How to Create a Work From Home Routine
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Working from home can be chaotic—especially if you have kids that are home too. You have your regular work stuff—meetings, deadlines, etc.—but then you filter in all of the care tasks for your kids, too.
It can feel like work and family are in constant competition, and it’s overwhelming.
The key to finding work life balance as a work from home mom is a structured yet flexible work from home routine. It will allow you to be productive without so much overwhelm.
Why You Need a Work From Home Routine
Without a plan, your day can quickly spiral into chaos. A healthy work from home routine helps you stay focused, set clear boundaries, and manage expectations for your family and yourself.
Having structure to your workday will help reduce stress and make you more productive while allowing flexibility for unpredictable moments.
Practical Work From Home Routine Tips
Creating a work from home routine with kids doesn’t mean scheduling every second of the day—it means setting up a framework that works for your family.
My husband and I work from home, and we’ve struck a pretty good rhythm. Here’s how we’ve done it:
Start Your Day with a Morning Routine
A solid morning routine sets the tone for your workday. We have it scheduled in blocks like showering, eating breakfast, getting the kids ready, etc. We do things in the same order every workday so we know whether we’re on time or running late.
It took some trial and error to figure out what worked for us and what kept us mostly on time. We’re probably on the third or fourth iteration at this point, and it continues to evolve as the needs of our family change.
Time Block Your Work Hours
A successful work day routine for a work from home mom involves setting clear work hours.
Use time blocking to break your day into focus periods, meetings, and kid-friendly breaks. Schedule deep work sessions during naps or when your kids are engaged in activities, if possible.
Being flexible with your time block schedule will be helpful. You never know what will come up with kids, so having a time-blocking schedule with some flexibility will make you feel less stressed when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Communicate Boundaries with Family
Setting boundaries with your family around work will be essential.
Let your kids know when you’re working, and use visual cues like a door sign or a specific workspace to signal when you shouldn’t be interrupted.
If you have a partner at home, discuss ways they can support your work time.
Plan for Kid-Friendly Activities
Planning engaging activities for little ones can give you pockets of uninterrupted work time.
Rotate quiet-time bins, educational apps, or independent play activities to keep them entertained while you tackle tasks.
Check out this post for more ideas on how to keep little ones busy while working.
Take Breaks and Move Your Body
A healthy work from home routine for my husband and me includes movement! Take short breaks to stretch, take a quick walk, or have a dance party with your kids.
When our kids are at their Grandmum’s house, we like to do a weight-lifting routine together. It doubles as a workout and some bonding time together.
We also have a walking pad that we use most days.
Embrace Flexibility and Manage Expectations
A rigid schedule often leads to frustration—at least for me, it does. I get too caught up in things not going as I expect.
Instead of aiming for perfection, I try to manage my expectations and adapt when needed.
Some days will go smoothly. Others will be chaotic—and that’s okay.
Create a Closing Ritual for Your Workday
Wrap up your work day routine with a simple closing ritual. I like to make sure things are prepped for the next day, and I have a list of priorities to focus on.
Then I shut down my laptop and transition into family time.
This helps create a mental separation between work and home life.
Achieving Work Life Balance
A well-structured work from home routine isn’t about doing it all—it’s about finding a flow that works for your family while maintaining balance.
By setting boundaries with family, allowing flexibility, and managing unrealistic expectations, you can create a work from home routine that supports both your career and your home life.
