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A lot of people think having a baby means taking a hiatus from being productive…and that can definitely happen, especially early on. Between feeding, burping, changing, and trying everything under the sun to get baby to stop crying, there isn’t much time or energy to get things done.

But having a baby has actually made me more productive. The first few weeks were pretty crazy, but as I learned to adjust, my productivity shot up. With less free time on my hands, I managed to maintain or increase my writing output, and it’s only going to get better.

I became more productive thanks to four simple lessons my daughter taught me:

The Power of Routines

Watching my daughter get used to her different routines (sleeping, feeding, bathing) is impressive: she can’t talk or stand up on her own, but repetition is something she understands.

And the more we get her used to her routine, the easier it gets. Same goes for us—the more we repeat a routine, the easier it gets.

The key is making sure your routine is conducive to getting things done. If you’re doing something over and over that isn’t working, chuck it and try something else—that’s how bad habits are formed.

For example: I’ve made it part of my routine to take out my netbook and write during my commute to work. No crying, no burping, no distractions. That’s 30 minutes of precious time that I now use to get things done instead of spacing out or jamming to Pandora.

Getting her into a routine is crucial for her sake, but it’s also crucial for ourselves because routines are the most important ingredient to getting things done.

Time Management

Having a baby is hard work. Really hard…and I didn’t even have to give birth to her! Before having a baby, I could afford to be lazy here and there.

But once you have a baby, you need to take advantage of every free second of time you’re given—they don’t come often.

That means you have to be an absolute ninja at managing your time. Vegging out in front of the TV for a couple hours means you’ve wasted valuable time. Which is OK if you want to totally suck at being productive.

Here are some ways I’ve found to make better use of my time:

• Make prioritized lists
• Write with a timer
• Plan ahead
• Write out a schedule and stick to it
• Stop watching so much TV

It’s hard to create these new habits, but once you start to see some results and you develop the routine, it’ll get easier and easier.

Dealing with the Unexpected

Routines work until they don’t. After weeks of sticking to a routine, A will suddenly decide to go wild and be completely unpredictable.

These bouts of unpredictability can really hurt your productivity and bust up your carefully concocted routines—if you aren’t prepared.

Here’s a tip every parent has learned one way or another: be prepared for everything.

Wonder why diaper bags are so big these days? Because parents have 10 diapers, three outfits, three pacifiers, a couple of books, two toys, extra wipes, a hat, and the video camera. Who so much crap?

JUST IN CASE.

Trust me when I say that you do NOT want be stuck somewhere only to realize you didn’t bring enough of something or you didn’t bring the one thing that might calm your baby down.

So be prepared: rely on your routines but make you sure you always have a backup plan. Make sure you leave some buffer time in your schedule because—eventually—you’re going to need it.

What’s Really Important

Money is a great motivator for anyone. Five months ago, I would’ve called it the ultimate motivator.

But now I just think of my daughter smiling or giggling at me and it gets me going more than money ever could. Yes, it’s cheesy. Yes, it’s cliché. But it’s true: there is nothing like having a baby. It’s like Christmas morning but 100 times more awesome and it never wears off.

The motivation you get from wanting to do things for her dwarfs anything that has to do with money.

You know how when you come back from vacation and you still have that glow about you, that new found perspective, that extra bit of motivation?

My daughter gives me perspective and motivation every single day. Every day, I’m reminded that I am not my work. Money does not and should not rule every little thing I do. Material things are great but shouldn’t be anyone’s main focus.

Like I said: it’s cheesy, touchy-feely stuff, but hey—it is what it is.

The Moral of the Story

Whether you have a baby or not, here’s what you need to know to be more productive:

• Establish a productive routine that works for you
• Be absolutely ruthless with your time
• Stay prepared for anything
• Stop and smell the roses every so often

It’s all about getting the right mix of motivation, routine, and perspective. And once you find it, run with it.

Image by peasap

This post was an Editor’s Pick in the Totally Money Carnival and was selected for the Carnivnal of Wealth.

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