Here are some of my school holiday time management tips. When I started Charlie Moo’s, back in 2008, my main aim was to make a bit of money and be a full-time mum. This is still my main aim, even though they are grotty teenagers now and I’m mostly a taxi driver! I still get excited about no routines and spending quality time with the children BUT I also have a small business to run.
If you are anything like me you want to spend the school holidays like this ….
Not like this …..
The trick is effective school holiday time management.
School Holiday Time Management Tips, 5 Ways to Stay on Track:
1. Schedule Your Social Media
Scheduling is your friend. Schedule a few blog posts. Schedule updates on social media. Twitter and Facebook have their own scheduling system which has better reach than 3rd party apps. Scheduling;
Frees up headspace 
Frees up time 
Keeps your content consistent
Work smarter – not harder
Content awareness days (for example Easter key dates would be Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday, April content awareness days include the 7th April World Health Day and 25th April World Penguin Day) Seasonal dates (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year) Personal days (birthdays, school holidays) Split your content 20% sales / 80% other stuff Look at your Facebook memories do you have some great content to reshare? Break down blog posts ie. 5 Tried And Tested Wedding Hacks To Save Money each hack = one Facebook post so this blog can run over 5 days randomly or in a row up to you Use the scheduling facility on the platform it has a better reach Value-added content – don’t have any content relevant to Boxing Day use my DIY office storage made using old boxes and fabric sharing other people’s content also helps to grow your audience.2. Email Organisation
Start with setting your email autoresponder, that you are working diminished hours due to school holidays and family commitments keeping clients and potential ones aware of the situation and giving you a bit of breathing space. At the start of the day (usually, before the grotty teens are even awake), I like to spend 5 minutes checking my emails. Delete anything that isn’t useful straight away so it doesn’t clog up your inbox. Reply to anything urgent or send a quick “I am working reduced hours at present and will reply to your email on …”, then set time an hour or two in your diary to reply properly, or do the actual work the email requires. NOT however in the evening when you are totally shattered as this is counterproductive. Make it a time when your partner is around, your child is at a club, or have a working from home day whereby they utilise the facilities you have at home.
3. Network
One of my best school holiday time management tips is to surround yourself with like minded people! If you need some small business stimulation meet up with others in the same position. This way it’s a win-win, children get to play and you get that adult conversation. Send out a tweet/Facebook invite, pack a picnic and go get outside! Or contact your local soft play to see if you can get some discounted vouchers.
4. Be a NO man! and a YES Mum!
It’s OK to sometimes say no! Don’t try and take on a project or extra workload when you are working reduced hours. The children won’t thank you for being grumpy, stressed, and tired and you won’t enjoy the work. Say Yes to spending time with the children, enjoying days out, walks in the forest, and cooking on rubbish BBQ’s.
5. Chill Out Man!
How often do you get time just to chill? Probably never! It’s the holidays, enjoy them as before you know it you’ll be redundant and no longer cool enough to hang out with! Spend time relaxing and recuperating, give your brain time to rest. You will also feel so much better when you come back after the school holidays with fire in your belly and a good night’s sleep!
Do you have any top tips to stay sane in business or any amazing school holiday time management tips that keep you productive? If you are more visually minded you could employ the use of Timeline Templates to help keep projects on track with your clients whilst you are on semi shutdown.
I might have to try some of these tips all year around, I never the most organised. x
Sarah Bailey recently posted..Super Cute Box #SCBClub: Subscription Box Review
I always make sure I am completely up to date with everything during the last couple of weeks before summer hols and then I am much more relaxed during the summer and can just keep up in an evening if I need to. 🙂
Sonia recently posted..Instagram Weekly 29th June – 5th July 2015
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there is nothing worse than a massive to do list and 3 children wanting to do stuff!!
Some great tips for those working during the summer holidays!
Foz recently posted..Project 365 – Days 179 to 185
Excellent and very wise advice (though I know I check my email too often…)
I work hard all year round so I can be flexible with the kids at holiday time. They are only young once, so I am a yes Mum!
Jen aka Muminthemadhouse recently posted..10 Tips for encouraging family mealtimes
Some excellent tips here whatever your situation. Will pinch a few of these, thank you
I am like you – looking forward to two weeks’ time when the kids break up and we can have a more relaxed pace but in the next two weeks I’m also trying to cram in as much as possible so I can chill a bit!!
I think I will get more time to myself this summer though… Which I haven’t had over the last few years. Great tips Joanne!
JuggleMum, Nadine Hill recently posted..How to Get Back to School Ready!
I need to be more organised so that I can enjoy some summer evenings too, as I try and do everything once the kids are in bed. Great advice
Bex @ The Mummy Adventure recently posted..Sleeping Like a Baby – Even in Summer
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I used to work in the evenings and when they are small this is so much easier as bedtime is at 7ish. Now they are older we like to go out in the evenings for walks and bike rides when it’s cooler and to be honest I’m far too tired to contemplate working. I guess mobiles and tablets are a good option here as at least you can still promote your blog and chill watching trashy TV.
These are all very good tips, thank you. My kids often sleep late in the holidays and I always get up early to do some work before they’re awake.
Mums do travel recently posted..Family days out: Hever Castle, Kent
Ive never tried Twuffer, I use Buffer which is brilliant for scheduling x
Rachel recently posted..LookFantastic Beauty Box – July
I like the no man, yes Mum, I’ll remember that this summer, thanks Mich x
Michelle Twin Mum recently posted..Dear So and So – I’m 1 in a Million!
I still haven’t figured out the facebook scheduling system – are you free for a training session?
Kara recently posted..Plain Lazy for Men, Women and Children
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Of course give me a nudge next time I’m over.
Great tips here .. OOH summer is nearly here
ninjacat recently posted..Taking Steps To Improve Your Credit Rating
I am so going to time manage through these holidays before full-time school begins. Thanks for the scheduling tips
VaiChin @RamblingThroughParenthood recently posted..A Brewers Fayre Birthday Party
Some great tips. I love the photo of the kids. They look like they are having so much fun x
mama syder recently posted..Active Family Adventure With Berghaus
These are brilliant tips. We have that fun transition into school time to manage and work too. Hope all is good, loved your colour run photo, looks like lots of fun x
Great tips – I must be one of the most disorganised mums around! Kaz x
Ickle Pickle recently posted..Why Mummy loves GameVillage
These are some great tips to keep organised.
Nayna Kanabar recently posted..Spinach and Potato Parathas
OK, so you’re telling me it’s time to go to Paperchase and buy (another) notebook and get organised? 🙂
Kate recently posted..As featured on Huffington Post: Are You Tired of Being Tired?
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I can’t possibly be responsible for you having to purchase more notebooks *one of course can never have enough notebooks!*
Când vine vorba de activități pentru copii în timpul vacanțelor, orice recomandare este binevenită și foarte utilă. Mulțumesc!
Dear Joanne Dewberry, your school holiday time management tips are incredibly valuable for fellow entrepreneurs and busy parents. Scheduling social media, organizing emails, networking with like-minded individuals, setting boundaries, and taking time to relax are all essential for maintaining sanity during the school holidays. Thank you for sharing these practical and insightful tips!
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