After a season of trying to balance working full time with a four year old at home, I quickly realized some things had to change big time around our house. As we are going into the fall season, there are many changes coming our way including a change in our school schedule, sports picking back up, and our schedules simply just getting busier. If you are like me, you may be wondering how you are going to be able to balance it all! Keep reading for 4 things I’m currently doing to make working from home easier.

WAKE UP BEFORE THE KIDS

My husband wakes up two hours before Aimery to start his day with a workout, and I honestly couldn’t think of a worse way to start the day. 🤪 In a perfect world, I like to wake up 30 minutes before Aimery to brush my teeth, start the coffee pot, and maybe even pour a bowl of my favorite Post Dunkin’ cereal (have you tried this coffee cereal yet? YUM!). These 30 minutes change the course of my entire day and allow me to take a breath before putting someone else's needs above my own.

STAY ORGANIZED

The last couple of months have forced me to become extremely organized with planning childcare, date nights, and alone time. If something doesn’t get put in our family calendar or on a grocery list, then it’s not going to happen. We have a joint calendar in our phones, a running to-do list, and a grocery pick-up order being added to at all times - and it keeps us going every day. Find a good way for you to stay organized and stick to it before this busy season approaches!

ASK FOR HELP

I used to be one to feel guilty for asking for help with childcare and household needs. Now that I am working full time from home, I have put the mom guilt aside and have asked for help. I couldn’t do it all, and shouldn’t have too while working from home and attempting to watch the kids. We have childcare lined up for work hours and the occasional date night, a house cleaner who comes bi-weekly, and a meal delivery service that brings food to our doorstep. Remember that your sanity is worth every penny!

CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST

Just because you are no longer running out the door every morning doesn’t mean you have to cook an extravagant hot breakfast every day. It’s all about balance, and I prefer to start my morning with Post Dunkin’ Mocha Latte cereal and Post Dunkin’ Caramel Macchiato cereal. There’s no surprise that I couldn’t make it through the day without my cup (or three) of coffee in the morning, and now with Post Dunkin’ cereal, I can have my coffee and eat it too! Post Consumer Brands and Dunkin’ collaborated to brew up the best cereal on the planet that contains very small amounts of caffeine*, while giving you a coffee-like experience. Post Dunkin’ Caramel Macchiato cereal is brought to life with crunchy cereal pieces and caramel-swirled marshmallows that taste just like the layered iced coffee beverage. The Post Dunkin’ Mocha Latte cereal features a hint of chocolate and latte-swirled marshmallows in honor of its namesake espresso, my personal favorite. Learn more about the new Post Dunkin’ cereals here.

*Note that because Dunkin’ coffee is an ingredient in the cereals, there is a small amount of caffeine in one serving of cereal, equivalent to about 1/10th of the amount of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of coffee, which equates to approximately 5-11 milligrams per serving. The low levels present in the cereal are from the coffee concentrate — not from added caffeine. It is a small amount of caffeine, so there is no real caffeine-related impact to the person consuming it.