You don’t need a perfect morning routine, cold plunges, or 5AM workouts to be a high performer or to feel good about your working mom routines.
As a mom who’s also the CEO of an online business (I’m a marketing consultant, coach other freelancers via my programs like my mastermind, and run a digital product shop!), I love the idea of getting up early and jumping into the day with a workout. One day I’ll get back to this kind of morning routine, and sometimes I do. I love a cold plunge (typically at night for me). But I’ve learned that high performance—especially as a mom and business owner—comes from building habits that actually fit into your real life.
The best working mom routines aren’t rigid. They’re supportive. They meet you where you’re at. If you’re balancing a business, babies, and everything in between, here’s a peek into the working habits that help me stay consistent, focused, and grounded—even on the messiest days.
We can map out your ideal life and take steps to bridge the gap from here to there. But we also need to be realistic about your situation. This is why so much of the personal development and online business advice isn’t conducive to mom life with littles at home. Definitely not if you work and live like I do, with a bit of grandparent help each week but no formal childcare and multiples to chase.
If you’re tired of productivity advice that doesn’t apply to your current season, here’s a look at the habits that help me stay focused, grounded, and consistent… without burning out.
Is it chaotic? Yes.
But it’s also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
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Yes, I try to wake up at 5AM. It gives me quiet, focused time to start my day before everyone needs something from me. But the truth is, it doesn’t always happen, and that’s okay.
I’m still in a season of not consistently sleeping through the night (although we are getting better!). My littles may need me, and on those days I turn off my alarm.
Most importantly, instead of tying my identity to whether or not I checked the “early wake-up” box, I’ve created rhythms that support me no matter what time I start. High performance isn’t about waking up early. It’s about how you use the time you have, knowing when you work best, and trying to tap into that energy or flow to make the most of each window.
On the days I do get to wake up at 5AM and start my work day, I always do a few things:
And honestly? I’ve noticed that at the end of this work block, my attention wanes. It’s harder to focus after pouring everything into my work for a couple of hours. A break feels natural now, so I log off and start Mom Duty for the morning.
I’m through and through a time blocking girlie. When I first discovered this style of time organization, I went a little overboard. Everything was time blocked. It was so helpful to see when I could actually fit tasks into my calendar versus working off an endless to-do list that was totally unreasonable.
Now, my routine isn’t time-blocked down to the minute. That just doesn’t work right now because I can and will get interrupted. While I use time blocks to plan often, and to get a general idea of how my weeks and days can break down, I can’t rely on those reserved blocks.
Instead, I follow flexible rhythms that help me move through the day with intention, even when things don’t go as planned. That might look like morning coffee and journaling yoga on my mat… But the timing can flex depending on my sleep, kids’ needs, and energy levels.
Consistency doesn’t have to mean rigidity.
This was one of my major game-changers for my productivity since becoming a mom. I was already aware of when I worked best, and now I pay attention to how everyone around me is doing too. With this information, I can organize my day around different types of time:
Instead of trying to force myself into focused work during chaotic moments, or not giving my kids the attention they deserve, I make my work fit around our days. This makes me far more productive, and less frustrated because I change expectations to fit my family’s needs.
When I sit down to work, I already know what matters most that day. I don’t even need to think about it because it’s all pre-determined in ClickUp. This is thanks to my Motive Year template that me and my clients use. When we do goal setting, we also do prioritization to map what needs to happen, and when, in order to hit those goals. That includes getting specific projects and tasks in your project management tools so your tech can tell you what to do.
Fewer decisions = more focus = more impactful work.
From there, I highlight my top ~3ish priorities when I’m planning each week. Whether it’s client delivery, lead generation, or content, I highlight the most important things to do first knowing the rest can wait if it needs to. It doesn’t always need to, but this step releases the pressure to do it all always. This saves me hours of indecision and helps me make substantial progress even when my time is limited.
It’s not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things with the time you have.
This might be the most important shift I’ve made.
I used to think high performance meant squeezing more in. Doing more to achieve more. Now I know it’s about managing my energy so I can stay consistent long-term.
That looks like:
These aren’t glamorous habits. They’re sustainable ones. And they help me protect my capacity so I can keep going even when life is full.
The more I protect and support my energy, the more capable I feel even when things are chaotic. Because things are often chaotic with tiny humans around.
Sometimes shit hits the fan and we need to completely change course. That’s okay because I know what my weekly priorities are, and often look at the week as a whole in terms of progress tracking, not just an off day.
These habits ground me, even on the messy days:
I treat my routine as a support system. Not a test I need to pass.
Above all, I don’t aim for perfection. I aim for progress that’s sustainable. Nobody is perfect, so why would I waste my time trying to be something unattainable?
As a working mom, high performance looks different. And being a high performer doesn’t mean I’m always on. It means I’ve built systems, habits, and a mindset that let me show up sustainably. Even during hard days (weeks?).
Your high-performance working mom routine doesn’t need to match anyone else’s. It just needs to work for you, in this season, with your actual life.
Of course, you can try my ideas. But what will be more impactful is if you build working mom routines that fit your lifestyle, not just copy/pasted from mine. Start with one habit that supports your energy, one clear daily priority, and a lot more grace than you’re probably giving yourself. If you try something from this post, let me know! I’d love to hear how it’s helping.
Start here:
Get a behind the scenes look at my actual weekly schedule, plus a handful of other things like my to-do list each week and the job description I wrote for myself to stay focused. Learn more and get the free download here.
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