How I powered through all my tasks

So my wife was out with her girlfriends at a bar last night, so I was alone with the kids. Normally I don't get anything done on weeknights, but knowing I had such an idle evening ahead of me I decided I was going to power through every chore.<br><br>It's been a shit week and I haven't done dishes in 3-4 days, most of my laundry is dirty, yard work, messy kitchen, general house disarray etc. So this is what I did.<br><br>**I did every task that I put off immediately when I get home.**<br><br>So I have 2 kids, one 2 and another 7 months. 7 month old is reasonably self sufficient and can entertain himself for a while in his play area. My 2 year old is a handful and literally gets into everything.<br><br>I woke up at 6am and immediately got to work. I did a solid hour with laundry first, cleaned up the living room, did some dishes until the kids woke up at my usual 8am.<br><br>All the stuff that prevented me from being productive is now gone and that burden is now lifted. <br><br>I got to work right away, made an omelette, and got the kids fed. Not once stopping or diverting my attention from one task to another.<br><br>This is how I juggled the kids. After breakfast I cleaned up the kitchen and then took the kids outside to mow the lawn. I brought them with me, one in the stroller and the other just walking around while I'm mowing. They occupied themselves now that I had that free time. After that I took them to the grocery store, to buy food for lunch and the week, and then to the park to tire them out. I still did the regular stuff with them. I didn't miss a beat. They still got their normal attention.<br><br>I took them home, put them down for nap, did yard work, and took out the recycling. I made lunch, cleaned up, and did some more laundry. I played with the kids until they were tired and then I did all my errands while they slept. I picked up dinner, more groceries, did some more yard work etc. I even made it to the gym for an hour before my wife got home and ate dinner with her. It was a nice evening after getting all this stuff taken care of.<br><br>That all happened between my usual 8am-5pm schedule that I normally do with the kids.<br><br>By not having to tend to all the random crap that I normally let pile up my attention to the kids was far greater and I didn't have the mental burden of all these tasks that I needed to do.<br><br>I likely wouldn't have had such a productive day had I not stayed home, because I didn't have to take time off doing something for myself. The only thing that mattered was my responsibilities to the kids.<br><br>I didn't get the satisfaction of letting loose and having a night out. But I also didn't have to do all the things this weekend that I normally do. By doing it all now I can really enjoy the weekend without any burdens.<br><br>This was a lesson in discipline for me. I know I have to do all these things, I'm their dad. It's my responsibility.<br><br>Not doing it is costing me my time and preventing me the ability to enjoy my free time at a later point in time.