Lately, I’ve been asked how I do it all—working out in the morning, homeschooling three kids, running a business and keeping our home maintained. Honestly, most days I feel like a juggler, keeping multiple balls in the air, hoping that if I drop one, it won’t be the one that makes everything come crashing down.

If you’ve ever ended the day feeling like you were running in circles, I get it. But I’ve found that having simple routines—not a strict schedule—has made all the difference in keeping my days flowing smoothly. Most days look like this, but there are days like Tuesday where we’re gone most of the afternoon and that’s when I really use those small pockets of time. Small, intentional routines have truly saved my life and reduced so much stress. Of course, there are days when I feel overwhelmed, but when I take a step back, I usually realize that I’ve let one of my routines slip. That’s when I know it’s time for a reset.

Here’s what works for me, and I hope it helps you too and gives you ideas to make your day a little bit better. 

Morning Routine: Starting the Day with Purpose

Goal: Setting the tone for a productive and peaceful day.

• Wake-up & Self-care: I prioritize myself first—prayer/devotion, coffee, working out, stretching or a few quiet minutes before the house wakes up.
• Breakfast & Meal Prep: Getting the family fed and doing small prep tasks to make lunch or dinner easier, like putting dinner in the crockpot.
• House Reset: A quick 5-10 minute tidy-up—making beds, putting dishes away (kids put their dishes in the dishwasher), and starting a load of laundry (I do this every morning).
• Homeschool Setup (or Getting Kids Ready): Transitioning into schooling or preparing the kids for the day. When I’m not consistent with this, it throws our whole day off.

Midday Routine: Keeping the Day on Track

Goal: Staying productive while keeping energy levels up.

• Homeschool & Learning Time: Lele is great at starting her day on her own. JJ and Isabella begin with affirmations and Bible, which gives me a few minutes to do something I need to do. Then we dive into language and math, blending hands-on and workbook learning. We are also teaching them to work independently, so some days school can take a little longer and other days it can go by quicker. 
• Lunch & Midday Reset: Before lunch, we put away school work and do a quick pickup downstairs. After lunch, dishes go in the dishwasher and counters get wiped down.
• Focused Work Time: On non-activity days, I shift my focus to work. On busier days, I take my laptop and work in pockets of time. Instead of scrolling on Instagram, I use that time productively.
• Small Break for Me: Even 5-10 minutes of stepping outside, deep breathing or a quick coffee run helps me recharge.

Afternoon Routine: Staying Ahead Instead of Falling Behind

Goal: Keeping energy up and prepping for the evening transition.

• Post-Lunch Activities: Playtime, outdoor time or structured quiet time to recharge. Our kids love to be outside riding scooters, bikes or skateboards. So this is a chance for me to get some extra work done too.  
• Household Tasks: I tackle one focus task from my daily or weekly checklist. Sometimes I do it while prepping dinner so that I don’t have to do everything at once later. I have found by spending 15ish minutes cleaning something a day keeps my home maintained and I don’t have to spend an entire day cleaning.
• Second Reset of the Day: A quick tidy-up to keep the house manageable before dinner.
• Dinner Prep: Whether cooking, heating up leftovers or serving a crockpot meal. I clean as I go and I teach the kids to do the same, that way dinner clean up is easier. Sometimes the kids will help with getting dinner ready or setting the table, other times I throw some earbuds in and listen to music and use it as a way to decompress.  

Evening Routine: Closing the Day with Calm

Goal: Winding down with intention so mornings feel smoother and better night sleep.

• Dinner & Family Time: Connecting as a family over a meal and conversation.
• Final Reset of the Day: A 10-15 minute whole-house reset—dishes in the dishwasher, counters wiped, and floors tidied. Closing down the kitchen is non-negotiable; waking up to a clean kitchen sets the right tone for the next day. We also fold blankets, pick up pillows, and the kids do a quick room reset—it even helps them sleep better.
• Kids’ Bedtime Wind-down: Books, prayer and quiet time create a smooth transition to sleep.
• Mom’s Time: I wrap up my day with something for myself—journaling, reading, skincare and  prayer. Put all electronics away at least 30 minutes before you go to bed. 
• Next-Day Prep: Laying out clothes, setting up breakfast items and finalizing a mental plan for tomorrow.

Final Thoughts: The Power of Small Routines

• Routines don’t have to be rigid schedules—just repeatable rhythms that make life easier.
• Start small! Pick one or two simple changes to implement and build from there.

Call to Action: “What’s one small change you could make today to help your daily routine flow better? Let me know in the comments!”

Love and Support,

Billie-Jo

The Simplified Mom