How To Maximize Your Productivity During Nap Time

Hello fellow mamas! Do you struggle with trying to accomplish tasks while your baby or toddler naps during the day? I know I usually plan a list of things to do that I put off until nap time and then ultimately decide to do something else. It can be so hard to get everything accomplished that you need to in one day and to really maximize your productivity during nap time. I wrote out this quick article to hopefully give some tricks to help you be more productive during nap time in your household.

How to Maximize Your Productivity During Your Children’s Nap Time

Make A List

I make a list almost every single day. You can use your cell phone or a pen a paper. I make a list of all the things I need to get done or would like to get done. I write it all out so I can see it and get it out of my head. Once I know it’s all written down, then I feel like I can stress a little less.

I usually make a list with the things at the top that must be done no matter what, followed by the things that would be nice to get done but not necessarily a must-do for that day. A good tip is to make a few things an absolute must-do for the day. You don’t want to feel like you have 45 things to get done during a 2 hour nap time.

Set A Timer

This is one of my favorite tricks! There are certain chores I absolutely hate doing such as doing the dishes and folding the laundry. If I know I have to do these things that I really dislike I set a timer for a certain amount of time and force myself to work until the timer goes off. You can get so much done in 10-15 minutes!

I usually give myself 10 minutes to pick up around the house, mainly the living room area. I focus on picking up toys and organizing things, essentially putting things back where they belong, and before I know it the 10 minutes is up and my house is a whole lot cleaner!

Do Something For Yourself!

I think every mom deserves a break, multiple breaks. This isn’t an easy job whether you have a newborn or a rambunctious toddler. You are probably extremely tired and overworked. I always try to do something for myself during these sacred nap times, even if it’s something tiny like making my favorite cup of coffee.

Some of my favorite easy and quick things to do for myself are to take a (longer than normal) shower, paint my nails, straighten or curl my hair, put on makeup, do a quick 20-minute workout, put in my AirPods, and listen to my favorite album while cleaning, do a little online shopping, and put on a nice outfit.

Reward Yourself

This might sound crazy, but I like to reward myself with tiny little things. I guess this could also count as doing something for yourself (see above). I love to say if I clean the entire house I can go get Starbucks later or if I clean the dreaded bathroom I can have my favorite dinner for dinner. If I fold all the laundry I can buy that new makeup I have been looking at for weeks. There are a million different scenarios here.

It might sound crazy but it works for me. Ha! If I know later I will get a small reward then it encourages me to do the task even more. I also feel like I earned it (even though we all deserve small things like that anyway!) while I am enjoying my reward.

Give Yourself Grace

I think we all need to take a rest day every now and then. Being a parent is hard! If you feel like you need to rest for your mental or physical health then by all means go take a nap or at least lay down and relax! I have done it on more than one occasion. It doesn’t matter if your house is unorganized or messy. You have to take care of yourself to be able to take care of others! Never forget that!

Items To Use For Nap Time

Along the way, I have found a few different items that have really helped out big time during the napping process. If you have a child like mine, he refuses to sleep more often than not. I really struggle with getting him to calm down for a nap. Some days we just skip it entirely (he’s almost 3). Here are some of the products I recommend that have really helped us to get through nap time.

Sound Machine: We love this sound machine! We have used it since we brought Liam home from the hospital. It’s very basic and a pretty cheap option. We loved that it has different sounds you can choose such as weather, lullabies, and heartbeat noises.

Light Projector: This has been a lifesaver! We just recently got this since Liam transitioned into a big boy bed and he loves it so much. He yells “Stars! Moon! Stars!” when it turns on. We use it literally every single night. Highly recommend for a toddler!

Hot Wheels Bedding: I learned that once I got my son Hot Wheels (or car themed) items, he really liked his bed. He was sort of excited to sleep in it. So I suggest picking out items that your child is interested in that will get them excited to get in bed!

I hope these tips have helped you, even just a little. I know how hard it can be to maximize your productivity when your child naps. It’s so hard to pick between rest or work. If you are a mom, I know you understand what I mean. I feel like if I pick rest, then once my child is up I feel like I have wasted precious time that could have been used productively.

I hoped this helped you learn how to maximize your productivity during nap time and gave you some ideas on how to manage your time efficiently throughout the day. Let me know in the comments below how nap time goes in your household. Is it a calm and relaxing experience or more hectic chaos like mine? Haha!

Thanks for reading,