Why you NEED a routine to survive motherhood

If you clicked on this post, it’s probably because you’re feeling super overwhelmed and like you just might not survive motherhood. Perhaps you saw the word “routine” and cringed. 

You’re not a routine person. 

You don’t know where to start in creating a routine. 

You think keeping up with a routine would be too hard because you’re always on the go. 

OR 

You think it’s too late to get yourself and your kiddos on a routine because they’re not babies anymore and you just don’t have the time or capacity to figure it all out.

I get it. Even though I’ve been called the “queen of routines,” I totally get it. Routines can be daunting and overwhelming. Especially if your brain isn’t normally wired that way and it makes your head hurt just trying to figure out where to start. 

Let me reassure you that it does not have to be overwhelming. And, once you get your routine in place, I promise you will breathe easier. Just stick with me a bit longer, mama. 

Simplicity is key 

I’m all about keeping things simple. A routine does not mean that you have to have some elaborate activity set up for your child three times a day and be involved in all of the clubs your local YMCA has to offer. Routines are not meant to stress you out or make you feel like an incompitent mom if your child doesn’t have a perfectly crafted day straight out of Pinterest.  

A routine simply exists to provide some structure and predictability to you and your child’s day. Children thrive off of routine. Even newborns. Actually, all HUMANS thrive off of routine. Think about it. Whether you try to or not, your day has some sort of routine to it and you probably find yourself a little frazzled if that routine gets thrown off. (Think: excessive travel or unexpected life circumstances.)

Just like you feel stressed when your routine goes awry, kids feel that stress too. 

However, they don’t handle that stress as well as we do as adults. In children, stress manifests itself in an increased amount of meltdowns, potty accidents, poor behavior, and the like. When little ones haven’t had a chance to nap (or at least rest) they feel it. When they can’t predict when they’re snack or mealtime will be, they get frustrated and are more likely to misbehave. When they don’t have at least a few times they can predict their activities or are given structure with what they’re doing, they will begin to seek attention in not the most positive manner. 

I know that when I am not providing structure for my toddler, she tends to misbehave, get into things she’s not supposed to, is extra clingy and fussy, and more than likely, bored. As a result, I find myself more stressed, touched out, and anxious. 

Okay, to sum up, let’s run down the list of the main reasons why you NEED a routine to survive motherhood: 

1. Your kids needs structure. You need structure. 

2. Predictable snack, meal, and rest times mean way less meltdowns. 

3. A structured activity or two every day means less boredom. 

4. Specific times for independent play provide space for you to get things done or take a rest.

5. When you set aside times to play one-on-one with your kids (even just once a day) they know that they can depend on spending that time with you and that leads to less clinginess and fussiness later on (like during dinnertime) 

6. Predictable, early bedtimes are necessary for health and development of children, and it gives you time to recharge for the next day.  

A good routine helps you solve problems before they arise. Set meal and snack times allow you to beat the hungry fussies before its too late. Set nap and bedtimes allow you to beat the tired fussies before its too late. Set, simple activity times help you conquer boredom before your kiddos get impatient. (Remember, Pinterest not necessary! Just having set times for certain kind of play works well!)

Routines help you troubleshoot problems when they arise. For example, if your baby is particularly fussy but you know that he just fed an hour ago and it’s not quite naptime yet, you can rule those out and take a look at other factors. It looks differently for older kids, but the same rules apply.

If you made it this far, you’re probably thinking one of two things. You’re either thinking, “duh, I know all of this. Why did I just waste my time?” Haha! I get it, mama. Hopefully this still got you thinking about ways you can either improve your routine or encouragement to keep going!  

Or, you’re thinking, “that sounds great and all, but I have NO idea where to start. I’m overwhelmed, I’m exhausted, and I’m just not in a place to create a routine right now and start all over.” 

To that, I say, “no worries, mama. I got you.” 

Join my FREE motherhood simplified challenge where I walk you through simple, tactful steps that you can take TODAY to help you create that routine, simplify your expectations, and breathe life back into this whole motherhood thing. 

I promise, it’s not overwhelming. This 5-day challenge will bring your RESULTS, a routine that WORKS, and a few more tips that will help you take a step back and simplify all the things so you can breathe easier. 

I’ve got you, mama. This motherhood thing is about to get a whole lot easier.