Meredith's Kitchen Table

Let me just say it straight: productivity hits different in the morning. When I get a bunch of stuff done before noon, I feel like I’m winning at life. Like, wait… I cleaned the kitchen, threw in laundry, did my workout, and prepped dinner—and it’s still not even lunchtime?

It takes so much pressure off the rest of the day. I’m not scrambling to cram everything into that awkward 3–6 p.m. stretch where the kids are melting down and I’m half asleep. I’m not doing squats at 8 p.m. or cleaning the house when I should be relaxing. I hate that it’s true, but being structured and having everything in its place really does help. The annoying truth is… streamlined process equals efficiency and completion.

It’s not even about being Type A. I’m not trying to be the perfect mom with the perfect schedule. I just like feeling like I’ve accomplished something early in the day so I can actually enjoy the rest of it. I like knowing dinner’s already handled and I don’t have to sprint into the evening with everything still looming.

Here’s the real talk though: staying on task isn’t easy. Especially when you’re tired or touched out or didn’t sleep or your hormones are a mess or all of the above. But what’s helped me? Just getting up. Seriously, getting vertical is the hardest part. Once I’m up, I can catch a little burst of energy and ride it. I don’t need to conquer the world—just move.

Short bursts of energy get me further than trying to be a machine. Do one thing. Then another. And then suddenly I’m in a rhythm.

Discipline is a beast. It’s not something you just have—you practice it. And it’s not glamorous. It’s doing the dishes (even the hand-washed ones) when you want to lay down. It’s changing into workout clothes even if you only have 15 minutes. It’s prepping dinner early when you’d rather scroll. And it takes mental strength to do that every day, especially when you’re running the whole house.

I’m learning that if I don’t build structure into my day, chaos will do it for me—and that usually doesn’t end well. As a stay-at-home mom, there’s no real start or stop time. No one’s handing me a schedule. So I had to make my own.

And honestly? I go insanely detailed with it. Like, “7:30—chug a glass of water.” Not because I’ll follow it perfectly (I rarely do), but because when the day goes sideways, I still have a roadmap to come back to. If I follow 70% of it, I’m good. I don’t beat myself up. I still got stuff done. The house is livable. I moved my body. I made meals I feel proud of. And I feel like me again—not just the default caretaker version of me.

So yeah. If you’re in a season where the days feel chaotic and you don’t even know where to start: just get up. Drink some water. Move your body. Do one thing on the list. Keep it as simple as possible. But write it down.

You’re allowed to build a structure that supports you—so you don’t collapse under the weight of everything else.