If you’re the kind of person who just can’t stick to a schedule, then perhaps my new approach will work for you, too:
Let me start by outing myself as being far more concrete-sequential than is seemly for a “creative type.” The truth is that I love to make schedules. I love organizing and estimating the amount of time needed for projects. I love to parse my day out in 15-minute increments that include when to eat, when to bathe, when to write for Freelance Parent, and when to work on various other projects. Creating and following these schedules fulfills me in some ways.
Boy, am I hosed.
With a brand-new baby in the house, there’s just no way I am going to be able to organize my time in such a lovely, rigid manner. Oh, beautifully outlined day, how I will miss you.
Lamenting the loss isn’t going to get my work done, though, so it’s time to find a new approach. I am just now just dipping my toes back into the work pool, so it seems reasonable to start small. I’ve already taken the first step, though, by committing to spend at least two hours each day doing actual work. I know, I know. Two hours doesn’t seem like anything . . . to you. 
To me, it seems like a big step forward.
One of the goals I’ve set for myself is to do these two hours daily. That means that I won’t be staying up late on Sunday nights to try and get in my hours for the week. It’s just not gonna work that way.
I’m not crazy enough to expect these two hours to be consecutive, mind you. Tamara and I have set it up so that I’ll be working on things that can be easily interrupted. Instead of my former schedules, I will now rely on the simple To-Do List.
Again, I know I’ll need to start small. Whereas my old daily schedule would range from mopping the floor to finishing an e-book for a client, the new To-Do List will only include three or four things that absolutely must be done that day. Instead of scheduling a specific time in which to accomplish the tasks, I must be satisfied with the idea that each item will be crossed off at some point before I go to bed for the night.
Truthfully, this approach is liable to drive me crazy. As I learn to budget my time and my baby gets a little more self-reliant, I am hopeful that the length of my daily To-Do List will increase. In the meantime, I just have to chalk this up to one of the many, many lifestyle changes that have accompanied this little person into my life.
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Getting back into the work world is going to be tough, but you´ll be fine. Your short to-do list is a great idea, even if you prefer schedules.
Some people swear by putting babies on a strict schedule, but that never worked for my boys and it sounds like Dot is pretty similar! I love that you are just going with the flow and doing what´s best for your little girl. Good job.
Aw. Thanks, Genesis.
Two hours a day seems like LOTS to me at this age (I went back to work three days a week using a nursery for my baby at six months). I would say that your baby may increasingly nap for longer times and, possibly, not in the sling!
I was surprised at the amount I could get done in the time he was asleep. Even now at 11 months, I could easily fit in two hours a day at home, sometimes four.
However, after six months my baby required a lot more attention during the day and it was impossible to work from home. But that just might be me!
Man I feel for ya! Keep that “roll with the punches” attitude for the next…5 years…and you’ll be just fine
Allena’s last blog post..Copycat!