The Best Planners for Moms Working from Home!
As a busy mom, I always have found it challenging to stay organized and accomplish goal setting, meal planning, the daily schedule, and more. I always thought I was too unorganized for a paper planner, but then I was too distracted for a digital planner, and so I just went without having a plan at all. As a work-at-home mom, there is no way that I can survive without having SOME kind of plan, so last year I took the leap and purchased a daily planner that was what I had been looking for (compared to something my mom gave me when she cleaned out her office and realized she didn’t want that had never been used … ha!), and I stuck to that new planner as much as I possibly could.
Let’s be real. I didn’t fill the whole thing in, it wasn’t your ideal “perfect planner” … but it was perfect for me in the year I used it, and it helped me get a little bit more organized!
If you are a work-at-home mom who needs some clarity, a better daily schedule, one place to put the grocery lists, meal planning, upcoming deadlines, work to-do’s, and even help you keep tabs on your personal life as well – we’ve got you covered! The Mom Desk Club comes in clutch when you need suggestions, from the right planner to a daily schedule – so let’s dig into some amazing planners that help a mama out!
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The Mom Desk Club’s List of the Best Planners
The Pands Planner emphasizes the importance of cultivating a positive mindset and happiness habits to achieve success. Contrary to the common belief that success leads to happiness, The Panda Planner suggests that intentionally focusing on positivity each day is crucial for long-term success. The Panda Planner is introduced as more than just a to-do list; it serves as a motivational tool, personal coach, and scorecard. By helping users prioritize tasks, stay accountable, and maintain a broader perspective, the planner aims to enhance productivity and focus. Additionally, The Panda Planner highlights the significance of planning not only for work deadlines but also for achieving a work-life balance that includes personal relationships and goals. Embracing change is encouraged, and the Panda Planner is presented as a valuable tool to navigate and thrive amidst life’s constant changes, ultimately helping individuals stay organized, focused, and productive.
The Living Well Planner boasts that their proven system to break down and crush your goals is built right in! This planning tool offers a holistic approach to organizing various aspects of life throughout the year. It provides a quick overview of the entire year, empowering users to strategically plan and avoid succumbing to the urgency of immediate tasks. With a vertical layout, the tool simplifies weekly planning and time-blocking, facilitating effective scheduling, including hour-by-hour appointments. Financial management is emphasized through the implementation of a monthly cash flow budget, allowing users to dictate where their money goes rather than wondering where it went. The integration of meal planning and shopping lists on the same page as the weekly schedule offers a comprehensive view of the week’s activities. Additionally, the tool provides a straightforward method for tracking projects, enhancing overall productivity through efficient project planning. Goal-oriented individuals will find dedicated pages for both long-term and monthly goal planning, featuring an exclusive “CRUSH IT” formula, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus on personal and professional objectives.
The LifePlanner™️ is a versatile and highly regarded organizational tool that combines a weekly planner, monthly planner, and journal into one comprehensive package, costing just 17¢ per day. Offering customization options such as new designs, stickers, and great features for productivity, goal setting, and time management, it caters to diverse organizational needs, making it ideal for everyday use. The planner boasts durable 80 lb. Mohawk Paper to resist ink bleeding includes 12-month dated monthly calendars for the years 2023-2024, and incorporates stickers, notes, and productivity pages with to-do lists and more.
The popularity of the Erin Condren LifePlanner, with over 3 million sold, stems from its effectiveness. With 91% of customers reporting reduced stress, increased productivity, and improved organization, it has become a trusted tool for individuals worldwide pursuing various goals, from starting a business to excelling in school. Available in daily or weekly formats, the LifePlanner caters to both planning novices and experts, featuring monthly and yearly planning pages, color-coded sections, beautiful designs, inspirational quotes, and note pages. The highlight lies in its extensive customization options, allowing users to choose binding, cover design, personalization details, calendar length, start month, and preferred layout, creating a personalized planner that seamlessly aligns with their unique schedule and style.
This national bestselling family life organizer is designed to empower busy moms to navigate and optimize their busy lives. Running on a 17-month schedule from August 2023 to December 2024, this engagement calendar serves as the ultimate family productivity planner. Whether you’re seeking an activity calendar, meal or budget planner, or an all-encompassing life organizer, this mom-approved planner, featuring Amy Knapp’s bestselling format, provides ample space for lists, scheduling, and weekly planning. With inspirational quotes, color-coded stickers, and a compact 6″ x 8″ trim size with wire-o double spiral binding, it’s the perfect on-the-go companion for women striving to conquer #momlife. The planner also boasts practical features like tear-off perforated grocery lists, notes and goal-setting pages for both mom and the family, and quick access to important phone numbers, school details, and emergency contacts.
Equipped with three planner sticker sheets containing over 350 practical stickers and reminders, this planner supports hardworking moms in staying organized and inspired. The environmentally responsible, FSC-certified, and smudge-free paper, along with a sturdy jacket for durability and an internal storage pocket, enhances its functionality. The monthly and weekly spreads offer ample extra space for planning projects, tracking appointments, school trips, birthdays, and other significant events. With additional features such as a fresh design with a removable cover band, weekly motivational quotes, and details like holidays, moon phases, and observances, this planner is a comprehensive tool for moms looking to manage their families’ schedules and goals effectively.
The Clever Fox Planner PRO is a comprehensive tool designed to help users organize their lives and achieve their goals. By offering a structured approach, this great planner enables individuals to create a vision for their lives, define both short and long-term goals across various aspects, and seamlessly integrate these goals into their monthly, weekly planning pages, and daily pages. With a focus on boosting productivity and aiding in goal realization, the Clever Fox Planner PRO serves as a valuable solution for those seeking a system to stay focused and make the most of their time.
Noteworthy features of this planner include its undated format, allowing users to start utilizing it at any time during the year without wasting pages. This flexibility empowers individuals to personalize their planning experience by filling in months and dates as needed. Additionally, the planner comes with a free quick-start guide and colorful planning stickers to enhance the planning process. Clever Fox confidently stands behind their product, offering a 60-day money-back guarantee, ensuring customer satisfaction with the undated weekly planner. Any dissatisfaction can be addressed through a refund or exchange, emphasizing the commitment to providing a valuable planning tool for individuals striving to achieve their goals.
This day planner and organizer for the period of January 2024 to December 2024 provides a comprehensive approach to academic and intentional planning. Featuring 12 months of monthly pages, it offers a visual overview of time through a monthly calendar view on each two-page spread. This layout facilitates long-term planning, accompanied by reference calendars and a dedicated notes section for important projects and reminders. The yearly life planner not only includes a convenient list of holidays but also integrates the user-friendly Four-Step Planning Process from Day Designer. This process guides individuals in identifying goals and creating habits, actions, and routines to systematically achieve them, fostering intentional and effective planning. The planner is printed on high-quality white paper, ensuring a clean writing space, and boasts premium-quality covers adorned with a floral pattern, designed to withstand constant use throughout the year.
Incorporating both practicality and aesthetics, this day planner is equipped with features that enhance its functionality, making it an intuitive tool for users to manage their schedules, goals, and habits effectively. The inclusion of the Four-Step Planning Process adds a structured and goal-oriented dimension to the planning experience, while the durable and visually appealing design ensures that the planner remains a reliable companion for the entire year.
PUSH Journal by Chalene Johnson
This all-in-one life planner system is designed to help individuals achieve their goals efficiently while maintaining balance. The PUSH Journal, included in the system, features 36 extra blank pages for writing, excluding the daily health tracker. It provides 36 additional daily notes pages, along with month-at-a-glance and week-at-a-glance pages for scheduling appointments and planning weeks in advance. The daily planning pages facilitate schedule management, task tracking, and productivity enhancement through time-blocking techniques. The journal also incorporates prompts for daily gratitude, space for note-taking, and areas for brainstorming big ideas with curated templates. It concludes with an end-of-month progress review and includes lined and dotted pages at the back for extra note-taking and journaling. Notably, this PUSH Journal does not include a health tracker.
The design details highlight the planner’s quality, featuring a smooth finish and a soft-touch feel for a superior writing experience. Each PUSH Journal is compact, measuring 6″ x 9″, and lightweight at less than 1lb, making it convenient for portability in purses or bags. With 156 pages, including covers, and a front pocket for holding business cards and papers, the journal is not only functional but also practical for on-the-go use. The black spiral binding adds to its durability and user-friendly design.
Bloom’s Vision Planners offer a transformative approach to planning in 2024, emphasizing intention, balance, and productivity. These planners, measuring 7.5″ by 9″, cover the entirety of January through December 2024 and feature six stunning designs for the calendar year. The unique guided planning system spans monthly, weekly, and daily layouts. Pre-month pages provide a strategic overview, encouraging users to outline visions and actionable steps in specific categories to promote balance and break down larger goals. The column-style weekly views not only offer ample space for scheduling appointments, to-dos, and notes but also include inspirational quotes, prioritization tools, and habit-tracking features. The planners are crafted with hard chipboard covers, metal edges with foil stamping, thick paper, and metal lay-flat binding, and come equipped with a pocket, a free magnetic bookmark, and a complimentary sticker sheet. Bloom Planners, with over 100 options for 2024, cater to various planning styles, providing a perfect fit for individuals seeking to maximize their potential and achieve their goals for the year ahead.
Incorporating both functionality and aesthetic appeal, bloom’s Vision Planners are more than organizational tools; they serve as sources of inspiration and coaching. With an array of great option, users can choose the planner that best aligns with their planning preferences and styles. The overarching question challenges individuals to contemplate what they can achieve in the upcoming year, emphasizing the planner’s role in guiding users toward their best selves.
Passionate Penny Pincher Planner
The Home Planner stands out as a unique and innovative solution for busy families, deviating from traditional planners with its pre-made checklists and an added touch of spirituality through recommended Bible scriptures. Unlike typical planners that may add more work to busy days, each checklist is designed to streamline tasks, saving time and ensuring that both daily and weekly priorities are met. The checklist system covers a range of tasks, from organizing cookbooks to addressing long-overlooked responsibilities, making certain that no plan or task is overlooked.
This planner goes beyond the daily and weekly layouts by incorporating seasonal checklists to assist throughout the year. Ideal for various purposes such as vacation planning, hosting guests, yard maintenance, and financial management, these checklists guarantee comprehensive coverage and help users stay organized for a new year. The planner’s mission is to beautifully care for home life, and it is designed as a delightful addition to any household. The tabs are not just practical but also serve as removable pieces that can be displayed as art in the home. With vibrant colors, beautiful designs, practical checklists, and encouraging scriptures, the Home Planner is a one-of-a-kind organizational tool that aims to enhance both functionality and aesthetics in households. Additionally, the planner offers daily readings from the New Testament for 2024 and provides Blank Journals for plenty of space or to create a bundle.
4 Tips for Creating Daily Routines & Schedules as a Work at Home Mom
#1. Think about your ideal day
In contemplating your ideal day, consider how you can construct a schedule, whether grounded in reality or not. A hypothetical day might start at 5 am, envisioning a serene morning before the children wake up, preparing a homemade breakfast, and enjoying a peaceful moment at your desk to work. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that these idealized scenarios may not align with reality.
#2. Block out your day in a way that is the most efficient for you
When organizing your day for maximum efficiency, consider a trial-and-error approach to determine what works best for you. Begin by segmenting your day into distinct blocks, each serving a specific purpose. The initial part of the day is dedicated to chores and attending to the needs of the cows. Following this, transition into the second segment, which involves breakfast with the kids and engaging them in various activities to keep them occupied. This could include outdoor play or orchestrating activities such as listening to a read-aloud book while keeping their hands busy.
Moving forward, allocate specific time for the school-related activities and lunch, noting that the sequence may vary. After the midday activities, enter the nap portion of the day, creating a balance in the schedule. As the day progresses, ease into the wind-down phase, where you can gradually shift gears and prepare for the evening.
The key is to break down your day into manageable sections, integrating work where possible. Flexibility is essential, as work may happen in the morning, afternoon, or even after everyone has gone to bed. While it’s advisable not to stay up too late, occasional deviations are acceptable based on the demands of a particular day.
Understanding the structure of your life and adapting your schedule accordingly is crucial. By conceptualizing your day in blocks and categories, you can enhance focus, stay on task, and effectively manage the various elements of your daily routine. This strategic approach proves beneficial in navigating the complexities of daily schedules and contributes to a more organized and manageable lifestyle.
#3. Think about what motivates you to stay on schedule
When it comes to staying on schedule, finding the right motivation is key. Personally, I often struggle with this aspect, especially when feeling fatigued. There are instances when exhaustion tempts me into mindless scrolling rather than focusing on essential tasks. It’s a realization that opting for rest would be more beneficial, yet the allure of distraction prevails. Despite these challenges, I’m actively exploring strategies to make the concept of a schedule work for me.
Understanding what motivates you is crucial in maintaining a consistent schedule. Are you someone who thrives on checking tasks off a list? Perhaps you prefer having your entire day mapped out, following a set plan. Another option might be utilizing digital tools such as habit trackers on your phone. Exploring these preferences can be instrumental in aligning your motivation with your scheduling approach.
For those who enjoy tracking habits, experimenting with tools like circle-shaped habit trackers could prove insightful. Personally, this method helped me stay on track by allowing me to visually check off accomplished habits over a 30-day period. It’s an unexpectedly satisfying way to stay focused on tasks and maintain progress within our daily routine.
In my journey towards consistency, I found solace in a good planner by Passionate Penny Pincher. While my adherence to it is a work in progress, the structure provided by this planner has been immensely helpful. Organized by a fellow work-at-home mom, it efficiently balances work and home tasks, offering a clear schedule for maintaining a clean, tidy, and organized home. Having specific tasks allocated to each day of the week simplifies the process, providing guidance on when to tackle tasks like bathroom cleaning or sheet washing.
For those who prefer physical planners, exploring options like the one by Passionate Penny Pincher can be beneficial. However, if you lean towards digital solutions, there are numerous apps designed for organizing your daily schedule. While I haven’t delved into this realm, some might find these apps helpful. Personally, I’m cautious about relying solely on digital tools due to the potential for distractions. Opening my phone for scheduling could easily lead to unintentional diversions, such as checking emails or social media. It’s a consideration that keeps me leaning towards tangible planners to maintain focus and avoid unnecessary interruptions in my daily routine.
#4. Toss the Schedule
Creating a daily schedule is undoubtedly valuable, providing structure and aiding productivity. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that life is unpredictable, and disruptions can happen, throwing off even the most well-planned routines. Unexpected events, such as a forgotten item requiring a quick trip to town or a sudden car issue demanding immediate attention, can significantly alter the course of your day.
Emergencies, changes of plans, or waking up to a sick child can completely wipe out your carefully crafted schedule. While having a schedule is beneficial for staying focused on essential tasks like staying hydrated, eating, and maintaining a clean home, flexibility is equally important. There are moments when tossing the schedule becomes necessary, recognizing that circumstances may not align with your original plans.
Being adaptable is key to managing the delicate balance of motherhood and home-based work. Some days, despite your best intentions, it’s crucial to accept that certain tasks may need to be postponed. Whether it’s rescheduling schoolwork, acknowledging mental fatigue, or deferring a business-related project, being attuned to your own needs and the demands of the moment is paramount.
In conclusion, while having a daily schedule is a powerful tool, understanding when to deviate from it is equally vital. The ability to adapt and prioritize in the face of unforeseen circumstances contributes to a healthier, more sustainable approach to balancing motherhood and work from home.
If you’re an experienced work-from-home mom, we welcome your insights and tips in the comments, fostering a community where seasoned individuals can share their expertise. New moms navigating the challenges of balancing work and childcare are encouraged to drop their questions in the comments for guidance and support. For those considering the transition to working from home, stay tuned for future videos aimed at encouraging and empowering you. It’s a journey that, with proper planning and perseverance, can be both challenging and incredibly rewarding. We’re here to assist and inspire you in embracing the possibilities of combining fulfilling work and motherhood.
Planners and Scheduling Planning as a Busy Work at Home Mom
In the whirlwind of juggling work and motherhood, finding the right tools and strategies to stay organized is a game-changer for work-at-home moms. The exploration of various planners, from the tangible and efficient Passionate Penny Pincher daily planner to the flexibility of digital apps, offers a diverse range of options. Coupled with insightful strategies for staying on schedule, such as adapting to unexpected disruptions and knowing when to pivot, these resources create a dynamic toolkit for success. Remember, the perfect planner is the one that aligns with your preferences, and staying on schedule is a journey of continuous adjustment. As you embark on this balancing act, embrace the tools and strategies that resonate with you, transforming the challenges of work and motherhood into a fulfilling and manageable adventure.
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