We’ve all been there. You finally get all the kids to sleep for a nap. You plop down on the couch and start scrolling on your phone. I scroll and scroll and scroll…doing NOTHING. Then you hear them waking up. You look at the clock and realize 2 HOURS have gone by. I would always feel like my time was wasted and I didn’t feel rested.
This used to be a daily occurrence for me, honestly some days it still is. I really struggled with being productive. These great nap time productivity tips have really encouraged me. They will help you treasure your nap time so you can enjoy your kid’s awake time even more!
1. Prioritize
Make a list of what is important to you and able to be worked into your day. You WON’T be able to get to everything in a day, so really try to narrow down this list. This tip may take a few weeks to iron out.
Maybe baking is a hobby of yours but your kids take really short naps…that may be an activity you find out needs to be enjoyed after bedtime. Or maybe you like to exercise during nap time, but also want to get in a SHOWER at some point in the day. Experiment with what works best for you and leaves you feeling rested and ready for the rest of the day.
2. Don’t over-schedule nap time
I wanted to do everything during naps, but quickly realized all the things I wanted to accomplish during nap time were leaving me drained. When I narrowed it down to one or two enjoyable or necessary activities, I felt much more refreshed and rested throughout the day. Now, when I can, I save reading, showering, working on my blog, and sleeping for nap times. Those are activities I really enjoy, they leave me fairly rested, and I don’t get discouraged dropping them when the L.O. wakes up from a nap.
I use to try to pack my time during naps full with cleaning, , trying to shower, starting supper, doing house projects. While some of those things really do need to be done during nap time some days, I found that working self-care into nap-times sometimes saves times for your peace and in the end leaves a happier momma.
3. Complete a quick 10-minute chore before you start your list/activity
I don’t love cleaning, it takes time, and it just gets messy again and I do not like spending nap times cleaning.
Working on one chore or house task for a measly 10 minutes will help you rest better and focus more clearly on the activities you have chosen for the duration of your nap time. Obviously some days, your time during naps will need to consist of a long list of cleaning. But most days, if you can just pick one quick chore or task to finish in 10 minutes your burden will be slightly lighter going into your enjoyable activities.
4. Prep Beforehand
This is a big one depending on the project. Especially if you’re doing house projects. Get all your supplies out before the kids go down for nap. Not only does this keep you motivated to do it, but everything is ready for you. Also, Get the noisy projects done before the kids go down for their nap!
Not only does this refer to getting supplies out but plan your day accordingly. This may be doing your usual chores throughout the day so you can relax at night. It might mean doing household chores early so you can work when they’re asleep. Or it may mean getting up early to work so you can relax or nap during nap time. Its whatever works best for you!
5. Use white noise
This is one of biggest life savers in parenting. Hands down. I find my daughter sleeps better with the white noise. You don’t have to worry about every little noise you make while they are sleeping. It really helps you be able to rush around the house and do whatever you want without worrying about waking the little ones. Since nap times and sleep times are when you probably do the things you’ve waited/wanted to do all day.
IN THE IVY 