How to Stay Motivated and Productive as a Work-from-Home Mom
When I first started juggling client work, homeschooling, and homesteading, I honestly wondered if I’d lost my mind. But over time, I figured out a rhythm—and it made all the difference.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re doing your own version of the juggle, and I want you to know: you’re not alone, and this life can be both productive and fulfilling.
Managing a homestead, raising kids, and launching a new career—all at once—might sound a little overwhelming, but it’s actually more doable than you think. So many moms just like us are turning to virtual assistant services as a way to earn money from home. It offers flexibility, variety, and yes—you can absolutely do it all in your favorite pair of pajamas.
You might be wondering:
But how do you wear all the hats without losing your ever-loving mind?
Today we’re diving into how to stay motivated and productive as a work-from-home mama. The magic truly lives in finding a rhythm that lets homestead life and your VA job work with each other—not against.
Let’s dig into some tricks, tips, and heart-led shifts that can help you make it all work (even when it feels like too much).
Find Your FLOW with Flexible Scheduling
I know what you’re thinking:
“Sure, that sounds great... but where am I supposed to actually find the time?”
That’s where those scattered-but-golden pockets of time come in—after school drop-off, during nap time, or once the kids finally conk out. These are the moments when you can actually breathe and get things done.
The beauty of flexible scheduling is that it molds around your life—not the other way around. It lets you plan your day around when you feel most productive, and that makes all the difference.
Here’s what I love most about this rhythm:
Be your own boss when it comes to time. Take client calls mid-morning, then check on your chickens during a lunch break—because, why not?
Skip the commute. More time for coffee, snuggles, or cleaning (whatever your vibe is).
Be more present. Sit down for lunch with your kids. Go to that school event. Be there—without the pressure to “make up hours.”
Yes, some days will throw you for a loop (or six), but flexible scheduling lets you come back to center—every time.
“Progress is better than perfection. Just showing up matters.”
Why Block Scheduling Might Be Your New Best Friend
So, how does block scheduling fit into all of this? Think of it as dividing your day into meaningful time chunks—one for focused work, another for homeschooling, another for tending to your garden… maybe one for sitting on the porch in silence (just me?).
With block scheduling, you can:
Focus without distraction
Give attention to what matters most in that moment
Stay adaptable when life gives you a curveball
Let me show you how it looks in real life 👇
School-Day Block Schedule (aka: when you finally get a few quiet hours)
Once the morning hustle ends, it’s go-time!
Example School-Day Schedule:
Morning Rush (7–8 AM): Kids up, fed, shuffled out the door
Work Block 1 (8:30–10:30 AM): Email check-ins, focused VA tasks
Break + Chores (10:30–11:30 AM): Lunch, laundry, chicken checks
Work Block 2 (11:30–1:30 PM): Design work, strategy, quiet desk time
Reset Block (1:30–3 PM): Final tidy, prep for the school crew incoming
After that, it’s school pickup, after-school snacks, maybe homework or soccer practice—and then into the family/dinner routine.
Homeschooling Mom? Try This Flow:
Creating a schedule here will take some creativity, depending on how many kiddos are home and when you usually do schooling. Your best bet is to squeeze in a work block before school starts and another post-school, or the evening after dinner or bedtime—whatever fits your family’s needs.
Early Work Block (6–8 AM): Focus-heavy tasks before the house wakes
Morning Homeschool (8:30–11:30 AM): Lessons, hands-on projects
Lunch + Homestead Break (11:30–12:30 PM): Eat, reset, refill that coffee
Afternoon Work Block (1–3 PM): Admin tasks, content edits
Evening Wrap-Up (Post-Bedtime): Anything leftover—optional but possible
This doesn’t have to be perfect—just repeatable enough to feel steady.
Set Up a Cozy, Chaos-Free Workspace (Yes, It’s Possible!)
Alright, the next step in staying productive? Create a space that helps you focus. Whether you’ve carved out an entire room or just claimed a glorified corner of your kitchen, your workspace can still feel calm and motivating.
Got a whole room? Lucky you!
If you’ve got a spare room, you can turn it into your personal office space.
Get Comfy: Grab a chair that's easy on the back and a solid desk. You want this space to be somewhere you love to be.
Let the Light In: Natural light can boost your mood. Try setting up near a window to soak in those rays.
Personal Touches: Add some flair—maybe a plant, family pics, or a vision board with your goals and favorite quotes.
Just working with a small corner?
If space is tight, you can still create a workspace with just a little bit of creativity.
Find Your Spot: Look for a corner in your kitchen or living room. A small table works!
Keep It Simple: Essentials only—a laptop, phone, notebook, noise-canceling headphones if you're fancy, and a cup of coffee on hand.
It’s not about Pinterest-worthy. It’s about purposeful.
Why This Works
With your laptop and Wi-Fi, you can work just about anywhere—from the kitchen to the garden or even the porch. But having a dedicated workspace helps your brain shift into "work mode." It also reduces distractions, keeps you organized, and gives you a motivation boost, helping you focus better.
TECH TO THE RESCUE
Let’s not pretend we do this alone. Tech can truly save your brain. So, let’s talk about the tools that can make your life as a homesteading mom and virtual assistant so much easier! Seriously, technology can be your best friend when it comes to keeping track of daily tasks and deadlines.
Zoom for client chats is a must. Perfect for staying connected and keeping things professional.
Design needs? Canva is your new go-to. It’s super easy to use for creating everything from social media posts to collages, even with zero design experience.
For task management, you've got some great options like Trello, Asana, and ClickUp. These platforms help you organize, prioritize, and keep track of all your projects. They’re like having a personal assistant to remind you of client deadlines and tasks.
There’s also Slack for communication. It keeps conversations in dedicated channels without cluttering your email inbox. Share files, communicate quickly, and maybe throw in a fun emoji or two.
You’ve got your work-from-home toolkit sorted. Awesome! Now, let's chat about the homesteading side of things because we all love a little extra help, right?
There are some really useful apps out there that can help keep homesteading life organized. Try out garden planners for mapping out your gardens, budgeting tools to keep finances in check, and shopping lists to stay on top of groceries.
When you dip in and out of different zones all day (mama, CEO, teacher, chicken whisperer…), these platforms help keep you sane and streamlined. We love that.
Mindset and Self-Care
Now that you've got those productivity apps in your toolkit, let's focus on motivation. I know firsthand that this can be tough, so here's some advice from one mom to another:
Small Steps, Big Impact: Break everything down. One small task at a time. Check things off and feel that dopamine hit every time.
Celebrate Every Win: Even the tiny ones! Did you nail a Zoom call or get through nap time without a meltdown? Celebrate it! Treat yourself or even just take a minute to breathe.
Mindset Shifts Make a Difference: Instead of getting lost in the list of to-dos, change up the language you use. Swap "I have to" with "I can" or "I get to" and watch how it changes the vibe of your entire day.
Self-Care Isn’t Extra: You need that moment of peace—even if it’s just sipping coffee on the porch or reading three pages of your favorite book.
Find Your People: Whether it’s a friend in real life, your online biz besties, or a group of homesteading moms—community matters.
Make Your Goals Visible: Stick a Post-it on the fridge. Leave yourself little love notes. Keep that dream in sight.
In a Nutshell: What’s Actually Working
Let’s be honest, no day is perfect. You’ll have days where the chickens escape, the kids cry, the Wi-Fi goes out, or all three happen at once (ask me how I know…). But the goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress.
Here’s what truly works:
Use flexible and block scheduling to design a day that works for you
Create a cozy, inspiring space to work (even if it’s just the corner of the kitchen table)
Tech is your friend—lean on it!
Little wins matter. Let them build your momentum.
Prioritize self-care, even in tiny doses
Stay connected and supported—because you were never meant to do this alone
What’s one thing that helps you stay motivated as a work-from-home mom?
Drop it in the comments below or come chat with me over on Instagram—I'll be the one juggling my planner in one hand and a mug of reheated coffee in the other.
And if you’d like more tips and helpful resources delivered right to your inbox, head over to the Natural Nook website. I’d love to share more of my homesteading adventures with you! Until next time!
