I'm a stay-at-home mom, raising 3 kids while also working part-time. I wake up at 3 a.m. to get everything done.

• As a stay-at-home mom and part-time worker, I have to optimize my morning routine. 
• My day sometimes starts around 3 a.m. and I get most of my work done before my kids wake up.
• Achieving work-life balance is tricky but I found what works for me. 

"So, what time did you get up today?" my friend asked me the other day while hanging out at the park with our kids.

"3:30 in the morning," I responded while giving my daughter another push on the swing and keeping an eye on the other two as they ran around the park.

She chuckled and shook her head, which is the typical reaction I get when I tell people about my hectic mornings.

I'm primarily a stay-at-home mom, which means I make lots of snacks, go on lots of playdates, and drink lots of coffee. But I also make a full-time income working part-time.

Whenever I outline my morning routine, people look at me like they're not sure I'm telling the truth. But I assure you, it's very true, and I have the bags under my eyes to prove it.

I started freelance writing early in the morning

When our son was born in 2016, I was a full-time teacher, and my husband was the stay-at-home parent. After our second kid turned a year old, we switched roles so that I could stay home while he went back to a full-time job. While I knew I wanted to stay home with our kids, I also wanted to make money from home to help us reach our financial goals.

I began freelance writing, and in order to do this while I was still teaching, I started getting up around 4:30 every morning. Even after I quit my job, early mornings were still the easiest time to get work done with a then 3- and 1-year-old. In 2020, we added our youngest, and balancing work and life became even more important — and challenging.

But by the fourth year, I had replaced my full-time income with part-time writing, which I credit to a solid morning routine.

I've learned to optimize my morning routine

My routine has evolved over the five years I've been a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer. I've had to adjust my wake-up time depending on my youngest's sleep schedule, and I've added wellness routines to help get me going for the day.

My morning routine actually starts the night before by setting the coffee pot, laying out my yoga mat, filling a water bottle, and putting on mouth tape. Setting everything up before I go to bed definitely helps me stay on track when I wake up.

Depending on how much work I must do, my wake-up time fluctuates between 3 and 4:30 a.m. For the first 15 minutes, I chug water and then typically listen to a motivational speech compilation on YouTube while I stretch and do pushups and crunches. Then I chug a little more water, followed immediately by coffee.

After that, I switch into work mode. On Sundays, I set up my weekly schedule, which maps out what I need to do each day. This makes it easier to get started and stay focused on the tasks at hand. I get what I need to get done by 5:40.

From 5:40 to 6 a.m., my daughter wakes up and typically finds something to do while I finish what I'm doing. For the next hour, my two older kids get up and get ready for school. I then get them on the bus.

From 7 to 8 a.m., I work out and get ready. My youngest typically plays while I workout or joins me in the workout area. She then watches a show while I get ready for the day. When I'm dressed, I tidy up the kitchen, read some books, and do an activity with my youngest.

By 9 or 9:30 a.m., we're ready to hang out or head off to an activity. By front-loading my days, I have the rest of the day to play with my daughter, tend to the house, and catch up on any work that I can slip in throughout the day.

I've learned to find the right balance

Work-life balance is tricky to achieve, and sometimes, it feels impossible. Part of the problem is that there's no blueprint or template, and it looks different for everyone.

The bottom line is figuring out what works for you. I'm naturally a morning person, so getting up early isn't much of a stretch, but I hate working after the kids go to bed. So, sometimes balance means writing part of an article in my head while I push my daughter's sled down the hill. Other times, it means getting up at 3 a.m. because I have deadlines to meet and we're traveling.

Things will look different when my daughter heads to school in the fall. I'm not sure how often I'll get up at 3 a.m., but I'll also be heading to fewer storytimes and playdates. I know I can handle anything as long as I stay flexible and my schedule is ready to move.