How to Get More Done When You Have More Kids

How to Get More Done When You Have More Kids

By Chris Lopez

It’s hard for most folks to believe, but I’m only 31 years old and I have 5 kids. Being a husband and a dad of 5, downtime has become synonymous with family time. 

Last week for example, I went to a birthday party with 4 kids in tow while my wife was with our second oldest daughter at a soccer game. At every party, I get asked by every other adult, “How do you do it? How do you manage a family of 7, run your businesses, stay in shape and look like you’re having fun doing it?”

It’s true, finding time for true balance in work and in life is a challenge for any entrepreneur or busy Early to Rise reader. Do I have it all figured out? No, of course not, but I am able to manage certain aspects of my life to make sure that my business steadily grows each year and that I maintain and grow the relationship that I have with my wife and kids.

If you’re struggling to find that balance, then maybe you can get something out of these tips that I can offer you as an Entrepreneurial-Business-Owning-Coach-Husband-and-Father-of-Five-Who-Home-Schools-His-Kids-And-Stays-In-Great-Shape-All-While-Still-Having-Time-To-Have-A-Once-Per-Week-Date-Night-With-His-Wife (how’s that for a “title”?).

1) Manage Daily Transitions with Routines

There are 2 major transitions in my daily life. The first is the transition from sleeping to working and writing, and the second is the transition from work-mode to family-mode.

My morning ritual after my alarm goes off at 4:57am is to head downstairs to turn off the alarm, fill a tea kettle, drink 2 glasses of fresh water and go through a brief bodyweight exercise routine to increase blood flow. After the exercises, I brew my favorite jasmine green tea, turn on my computer and spend the next two hours writing and completing one or two of my “Most Important Tasks” (MITs).

When it’s time for my day to wrap up, I summarize my day in my notebook, write down the 3 MITs that need to be accomplished the next day and then listen to a meditation program for 30 minutes.

These rituals that I perform on a daily basis sub-consciously tell my mind what “mode” to be in and has been an incredible way for me to focus on what’s important.

2) Work in Bursts and then Rewarding Yourself

I find that I get so much more done when I’m focused on one task rather than multi-tasking. If I see a task on my list through to its completion, it’s less likely to linger in my mind as something that “I have to get back to”.

For motivation, it’s often that I’ll give myself a small reward if I see something through to completion.

3) Stop When It’s Time to Stop

If you’re an entrepreneur, then there isn’t a time of day when you’re not thinking about your business. The downfall to that is that you may sometimes miss out on the finer moments of life because you may be physically “there”, but you’re just not present.

I’m as guilty of this as anyone else who runs their own business but is also devoted to their family.

Countless times I see people at the dinner table who refuse to put down their Blackberry or insist on answering the phone. Unless you’re looking for a one-way trip to the doghouse, then you need to put the phone down and listen to and engage with your spouse while they talk about their day.

In order for me to make sure that my family has my undivided attention, not only have I established the transition routine above in Strategy #1, but I will also limit any type of access to me from the outside world. 

Email notifications are turned off, the phone is not answered and more often than not, we unplug the modem and the Internet is off completely. If I do end up coming up with a brilliant idea while I’m in family-mode (which happens a lot), I pull out my pocket notebook and jot the idea down and then let it go knowing that I’ve got it in my pocket when I need to get to it. 

4) You MUST Exercise

Maybe I’m a little biased because I work in the fitness industry, but if there was one strategy that has allowed me to really have enough energy for and to be purposefully engaged in both my business and my personal life, it’s exercise.

It’s a myth that it requires two hours of time per day to exercise and stay lean and healthy. In fact, these days my workouts last no longer than 30 minutes using a combination of kettlebell and bodyweight exercises in my living room or backyard.

Looking the part is a critical element of my fitness business, but I’m starting to realize that it’s a critical element of me being a good father as well.

Exercise allows me to only have enough energy not only to keep up with my kids at the end of the day, but it sets an example to my kids to make their health a priority in their lives. 

My habits in the gym – of hard work, perseverance and determination – are carried over into my business and family life and are habits that I hope to pass on to my four daughters and son through example.

All in all, my double-life as a business owner and entrepreneur and as a father/husband isn’t all that different than yours. We both need to find the right strategies to ensure that we are successful and find balance in every aspect of our lives.

The important thing to remember is that self-discipline is the key to forming good habits and strategies to ensure success in business and in life.

Adopting one or all of the strategies above, slowly, in a step-by-step manner has worked wonders for me and has made enjoy myself in my business dealings and has allowed me to forge a strong relationship with my loved ones.

In my life, I feel that I CAN have it all. Thanks to the strategies above,

I’m making my dream a reality.