How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom?

Cultivating Biblical Godliness

by Esther Engelsma

Sometimes the many tasks of homemaking and motherhood seem unending, and many moms wonder if they will ever feel productive. Author Esther Engelsma says moms can feel productive—if they change the way they think about their work. She helps readers understand that God’s goal for moms is not centered on getting things done. Rather, God wants them to use time well, grow in sanctification, and glorify Him. With a warm, friendly style, the author shares from Scripture and practical experience the freeing truth of God’s purpose for moms and their valuable kingdom work.

Genres: Parenting, Counselling, Faith, Family

40 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2017

About the author

Esther Engelsma lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband and daughter. She also serves her church as an administrative assistant. Esther is the daughter of Joel Beeke.

Reviews

[Kaetlyn Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book single-handedly brought me out of the depths of despair as a new mom!!! Motherhood has revealed how much I base my worth on my productivity and that has been less than fun to deal with!! Now going to keep this book inside the cover of my bible and return to the encouragement in it very frequently.

[Abbie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! And will serve as a good reminder for me.

[Amy Esslinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if you’re not a mom (like me), this pamphlet is still extremely helpful in teaching you how to have a godly mindset about using your time! It’s not about how many tasks you accomplish but whether you are using your time well (read the pamphlet for the explanation 😉).

**2025**

Such a helpful, simple read! For a first time mom, it provides the right focus to have while going about the ordinary, repetitive tasks of the day.

[Alison (readinginazaleawoods) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars rounded up)

“There will be interruptions and messes and days when the baby doesn’t nap, and you will need to remind yourself again and again that these things are not keeping you from your work. They are your work—work given to you by a good God whose thoughts and ways are far above yours.”

“Naptime is never long enough to accomplish everything you want to do. But it’s always long enough to use every minute of it well, whether for work or for rest.”

“You have a home, a family, and other responsibilities. He has called you to motherhood, and in order to obey Him, you must faithfully do the work He has set before you. In doing that work you will be productive for the sake of God’s glory, not for the sake of productivity. And when you are productive, God will give you a sense of accomplishment—not because you were productive in the world’s eyes, but because you were obedient in God’s eyes.”

💭 THOUGHTS: How can a short book leave a lasting impression? By delivering truth that meets you right where you are. This little book was exactly what I needed. I truly thank God that Ashley (@truthinlovewithwords) put it on my radar as part of the Mother’s Day recommendation post we collaborated on—because wow, did my heart need Esther’s words.

Short. Powerful. Brimming with godly wisdom.

If you’re a mom—especially one in the thick of raising littles—this book is for you. But even if your children are older, there is still much to glean from these 35 pages. It’s a balm for the weary heart, especially for the mama struggling with daily tasks or wrestling with feelings of inadequacy. Esther tenderly uses God’s Word to speak truth and life into our everyday moments.

Highly recommend.

[Bethany Naykalyk]

Short little booklet full of reminders to focus on what really matters.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent corrective to all the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps efficiency advice always coming for us, especially moms. You are not the tasks you accomplish. Life is not a race. What matters is walking with and knowing God and following Him moment by moment.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short, yet very encouraging read! I listened to this via audiobook. It has helped me refocus my priority and outlook as a mother! I can see myself listening and reading this book again and again over the years for encouragement!

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update August 2025: Still just as good and a great reminder four years later (and with two more kids!).

March 2021: The little distractions of the day don’t keep us from the work, they are our work. The goal isn’t to be efficient or get things done but to grow in Christlikeness through what I do with my time. This means focusing more on producing the fruit of gentleness, patience, self control, etc instead of the task itself.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely recommend to all mothers. Very short but so helpful! I will be reading this often for the reminder. I will share one of the many favorite quotes I noted:

“He planned the interruptions, and since he planned them they are your work. They didn’t get in the way from something more important.”

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent little booklet (I easily read the whole thing in about 30 minutes). The author shares a thought provoking “perspective shift” as mothers: focus less on “getting things done” and more on “using your time well.”

Motherhood is not efficient work… it’s time consuming and sanctifying (as God intended). When we focus on using our time well, we can rest assured knowing that we were “productive” on any given day - regardless of how much we crossed off our list.

[Lindsay Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful and encouraging reminder that my focus should not be on merely “getting things done” but rather on growing in sanctification and glorifying God in motherhood.

[Shannon McGarvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Train your mind to be content with what was accomplished … fight for contentment daily…If you strive for productivity not as a means to prop yourself up, but as a tool to bring glory to God, you can be and feel productive. .. Gods will for you is to use time well, and grow in sanctification, and to glorify Him”
Excellent book.

[Jill Odens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Excellent for anyone at any stage in life!!!

[Jana Grote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent short booklet on productivity and motherhood! She reframes our idea of productivity. Instead of striving for efficiency in completing tasks, she helps the reader see that as a Christian mother, our goal should be to use our time well, instead of just get things done. She packs a lot in this short booklet. It’s biblical and full of gospel truth.

[Mason Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly recommend for any mom! Most encouraging and practical spiritual advice I’ve read in awhile. The practical tools for how to view work as a mom have genuinely impacted my day to day life.
*listened to audio on canon+

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on motherhood and keeping an eternal perspective. I highly recommend reading this book.

[Jan]

Very short but makes several good points.

[Megan Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this biblically written, heart applicable summation of how we can think rightly about all we have to do as moms.

[Bambi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding little book. I immediately turned back to page 1 and read it again. Can be finished in an hour but incredibly instructive.

[Anna Kate Nicely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick and digestible read that was SO helpful and encouraging during this season!!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 reread:

Reread my physical copy to highlight. So good and encouraging!

Original review:

Wow, so good for just a little booklet...I listened to it on audio and it was less than an hour. As the mom of a toddler and a two month old, it made me feel so convicted about how I've been viewing housework vs. taking care of my kids, and my frustration of not being able to do "what I need to get done." Definitely want to buy a physical copy to reread.

[Danae · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much wisdom in one little book

[the_storied_life (Joyce Santiago) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so so good and will be a re-read every year. I want to buy this for every mom I know.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful little book for Christian mothers.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Short and to the point. I found myself rereading practically everything, you could probably say I read the book more than once from how often I just kept going back to read and chew on what was read over and over again every time I picked it up. This is a book I have already recommended to my mom friends (and one of them already bought it, read it, and loved it!). I would say so many moms out there need this little book more than they may even know. Motherhood is holy work and Esther walks us though that daily mind shift we need to bring God into all the details of it rather than just our to-do list. We know as Christians that our lives are not ours, but what does that mean if we are never willing to give up our schedules? What is it worth if we are never willing to be interrupted without getting upset?

[Vanessa Cardim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book about productivity as a Christian mom. I listened as an audiobook and it was very convicting, it helped me reframe my mindset from “I need to get tasks done” to “I need to manage my time wisely to glorify God” and to see my tasks and my time as means of sanctification rather than boring things that are preventing me from doing “holier” things. It’s quite easy to fall prey to those thoughts as a mom of little. God uses all the mundane aspects of my life as a mom to shape me into the Christian woman He wants me to be and to grow His fruit in me and that’s good.

[Ashley Finfrock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The repeating theme of this book is that its not about completing a ton of tasks and getting things done. It is about using your time well. Which means if you didn't get much done today because you were taking care of a sick child, you still were using your time well. I thought it was interesting that she discussed that there can be an idolizing of "getting tasks done." I should like to re-read this again.

[Rachel Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this little book. It was biblically sound, encouraging and practical. She packed so much wisdom in a small package. Every page is full of important information and encouragement. I look forward to reading more from Esther. It has really encouraged me in my motherhood and helped me view productivity differently. Highly recommend.

[Maddie minish · Rating 5 out of 5]

needed this to kick off 2022

Esther shares truth in love about motherhood and productivity. She gives great questions to ask daily when planning your day and making decisions. She also gives practical tips to set ourselves up for success. Motherhood isn’t about us! It’s about glorifying God! Needed this and ready to get some self discipline 😅

[Sydney Levi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for moms! This is so good! It’s affirming and encouraging in a world that celebrates productivity over the work of sanctification. Emptying ourselves like Christ instead of our personal happiness.

Good to read when inadequacies or comparison creep into one of the greatest missions in life which is making disciples of Christ in our homes.