Confessions of a Working Mom: Balancing a Full-Time Job and a Side Hustle

☀️ My Real Morning Routine as a Working Mom with ADHD

No two mornings are exactly the same—but this is the rhythm I’ve stuck with for years. Not because I’m super organized or a morning person. Honestly, the opposite.
It’s because this routine keeps me from spiraling—and it actually works with my ADHD brain instead of against it.

Right now, my daughter’s not in school—she starts pre-K in a few weeks—but this routine held strong even when we were doing full-time daycare. And as a full-time working mom trying to build a side hustle in between the chaos, every step matters.

2.5 Hours Before I Leave… Yes, Really

Some mornings, I’m up more than two hours before I need to leave. It sounds extreme, but if I don’t give myself this buffer, the whole day feels off.

First thing: I review content I filmed the night before.
If my daughter was feeling cooperative (rare, but magical), I might already have videos with voiceover recorded. I’ll get at least two TikToks posted before the house even wakes up.

If she was clingy or tired, I’ll film fresh content while she’s still asleep. I work best when it’s quiet, and I’ve learned to batch things when the opportunity strikes.

Pro tip? I use ChatGPT to help me write my scripts. It keeps me focused on what people actually want to know—why it’s worth buying, not just why I bought it.

Multitasking That Actually Works (for ADHD)

Shower time = multi-task time.
I brush my teeth and wash my face in the shower to eliminate the “too many steps” overwhelm. It’s one of those tiny adjustments that has made a huge difference.

Makeup? Rarely. Too many steps = too much stress.
But skincare? Non-negotiable. I can’t stand how my skin feels without it.

I get dressed, head to the kitchen, and start the rest of my day.

Morning Fuel for Me + My Kid

I don’t drink coffee (shocking, I know). I use my SodaStream to make my morning pop and warm up a breakfast sandwich. At the same time, I pack lunch for myself and my daughter.

Then I fill her water bottle, and it’s go-time.

She usually eats breakfast at school, so once I get her up, I just brush her hair, get her dressed, and we’re out the door.

Why This Routine Works (Even When Life Doesn’t)

I don’t follow this routine to be impressive or productive.
I do it because it makes everything else feel more manageable.

When you’re juggling a high-stress job, a kid, ADHD, and side hustle dreams… you need a system that meets you where you are. Not some influencer’s color-coded fantasy morning.

This is mine. And if any of it helps you build yours, then that’s a win.

ADDitude Mag – Morning Routines

want to see the results check out my tiktok

strugglingmommaofone

Coming Soon:

• What’s in my skincare lineup that makes me actually stick with it

• ADHD hacks that don’t feel like hacks—they’re just life

• What I prep at night to make mornings smoother