One of the strategies that I use to make sure I get enough time to rest and get things done is I divide my to-do list into two categories: things I can do when my son is awake and things I must do while he is asleep. There are certain tasks, like washing dishes, that are best performed when he is awake. He can play in the kitchen, and if I give him a few clean pots and pans to play with, he is a happy camper. Writing is something I need to do when he is asleep. I need to focus and it is hard to step away from and return to it without losing my train of thought. Plus, he is jealous of the laptop because he wants to play with it.
There are many other things on my to-do list throughout the day, and I have found that if I do not divide my activities between these two categories, something will not get done. If I want to get my writing done, I have to sit down as soon as he is asleep and get that done first. And if I need a nap, I have to immediately lie down after I finish writing. If I want to get the dishes done, I do them immediately after breakfast when he is the most content to play by himself. If I need to unload the dishwasher, I do that while he is still in his high chair because it keeps him from trying to climb inside when I have it open.
Other activities, like laundry, I choose to do when he is awake because it is something that he can “help” me with and he enjoys it. By “help,” I really mean pulling whatever he can out of the laundry basket, throwing it into the hamper or on the floor, and laughing about it the whole time. Making the bed, vacuuming, and picking up his room are all things we like to do together.
Ever since I have figured out this “system” of organizing my to-do list, I have been able to get so much more done and I have had a lot less stress. I have a set list of things to choose from when he is awake, and as soon as he is asleep, I know which things on my list to run for first. Sometimes, he sleeps long enough for me to do everything on the list, and then we get to play all afternoon. The more organized I am, the more often this happens!