Balancing Work and Home Life: A Mom’s Guide to WFH Success

Working from home can be, well, complicated. Have you ever sat down at your laptop, a fresh cup of coffee in hand, only to immediately hear the crash of Cheerios hitting the floor in the other room? Or maybe you’ve tried to craft the perfect Slack message only to have your toddler use you as their personal jungle gym? It’s messy, unpredictable, and sometimes hilarious. But you know what? It’s also manageable—and dare I say—rewarding, with the right approach.  

Read more about Living a Life That’s Full (of What Acutally Matters)

I’ve been working from home for years now. I used to work full-time (while also juggling having my then-one-year-old at home too!). These days, I’m 100% in charge of my schedule, or uhh, my kids are. But through it all, I’ve had to navigate everything from packed Zoom calls to baby giggles (and meltdowns). Along the way, I’ve learned a thing or two about balancing working from home with motherhood—or at least trying to!

Start with the Big Three  

If you’re anything like me, your to-do list is a mile long, with some easy-to-check-off tasks, and maybe a couple that have been sitting there glaring at you for a week or two. At this point, that list can easily feel more overwhelming than inspiring.

There’s nothing worse than feeling like you’ve been working all day, only to realize you haven’t made any progress towards your actual goals.

The Big Three is simple but wildly effective—choose three tasks for your day. They need to be the ones that are non-negotiable and will make the biggest difference.

OK, storytime

I was 37 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. And I was just laid off from my safe, cushy content writing job at a tech company. I had been freelancing as a website copywriter for years, but I was not ready to jump headfirst into that. Or so I thought.

Between the uncertainty of my work life and the anxious anticipation for my baby to arrive, I did more tossing and turning at night than sleeping. The daytime was filled with so so many tears. I wasn’t sure what to do, where to go, or if I could do anything right anymore.

So, I made a GIANT to-do list in my notes app (more than 50 checklist items long). There was a sense of relief in getting all the things I wanted to do in the next 2-3 weeks before my baby girl arrived. Then, I went in and prioritized and organized what I wanted to get done week-by-week. Then, finally, I would pick 2-3 things before I went to bed that I would prioritize the next morning. I loved accomplishing tasks that needed to be done, crossing them off my list, and feeling productive without feeling overwhelmed or stuck.

So for you, The Big 3 could be anything: knocking out an important client project, scheduling a much-needed doctors appointment, or sending out a few emails to stay ahead.

The takeaway is that it’s not about doing everything; it’s about doing what matters. By the time your head hits the pillow, you’ll feel accomplished and motivated to do it all again tomorrow.

Create a Calm + Focused Space  

For a long time, my workspace was any flat surface not covered in toys or juice spills. I would grab my laptop and set it on:

  • the kitchen counter
  • the kitchen table
  • a picnic blanket in the yard (if there were no video calls and my oldest really needed some fresh air)
  • the coffee table in the living room, while Bluey was on the TV
  • my bed, while my baby was napping in my arms or next to me on the bed
  • the kitchen table (again) after the dinner dishes had been cleared and the kids were in bed

It wasn’t ideal, but the mobility and flexibility made it easier to work and mom at the same time.

Eventually, I realized having a spot just for work—whether it’s a full office or a cozy, corner desk—made everything smoother. For me, it started as a cloffice (or closet office). I had my desk tucked away in the closet of our guest room. Every morning, I would move the cute accent chair from the corner of the room, open the closet doors, and settle in for a productive writing session. Then, when the day was done or company was coming over, I could shut the doors and give them the room. Don’t worry, there’s a dresser in the room too, so my guests didn’t have to live out of their suitcases during their stay.

Right now, my desk is sitting 4 feet away from my bed. It’s practical for the season of life and space we have, but I do not recommend having work anywhere near your bedroom if you can help it.

Wherever your workspace lands, start with a designated space. Then, declutter. I know, minimalism and motherhood don’t always mix, but clearing your desk of random toddler art, laundry that’s drying, and envelopes that need to get mailed can do wonders for your focus. A little basket underneath for “stuff that doesn’t belong here but I’ll deal with later” is also a lifesaver.  

What’s On My Desk

Next, invest in the tools you need to get your work done. This could mean upgrading to a faster computer. Or getting a comfortable chair (or maybe more practically, one that supports good posture). You may want a pair of noise-canceling AirPods to listen to music or podcasts without being distracted by background noise. And don’t forget to stay hydrated – a gigantic water bottle will keep you fueled and focused without the need for constant trips to the kitchen.

Creating a calm and focused workspace isn’t just about the physical space, though. It’s also about setting the right tone for your workday. I found a gratitude journal on Amazon. Now, I start most mornings counting blessings and indentifying things I need to let go of, before I ever look at my Big 3. Those few minutes set the tone and keep me focused on the big picture—my why.

Batch Your Work  

Multi-tasking is a motherhood essential, but it is not the productivity hack we once thought it was. Batching, on the other hand? That’s where the magic happens.  

Instead of bouncing between writing, answering emails, and maybe chopping the lettuce for dinner that night, group similar tasks together. That way, your brain doesn’t have to shift gears a thousand times. I go into batching work (specifically content!) in more detail in this blog post.

For example, carve out an hour to respond to all your emails at once. Next, tackle a chunk of client work. For me, that would be focusing in on writing a page or two of website copy, or researching and writing a couple of blog posts. Then, maybe, it’s time to fold the laundry mountain that’s been growing on the couch. You’ll be amazed at how much smoother your day feels—and how much more you actually get done—when you stick to one thing at a time.  

Use nap time (or screen time) wisely. Those windows are perfect for your most focus-intensive tasks.  

Turn Off the Distractions  

Raise your hand if you’ve been sucked into a 45-minute TikTok scroll only to realize you completely forgot why you picked up your phone in the first place. It’s me—I’m raising my hand.  

That’s why turning off distractions is crucial. Start small. Put your phone in another room when you’re tackling something important. Use tools like Focus mode or website blockers. Your guilty pleasures will be there later, I promise.  

And if your biggest distraction is a tiny human who insists on playing hide-and-seek mid-meeting, try setting “work time” boundaries with visual or verbal cues. My girls are pretty young right now, so in our household, I tell the girls when I have a call, and intentionally set out a special toy (usually Play-Doh, haha) for them to play with while I’m across the room. Close enough to keep that purple sticky mess from being stuck on our white couch, but far enough away that they’re faint background noise for my client. For older kids, I’d assume a colored sign, a special chair, or even a song can signal that mom needs focus time right now. But feel free to comment with how wrong I am and/or offer your suggestions for when I get to that stage of life!

Take Care of Yourself

You can’t pour from an empty cup—and honestly, sometimes it feels like mine gets knocked over about a dozen times a day. Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths or escaping for a solo trip to Target (though those moments are golden). It’s about caring for your body and your soul, in small and intentional ways that bring you back to who you are and Whose you are.

Practical Self Care Steps

Let’s start with the practical. Yes, grab the protein bar, some fruit, or even stash a handful of crackers in a desk drawer. Move your body! Perhaps that means turning up some music and dancing in the kitchen, taking a quick walk outside, or simply stretching at your desk. Those little movements are tiny acts of kindness for yourself.

Soul Care + Self Care

Now, for the heart stuff—the kind that fills the deeper cup. Schedule even just a few minutes to pause and pray, or jot down what’s actually on your heart today. If formal prayer feels hard, start with a whispered “thank You” or a scribble in your journal. Take a breath. Notice the ways God is showing up in the small things—tiny fingerprints on your window, an unexpected hug, that one cup of hot coffee you actually got to finish while it was still hot. Practicing gratitude isn’t just fluffy self-help talk—it changes your day.

And rest. Yes, real rest. Not just closing your laptop or mindlessly scrolling when the work day is done. Rest can look like letting yourself be still for a moment, or even just taking a couple of breaths.

I downloaded the Abide app when I was laid off, because I couldn’t quiet the noise. Any time I sat in silence, I was flooded with thoughts of being a failure, worrying over what was next, and how all of this would affect my family. I listened to some of their meditations to help stop the spiraling and bring me back to reality.

Laundry can wait. The texts can wait. The work will never truly be done. We’ll always find one more project, one more client to take on, or one more email to send. As long as it feels restful for you, it’s worth taking a break and doing.

But through it all, you’re held, loved, and worthy. You’re doing so much more than just getting things done—you’re tending to your own heart, and that matters more than any to-do list.

Be Flexible + Have Grace  

Perfection is overrated. Some days, your Big Three might become a Big One, and that’s okay. Some nights, the bath-to-bed routine might be replaced by a late-night couch cuddle and Netflix, and guess what? That’s okay, too.  

Schedules will get flipped upside down. Deadlines might get pushed. Some days will feel harder than others. But through all of it, give yourself grace. You’re doing something incredible—balancing work, life, and love in a world that feels like it’s constantly moving too fast. And that deserves to be celebrated.  

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