Whether you’re a working mom or a stay-at-home mom, motherhood is a very busy role to play. There are so many demands that we face every day to take care of our family and keep the home running. Between laundry, cooking, cleaning, tending to illnesses and injuries, running errands, and all the other hats we wear as moms, finding ways to be efficient and productive is a necessity. Time management can feel like an unreachable goal when we find ourselves in survival mode. So, I’m here to share with you some of my top tips for time management. These are habits and tools that I have implemented to allow me to make the most of my time, while still keeping my priorities in line.
So, without further ado…
Time management tip #1: Make a to-do list and prioritize it
Even if you’re not a list person, making a list of the things that need to be done (or not forgotten) is super helpful. Once you have your list, do the most difficult (or most dreaded) task first. Trust me here – this really does go a long way to getting more things checked off your list faster.
Time management tip #2: Plan ahead!
Have you ever heard that failing to plan is planning to fail? There’s definitely a time and place for spontaneity. But, when it comes to running a home, creating a plan is a must. My biggest tip here is to schedule everything that you can. Schedule when you’ll do chores, when you’ll run errands, when you’ll cook meals, etc. Anything that is a priority needs to be planned for and scheduled. If you know next week is a busy week, make a plan ahead of time for how you will fit all of the important things in. Whether that’s meal planning, carpooling, or putting your groceries on delivery…make a plan! Additionally, give things a time limit. Knowing you have a limited window of time helps you work more efficiently.
Time management tip #3: Set a routine
I know not everyone is a routine type of person. But, I’m telling you there is something to be said about having routines. You automatically are more efficient when you’re operating within a routine. You spend less time thinking about what is next. As an example, here is what my weekday routine looks like:
- 5:45- wake up and get prepared to exercise
- 6:00-6:45- exercise
- 6:45-7:15- clean up and get ready for day
- 7:15-8:00- quiet time
- 8:00-8:50- get kids fed and ready for school
- 9:00- take kids to school
While the times on this may vary slightly, this is the exact order my morning looks like pretty much every weekday. Having this routine has made my mornings very efficient. In just 3 hours I’m getting a significant amount of things done. Your morning may look absolutely nothing like this, but find ways to give your day some routine. Run the dishwasher at night so it’s ready to unload first thing in the morning. If you spend a lot of time in the car, find some things you can do (safely) while driving like listening to an audiobook or podcast.
Time management tip #4: Learn to delegate
What things can be done by someone else? Two key points here:
- Involve your kids in the things that need to be done around the house. I’m a firm believer that by the age of 7 or 8, a child is fully capable of doing just about any day-to-day chore that needs to be done. Are they doing to climb a ladder to clean the windows? No. But all the basic cleaning, laundry, and other chores…yes! Keep it reasonable. Kids do still need time to be kids. But teach them responsibility and that being a part of a family means everyone pitches in to help. See below for pics of my kids cleaning their bathroom (which they were excited to do!). Don’t worry, no toxic cleaners were used.
- If finances allow, pay someone else to do the things that drain you. Yes, I said it. If cleaning your home is something you absolutely dread and it’s in the budget to pay someone else to come do it, then by all means pay someone else to do it!! Maybe in your home that is mowing the lawn, folding laundry, or even meal prep. If there isn’t room in the budget for this, there are other options. Have a friend come over to help or keep you company when it’s time to do those things (and then return the favor). Or, examine what things actually need to be done and give yourself some grace in the busy seasons to let a few things go.
Time management tip #5: Take advantage of available tools
In today’s world, there are so many tools at our fingertips to help make life a little easier, save us time, and keep us organized. Most major grocery stores offer delivery or (at a minimum) store pickup. This can be a huge time savings. There are all kinds of apps out there that we can use to stay organized, remember important information, and so much more. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite apps as a busy mom. Check it out here.
I hope these tips have been helpful for you. If you have any of your own, I’d love to hear them. Either way, here’s to finding ways to simplify motherhood so we can make the most of the time we have. If you haven’t yet, make sure to subscribe to stay connected.
