Time is the most precious and scarce resource we have. If you’re like me, you’re interested in productivity and how other people get stuff done. And let’s be honest, we all know I have a bit of an obsession with time, as evidenced by my novels in The Firemark Series. I thought I’d share with you what a typical weekend day looks like in my world and the apps that help me get stuff done.

7:00- I like to sleep-in on weekends, (you’ll see why later). My day typically starts with a cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee out of my 12 cup Mr. Coffee machine. I’m a simple gal, but no judgement for all you fancy folks out there. I check my email, social media channels, and head to the bathroom for my skincare routine. While I wait for my moisturizer to sink in, I make my bed.

7:30-8:00- I throw on a robe and emerge to make breakfast for my family. On a typical day, we’re an egg family. Scrambled, over easy, or egg in the hole are always on the menu along with toast, fruit, and bacon or sausage. After doing the dishes, I tidy up the house. Pull the sheets off the beds upstairs, clean the counters, spruce up the bathrooms. Depending on the week, I may also mop, or head out to go to a seminar such as the Virginia Romance Writers. For this example, let’s say I don’t have anything scheduled.

9:00- Time to get dressed and head out for a family adventure. This changes based on the season, weather, and fun! Today we went to the Sunflower festival near my house. Other times include strawberry, apple, and pumpkin picking. On days where it’s raining, we’ve also gone to our local gym with the indoor pool, the library for storytime, or on a simple day just a local playground to get out the wiggles.

11:30- What time is it? It’s time for lunch! Sometime’s we’ll head out for a family trip to our local restaurants, swing through a drive-thru or head home to make sandwiches or other quick staples.

12:30- Rest time, formally known as nap time. My toddler is pretty much out of the nap, but depending on the morning adventure maybe he might sleep. Otherwise, he’ll read quietly or play with his toys in his room. I’ve never wavered from this schedule, so he’s pretty good at entertaining himself during quiet time.

Meanwhile back at the ranch downstairs. This is the time to hustle. My husband and I brew an afternoon coffee, turn on the background noise, and pop open the laptops. We use this time to blog, schedule social media posts, check on royalty payments, prep, and upload videos to YouTube. I might edit or knit if I’m all caught up.

3:30- Snack time! Switch back to parenting mode. We use this time to color, play with toys, go outside, or have an afternoon adventure if we didn’t go out that morning. During outside time my son will typically color with chalk or play with his toys, while my husband mows or I work in the garden planting, weeding, or trimming. If the weather isn’t cooperating, we can stay inside to read books or catch up with Daniel Tiger, Mickey Mouse, or watch the latest Sesame Street.

5:30- Dinner time! tonight is leftovers, but last night was chicken and potato salad with watermelon. Yum!

6:00- Clean up, dessert, toys, and maybe a movie depending on the day.

7:30- Bath-time followed by playing in the room, cleaning up the room, reading books, brushing teeth, going potty, and laying down for what we affectionally call “Pat Pat” or tuck-in time.

8:30- Time to come downstairs and take a mental moment. Sometimes I’ll sit on the porch for thirty minutes, sometimes I’ll work out, or I’ll skip this step and head right to my desk.

9:00- The work begins. The evening starts with a social media and email check-in. I don’t keep social media apps on my phone so I can be present on what I’m doing. I’ll also finish the blog post I had written earlier by adding graphics, links, search engine optimization descriptions, and other metadata before publishing.

9:30-10:00- Writing time. I love to sprint with JR Lesperance. We’ll typically start a timer and race to write as much as we can. This helps us write faster and allows us to chip away on our current projects. For perspective, a good ten-minute sprint can yield three-hundred words. During a great one, we can top four-hundred words. A thirty-minute sprint can yield a thousand words, but my personal record is north of twelve hundred. The average novel is eighty-thousand words, so if we hit a thousand a day, we can write a book in two months if we work every night.

11:00- Time to get away from the screens. I plug in my computer to charge and hit the shower, making sure to indulge in my skincare routine.

11:30-12- Time to wind down. I’ve recently enjoyed listening on my headphones to Calm, Headspace, or Relax Melodies, all of which are apps to help relax, while I knit. We recently put a couch in our bedroom, where I can create a little nest of serenity.

12:30 AM- Bedtime. :) What can I say? I’m a night owl.

So there you have it! That’s a typical weekend day for me.

Here’s to a flexible routine!

Kathryn