Writing When You’re Tired: Productivity Routines That Work for Moms Who Haven’t Slept Since Forever

Being a mom comes with a side of exhaustion. Some days, it feels like it came free with the baby. I’m not even joking. Back then, tired looked like sleepless nights, endless feedings, and trying to remember if I’d even eaten that day. There’s no doubt I had my coffee, though. Now my kids are 12 and 14, and tired looks different. It’s getting them to school, and sports, and activities, all while managing calendars, and somehow figuring out what everyone is supposed to eat for lunch.

Motherhood changes. The tired doesn’t. It just changes. And somewhere along the way, freelance writing came into my life just when I needed it. I wanted something of my own, but I needed it to fit into my life. When the world won’t stop, and the energy tanks are empty, being able to work when it’s convenient is essential for keeping both your sanity and your to-do list intact.

A Story of a Tired Mom: Then vs. Now

Having a baby is exhausting in a way you could never predict. Sleep is impossible to find. Every day feels long, and your body never stops moving. You feel behind on everything, even the little things, and some mornings you are not sure how you made it through the night. The tiredness is always there. It becomes part of life. 

Fast forward to now. My kids don’t need me to survive the night, but they do need me to run them everywhere, solve every scheduling conflict, and occasionally explain middle school math. Send help! The physical exhaustion is replaced by mental and logistical exhaustion. Some days, it’s just as draining as those sleepless nights, but in a very different way.

Tiredness changes, but it never really goes away. It might seem strange to add something else to your life, but freelance writing fits right into that life. Let me explain why.

Writing Around Life, Not the Other Way Around

The beauty of freelance writing is that it is completely flexible. It doesn’t demand strict 9-to-5 hours or a perfect workspace. Need to write at 6 a.m. before anyone’s awake? Go for it. Waiting in the car during baseball practice? Pull out the laptop. Kids finishing homework? Great! Let’s work together.

The laptop doesn’t care if your hair is messy or your coffee is cold. Deadlines? Flexible. Work can happen whenever it works for you, at your pace, when you actually have the energy to concentrate. That kind of freedom is priceless when your life is dictated by kids, schedules, and unpredictable energy levels.

Staying Productive When All You Want Is a Nap

When you’re always tired, routines need to work with you, not against you. One thing that helps is doing similar tasks together. I’ll outline a few blogs, then save editing for later. It makes those short moments of the day feel productive instead of wasted. Batching your work is a game-changer.

Taking little breaks matters too. Even five or ten minutes to stretch, breathe, or grab a snack can make a big difference. You don’t have to wait for a perfect chunk of time to get anything done.

Flexible deadlines are a lifesaver. If a kid gets sick, lunch gets forgotten, or the car won’t start, it is nice to be able to move things around without it completely dismantling your day.

Find your own little office wherever you can. Kitchen counter, your spot on the couch, or even the car while you’re waiting for practice to finish. Just make it work with what you’ve got.

Balancing It All

Some days nothing gets done. Some days you get a lot done. Both are okay. Motherhood is not about perfection, and neither is freelance writing. The goal isn’t necessarily always productivity. It’s progress.

I have edited entire blogs while waiting in the school pick-up line. My kids thought I was texting friends. They did not care that my work got done. They just cared that I was there when they climbed into the car. That is what balance looks like. You find moments to work without giving up family time and accept that some days will not go as planned.

Being a mom is exhausting. The tiredness changes, but it does not go away. Freelance writing is flexible and portable. With a laptop and a little focus, you can keep the words flowing. You can batch tasks, take breaks, and write in those quiet parts of your day. Your energy may never be 100%, but your progress can be. Laptop ready. Coffee in hand. Words waiting. And, somehow, you make it all work.

Make Freelance Writing Work for Your Life

Life as a mom moves fast and changes constantly. The Pajama Writer provides guides, tools, and resources to help freelance writers stay productive no matter how tired they are or what their day throws at them.

Freelancing can fit into your life, even on the busiest or most exhausting days. The Pajama Writer gives you the tools and support to make it work, helping you turn those windows of time into progress, keep your income moving, and stay present with your family. You don’t have to pause your ambitions, writing can move with you, and The Pajama Writer makes it easier to keep it all going.