Bec Judd: How to design a routine with kids on the scene

With many Australian families holed up at home at the moment, mother of four and AIA Ambassador Bec Judd talks through her tips for maintaining your routine, wellbeing and productivity all in one.

As a mother of four and a busy professional, I’d be lost without my routine. But it didn’t always come easy. It took a long while for me to figure it out and to find a balance that works – and a while longer to get it to stick.

Whether you’re a newborn baby, a 30-something-year-old professional or a pensioner living out your golden years, having a routine is so important as a foundation for overall wellbeing. It can help alleviate day-to-day anxiety, allow your subconscious mind to focus on more important things, and really help you plan and shape your entire life.

And yes, I swear it’s possible to have a routine, even with kids! Here are a few tips I’ve learned along the way.  

It might feel counterintuitive to be talking about flexibility in an article about routine, but the best advice I can give any parent hoping to get their kids into a routine is to be totally flexible. Kids, work and life in general are all wildly unpredictable. And some days, no matter what you do, it just isn’t going to work. Don’t worry and don’t stress. Go with the flow as much as you can, and remember that tomorrow is a new day. Be kind to yourself, always! 

A year is a long time. So before you get into the day-to-day of a routine, have a think about what you want your annual routine to look like. If you’re lucky enough to be able to think about going somewhere for the school holidays, or can even just plan a few day trips here and there – lock it in early so you have something to look forward to. 

In my house we get up, have breakfast, then get straight into a morning activity. Then we have lunch before diving head-first into an afternoon activity. As dinner time rolls around, I usually give the kids a bit of screen time so I can get the food ready without them nagging. Then after dinner, we have a bit of free play before leading into books, bath and bedtime, which is the same time every night.

I know this might all sound obvious, but if your kids wake up and immediately ask to watch the latest episode of their favourite show, it can be so tough to talk them out of it. If they know they can get their TV but not until later, that makes a big difference. It’s about dangling that carrot: “Get through the day, then you can get your screen time.”

And forget about routines on the weekend – weekends are for chaos!  

Recently, we’ve been painting Easter eggs and doing a lot of colouring in. Anything art-based tends to keep them occupied. Then, if I’m really looking to tire them out, we’ll do a bit of indoor cricket (with a soft ball!), play hide and seek, and splash around with some water and buckets outdoors if the weather’s good. 

We’ve also been getting into some basic family workouts. There’s a great app called Go Dance Studio, which you can get on smart TVs, where you all have to mimic the dance moves you see on the screen. It’s so much fun. Then there’s GoNoodle and Cosmic Kids – which are both really great and simple yoga apps and videos for younger kids.  

Through all of this, I still need to find time to work, and I’ve been finding that working in bursts has been really productive for me. With kids on the scene, there are always going to be interruptions, but I find that if I can sit down for just one or two hours at a time, I can get so much done.

That’s the good thing about getting the kids into their routines – once they’re settled in, the idea is that it’ll free you up for a little time to yourself. Of course it depends on their age (toddlers and 10-year-olds have very different attention spans!), but it’s the same idea.  

This one’s important. I’ve been the woman who just stayed in her pyjamas all day. And you know what? It was the worst. I just procrastinated, I felt terrible, I did nothing. Now I make sure to get up, dress for the day, tie my hair up and do a basic skin care routine.

When the kids are into their morning activity, I’ll also try and use it as an opportunity to do some exercise. I’ve been using Laura Henshaw and Chris Hemsworth’s apps – they’re great – and just doing simple exercises and pilates. It just makes me feel so much more like myself, and helps set me up for whatever life – and my kids! – might throw at me. 

AIA Ambassador Rebecca Judd is one of Australia’s busiest and best known television and media personalities. She's also a Speech Pathologist, wife (to AFL legend Chris Judd) and a mother of four busy kids. She's essentially a self-taught expert when it comes to raising kids while prioritising your own physical and mental health – and she's looking forward to sharing all of her wellness tips with OneLife readers. 

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.