If you’re a work from home mom and you’re struggling to get more done and be productive in your business, this post is for you.

I’ve brought on my very good friend and business buddy, Stacey Trock who’s a mom and who also runs her own business.

I met Stacey in 2013. She started and used to run Fresh Stitches, an amigurumi crochet pattern business. She’s written crochet books, taught classes on Craftsy or BluPrint, and Creative Live, and in a ton of fiber arts conference. You might have heard of her.

She sold Fresh Stitches a few years ago and now freelances as a marketing consultant, copywriter and social media expert.

I figured, since I don’t have any human kids of my own, that Stacey would be the next best person to bring on to share with you how to be more productive as a work from home mom.

Stacey has played such a huge role in helping me and my own businesses grow, so I’m excited to share with you her six tips on productivity.

1. Ditch the Mom Guilt

Work is a family value, and something to be proud of. I don’t apologize for working, it’s something I do so that Maddie can have certain things. I want her to be proud that I work, as it’s good for society and our family, and a work ethic is something I want her to emulate.

2. Work Hard, Play Hard

She cannot talk to me when I’m working. I work during certain times and then I play other times.

It’s tempting to try to do both at the same time, to let her sit on my lap and ‘help’ type emails, but it takes 30 minutes to write one email and she doesn’t feel like I’m really playing, anyway.

Likewise, when I’m playing, I’m not working. Kids can tell if you’re constantly just checking your phone. If something comes up, I say ‘I’m going to finish reading this chapter and then I need to work for 15 minutes because something came up’. Otherwise, you’re neither here nor there, and that’s when kids start acting out.

Book Recommendations: Deep Work and Indistractable

3. Set a Schedule that Works for Everybody, and Gives You Dedicated Time

I wake up at 6am, get an hour or two to myself, then have childcare (in this case, my husband) until noon.

She has 1 hour of quiet time and 45 minutes of tv time. Those are hours I have to work.

This independent time is valuable as it’s teaching her a skill, and it’s something we’ve had in place since she was late 2s or 3.

Book Recommendation: I Know How She Does It

4. Be Vigilant about Keeping Track of Tasks and Due Dates

Even if you have 3 nannies, being a mom is extra cognitive load. You need to know when those nannies are coming!

Having an organizational system that works is crucial. I’m a Trello fan.

There’s nothing worse than missing a deadline or sitting down to fix some website bug and not having your password or having forgotten what problem-solving stage you were at.

Book Recommendation: Getting Things Done

5. Distinguish Between the Important and the Urgent

If you can’t do this, you’ll be forever treading water.

Things expand to fill the time you give them. Set aside time for moving your business forward.

I like to check email after I’ve done an important task for the day, so that way it doesn’t fill up your whole work time. 

6. Habits Matter

Examples: charge computer, set out clothes, add to shopping list when low.

Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits

Bonus: Accept trade-offs

I don’t know about you guys, but I really enjoyed all of those tips. There is so much wisdom and truth in what she says.

When I first met Stacey, I was still a kid myself, and I have learned so much from her over the years about business and self-development and I have no doubt, if or when I have kids, that I’ll be asking Stacey for a lot of parenting advice as well.

If you want to follow Stacey or hire her for your business, you can find her on her website at staceytrock.com or on Instagram at @staceytrock.

Let me know in the comments which one of Stacey’s tips is your favorite or if you have one of your own tips to share with us.