Momming Is Hard, Time Management Doesn’t Have To Be

As we enter a new school year, we as moms will be busy again. It would be best to manage your time effectively to reduce stress and overwhelm. When you have a consistent and flexible routine, life runs more smoothly. Here are ways to achieve effective time management for moms.

Start The Night Before

Your morning routine should start the night before. The kids should take their baths and pack their school supplies in their bookbags at night. Comb the girls’ hair and wrap it with a scarf to keep the style neat in the morning. Iron what you’ll wear at night so you’ll be prepared in the morning. Pack what you’ll need for work or errands the next day on the night before.

Wake Up Before The Kids

This is effective time management for moms because this gives you time to prepare for the day and relax. Use these first two hours for exercising, praying and reading something inspirational, or writing down your agenda for the day. Get dressed, prepare breakfast, and tidy up before the kids wake up.

Teach The Kids Independent Skills

You’ll be overwhelmed and stressed if you’re doing the bulk of the housework and other responsibilities in the home. This is why you should teach your kids life skills when they’re young so they can be independent. Give each child chores and create a visual schedule that shows the chores they must complete and the days they will do them. Demonstrate how to do the tasks first then watch them do the tasks. Finally, let them do the chores themselves.

Consider A Time Blocking Schedule

This is another example of effective time management for moms. Time blocking is when you break your day into blocks of time that are dedicated to certain tasks. Here is an example of a time blocking schedule:

6:00-6:30: Wake-up and prayer time

7:00-7:30: Get kids ready for school and prepare breakfast

8:00-8:30: Drive to work after kids go to school

9:00-5:00: Work

5:00-5:30 pm.: Prepare and eat dinner with family

6:00-6:30 p.m.: Kids take bath and get dressed for bed

7:00-7:30 p.m.: You tidy up, take a bath, and get dressed for bed.

8:00-8:30 p.m.: The kids are in bed and you prepare for the next day.

9:00-10:00 p.m.: You finally go to bed

Clean As You Go

This is something my mom taught me when I first learned to cook. While you’re in the kitchen, clean while the food is cooking. It saves you time and there will be less to clean at the end of the day. If you’re not in the kitchen, set a timer and tidy up in different rooms throughout the day.

Focus Mainly on Your Most Important Tasks

You’re probably trying to take care of so many things but not all of those tasks are the most important. Write a list of your tasks for the week and then write a new list where you only write the tasks that are the most urgent and of the most importance. Focus mainly on these tasks for the week in addition to what you usually do in your routine. By prioritizing your tasks, you’re more organized and less stressed.

Delegate Tasks If Needed

It’s okay to delegate tasks if you’re short on time or if you’re not feeling your best. Your teens can prepare dinner for the family and they can also take over the chores you usually do. If you’re a single mom, ask relatives or good friends to assist with the errands.

Practice Saying No

Don’t over-schedule yourself because you feel guilty for not being able to help those around you. Unless it’s a family emergency, practice saying no when people ask you to do things for them. If those activities are not priorities for you, tell them that while you’re glad to help, you can’t at this time.

Purchase a Whiteboard Calendar

Time management for moms can be made simpler with a whiteboard calendar. Every month, fill in all the key events for the month along with the times of those events. Give your teens their own whiteboard calendars and have them do the same thing. This helps you remember appointments and not stress over events you may have forgotten to plan for.

Use Technology To Your Advantage

Numerous apps save you time and money as a busy mom. Download a budgeting app such as Every Dollar to assist you with monthly budgeting. Store important documents from work and your child’s school on Google Drive. Utilize online banking for tracking your spending. Download your supermarket’s app to find weekly sales when you’re at the store.

Order Groceries Online

You won’t always have time to go to the store after work or on weekends, so save time and money by purchasing groceries online. You pick the groceries you want, pay online, and wait for the groceries to arrive. While waiting for the groceries, you can help the kids with homework or get the house ready for unexpected guests who will come later.

These effective and simple tips will keep your household running smoothly. You’ll also reduce stress and overwhelm with your family because of the structure in your home. Try a few of these strategies this week and watch the chaos gradually leave your home.