While staying at home with the kids can be considered a full-time job, here are some helpful tips to get everything done and still find time for you.

1. Worried about not getting your workout in? Join a gym where your kids can join youth workout groups. Not only will you get your heart rate going, your kids can socialize with other kids and get some exercise in as well.

2. Make spotting your grocery list items a game for your kids at the grocery store—you’ll save time by keeping them well behaved and interested. And they may actually even help you find things.

3. Network with other stay-at-home dads. Setting up times to take care of each other’s children or participating in group activities is fun and easy. Bounce ideas off of each other and plan exciting events with the kids.

4. Stay as organized as possible with the help of planners and calendars. Color code each child’s commitments (as well as your own.) Get the kids involved by rewarding them for learning the schedules, too.

5. Have your kids help out with the daily chores. Make a weekly schedule and rotate jobs with the kids to get them excited about different tasks.

6. Make a daily schedule with time frames for each activity, including reading, chores, playtime and naptime, running errands, eating and more. Also incorporate different activities on certain days of the week. For example, every Wednesday during playtime, you can play a board game.

7. Teach your kids how to do things that interest you. Incorporate your hobbies into the activities you enjoy, including cooking, scrapbooking, biking, fishing, doing puzzles, playing games, and bowling.

8. Go to the library weekly to give yourself some alone time. While your kids read in the children’s section, you can read in the adult area or use the computer to get some work done.

9. Get your kids signed up for sports and activities that they will most likely enjoy and want to continue. Use the time they’re gone to do what you like or just couldn’t do with them at home.

10. Use every opportunity that you can to teach your children about life’s basics such as paying the bills. You can work with them on numbers, money and calculators to show how the house is run. You may not see the benefits instantaneously, but it will pay off in the future.

To go back to “Domestic Dad,” click here.