff. If it takes less than 2 minutes (like hanging up a coat instead of throwing it on a chair), do it now.
This one habit reduced my mental load by about 40%, I swear!
Self-Care That Actually Fits Into Your Real Life
I know when people talk about self-care, you're probably rolling your eyes like, "Yeah right, when exactly am I supposed to do that?" Between deadlines and house chores, finding me-time seems impossible.
But self-care isn't always about spa days and girls' trips (though those are amazing when you can get them!). It's about microdoses of restoration throughout your day.
6. Create a Morning Ritual (Before the Chaos)
I had my mobile phone die on me never to be resurrected. I lost notes, images, apps (remembering my logins was a headache, really), and the stress was overwhelming. That's when I realized I needed to start my days intentionally instead of reactively.
Now I wake up 30 minutes before my kids to:
Journal for 5 minutes (nothing fancy, just brain dumping)
Move my body for 10 minutes (sometimes just stretching or dancing in my kitchen)
Set my intention for the day
Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that people with morning routines reported 23% lower stress levels throughout the day. What the hey-yey!
7. Schedule Micro-Breaks
Set a timer to take a 5-minute break every 90 minutes. During these breaks:
Step outside for fresh air
Do 10 deep breaths
Stretch or do a quick yoga pose
Drink water (we're all dehydrated, let's be real)
I use the Pomodoro Technique which is specifically designed to remind you to take these essential breaks.
Finding Your Support System
8. Build Your Virtual Village
Remote work can be isolating, and mom life can be lonely sometimes – that's just facts. But you don't have to do this alone!
Ways to build your support network:
Join online communities (I joined the planning, fountain pen, reading, and crafting communities)
Schedule virtual coffee dates with other working moms
Find accountability partners for work projects
Participate in virtual coworking sessions
A 2023 survey by Remote Work Institute found that remote workers with strong social connections reported 45% less burnout than those who worked in isolation.
9. Outsource and Delegate Without Guilt
You literally cannot do it all, and that's totally okay! Figure out what you can take off your plate:
Meal prep services or food delivery services (I have a few favorite home-cooked places)
Virtual assistant for 5-10 hours monthly
Age-appropriate chores for kids
Task-sharing with your partner
Remember: every successful CEO delegates – and as a remote working mom, you're the CEO of your home AND your work!
When to Seek Professional Help
I'm just a girl sharing what works for me, not a mental health professional. Sometimes burnout goes deeper than what self-help strategies can address.
If you're experiencing:
Persistent feelings of hopelessness
Physical symptoms like chronic headaches or insomnia
Inability to enjoy activities you once loved
Thoughts of self-harm
Please reach out to a healthcare provider. Many therapists now offer telehealth options that can fit into your remote work schedule.
Your Action Plan: Start Small, Stay Consistent
Look, I know this blog is literally me breaking down a plan but if having some sort of perfect plan in place is literally the thing that is stopping you from taking action, just pick ONE thing from this article to implement this week.
Maybe it's:
Setting up a morning ritual
Identifying your three daily priorities
Creating a visual boundary system
What's the dream? A sustainable remote work life where you thrive professionally while still being present for those precious family moments.
Remember mama, you're not failing – you're figuring it out. And that's exactly what you should be doing.
Just keep going through those emotions. That is the dip, and getting through that dip is the key.
Thrive Remotely, Live Fully. ✨