Getting back into the corporate world has shifted my life enormously. It’s not as easygoing or free-spirited as my entrepreneurial life while teaching and consulting. But one thing it does come with is stability. And at this point in my life, the corporate world aligns a little better with my pockets, if you know what I’m saying.
As a single mom still climbing out of debt, I’ve learned that structure isn’t just about being organized, it’s survival. Without it, life feels chaotic, like I’m constantly trying to catch up. So I started putting small, steady routines in place. Nothing too rigid, just consistent habits that help me stay grounded and show up for my daughter, my job, my home, and myself.
These aren’t “perfect” routines. They’re the real-life systems that have helped me rebuild one day at a time — with purpose, patience, and a lot of grace.
Here are the 10 routines that keep our home running (mostly) smoothly:
1. Weekly Planning Sessions
Every Sunday, I take time to look at the week ahead , appointments, school events, work meetings, etc. I also glance at the next week to avoid any last-minute surprises, especially if travel is coming up. Planning ahead helps me mentally prepare and makes everything feel a little less overwhelming.
2. Make Mornings Easy
I set out all the breakfast essentials the night before — cups, bowls, utensils — especially the “favorite” ones (because toddler meltdowns are real). Lunchboxes are cleaned and ready. Lunches are prepped and in the fridge. I’m not rushing it… but I’ll be real: I can’t wait for the day my daughter can start helping with lunch prep!
3. Laundry Done by Saturday
Saturday is laundry day, period. If clothes aren’t folded, I at least make sure essentials like socks and underwear are clean and easy to grab. This makes Sunday outfit planning a whole lot easier and keeps the weekday hustle smoother.
4. Give Yourself Laundry Grace
Look, sometimes the laundry just doesn’t get folded — and that’s okay. I don’t beat myself up about it. As long as we’ve got what we need to get dressed quickly (yes, I’m talking about socks and undies), we’re good. Same with dishes. I make sure I wash the essentials if I don’t have time.
5. Plan the Week’s Outfits — Yours & Theirs
Picking out clothes the night before is great, but planning for the entire week on Sunday is even better. I plan down to the socks, shoes and hair accessories. These stackable storage bins help make keep everything organized. If your kid has opinions (like mine), let them help choose their outfits, and always have backup options ready for mood swings or breakfast mishaps.
6. Spread Out Grocery Shopping
If you shop at multiple grocery stores like I do, try not to cram it all into the weekend. Space it out across the week if possible. Weekends go by fast, and spending half of Saturday in grocery lines? No thanks.
7. Sunday Dinner = Sanity
I love cooking a solid Sunday dinner. It sets a positive tone for the week and always includes leftovers to help make Monday dinner a breeze.
8. Cook the Night Before or Morning of When You Can
Cooking dinner after work and school can be chaotic, especially when bedtime, bath time, and homework all hit at once. When I can prep the night before or in the morning, it’s one less thing to juggle during the after-school chaos.
9. Hire a Cleaning Lady (If You Can)
I know it’s not an option for everyone, but if there’s any way to budget for a cleaning lady, even once a month, do it. As a single mom, I just don’t have the bandwidth to deep-clean every weekend. I’m lucky if the dishes make it out of the sink. That professional clean makes a world of difference.
10. Track Your Money
I was living in an imaginary world when I was at the height of my divorce. Spending frivolously, and not even paying attention to the fact I didn’t have enough money coming in. I had a real AHA moment once, I started tracking my spending. I wish I never fell out of this habit and I would normally know better. Knowing your expenses early on are so helpful when going through divorce.
These routines aren’t fancy. They’re not perfect. But they’ve helped me create a little more peace in the chaos of mom life, corporate life, and rebuilding life after everything shifted.
If you’re also in a rebuilding season, give yourself permission to start small. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. And sometimes, the most powerful way to rebuild your life is by staying consistent in the simple things.
💬 I’d love to know: What’s one habit or routine that helps you stay grounded while juggling it all? Drop a comment or send me a message — we’re all figuring it out together, one day at a time.
And if you need a little help getting your thoughts together, grab my Free Journal Prompts Guide — it’s the same tool I use when I need clarity, focus, and faith through the chaos.
