There never seem to be enough hours in a day, especially if you are a mom. Most mothers are trying to juggle a family, home, and career. These time management tips can help busy moms reduce stress and create more time for the things that really matter.
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How do moms manage their time?
Time management has always been a struggle for me. I think it’s because I’m such a visual learner…if I can’t see a clock, I have no idea what time it is.
I also have very little awareness of how much time has passed. If I’m busy working on something and can’t see the time, I don’t know if I’ve been working for one hour or three hours!
Learning to manage time is a very important life skill we all must master. Time is finite but when we begin to prioritize and apply time management tips, we can get all the things done and have “choice” time too!
how do you manage work and family time?
If you are a working mom, then you definitely have to be intentional with time management strategies.
I’ve been a working married mom, a working single mom, and a married stay at home mom. Each situation has its challenges and time management takes a lot of effort no matter where you are with your life situation.
#1 Create a Plan
A plan keeps us focused (and I need all the focus help I can get!) You can use a fancy planner or a more customized planner. Either way, you just need a place to organize your time and outline your obligations. If an online planner works for you, then go that way. I’ve tried online and it just doesn’t work for my brain.
#2 Set reminders to manage time
I would never be able to function and be productive without alarm reminders. I use my Iphone or Alexa to set alarms for everything throughout the day. This frees up my brain space since I don’t have to keep wondering what time it is or if I’m late to pick up a kid.
#3 Time Management tips: Prioritize
The reality is that we can’t do it all. We have to make decisions about what we will fill our time with.
Some of our daily commitments are non-negotiable. Kids have to be fed and have clean clothes to wear. But many other things we spend our time on can wait or be deleted altogether.
Your priorities will be different depending on what chapter you are on in your life book. Some seasons are busier than others. When your kids are small, there’s much to do and very little (if any) time left for yourself.
For example, I love, love, LOVE doing community theater, but since having the twins there is no way possible for me to have the time for that kind of commitment. I have to be practical and be a good manager of my time.
And remember….
Sleep isn’t optional! We must make rest a priority!
#4 Consolidate & automate
Consolidating and automating are fantastic time management tips that will simplify life immensely!
Think about all of the tasks that consume your precious time….grocery store runs, filling your gas tank, returning items to stores, laundry, dishes, and cleaning.
Now consider ways you can combine and consolidate these necessary time hogs.
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Grocery pick up is another time saver that I absolutely love. I can grocery shop from my couch!
Combining chores and tasks is great way to add hours to your life. My one day laundry system saves SO much time and I don’t even have to THINK about laundry for 6 days out of the week.
#5 Put routines and procedures in place
Having consistent routines and procedures for daily activities will keep time on your side. This worked in the classroom and it works at home too.
When you check the mail, immediately recycle the junk mail and put the rest of the mail in the same place every time. Have a designated place for kids to put school papers so they aren’t scattered all over the kitchen counter. Lay out clothes and backpacks for the next day the night before.
These time saving routines will reduce your stress levels and keep everyone organized and on time.
#6 Delegate to Save time
One of the most difficult time management skills for me is delegating. I’m not great at asking for help or giving up control, but I can’t do it all. When I delegate tasks to family members, I remind myself that it’s okay if it’s not completed perfectly.
#7 Minimize distractions
Smartphones and social media can sidetrack even the most focused person. I find myself using it as a way to procrastinate whatever task I don’t want to do.
Designate a certain time to allow yourself to scroll through social media each day, guilt free. Or use it as a reward after you’ve finished your tasks for the day.
Wait a minute…who am I kidding? Moms are never finished!!
I do my social media free time when I pick up from school. I get there 15-20 minutes early so I can be first in line and that’s when I catch up on texts, Facebook, Pinterest, or whatever.
#8 Minimize your environment
I used to waste so much time in my life due to my cluttered home. I would spend hours looking for something, finally go out and buy a replacement, only to find the item a few days later.
Getting my clutter under control and my home organized has been my number one time saver by far. If I had to give only one time management tip, that would be it.
#9 Be efficient
Manage your time with efficiency. When you already have all of the ingredients out to make dinner, make an extra and put it in the freezer. You’ll be thrilled to just have to pull a meal from the freezer and heat it up!
Pack lunches for the next day while you are cooking dinner. One mess versus two.
Catch up on the phone hands free and you can get some cleaning done at the same time.
I use E-cloths or Norwex for cleaning so I sometimes take the cloths with me when picking up from school and clean the inside of my car and windows while I wait.
When waiting at the dentist or doctor, return an email or text.
Start thinking of ways you can combine tasks for efficient time management.
Final thoughts on Time Management Tips For Busy Moms
Learning to manage your time is an important life skill. We may not all be born with time management abilities, but we can learn.
What time management tips do you have? I’d love for you to share in the comments!
More Time Management Articles You will Love
Simple Schedule for a productive home
4 things to do to be happy and productive at home
Organizing kids clothes to simplify mornings
Organize Kitchen drawers to save time in the kitchen
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Excellent ideas and we’ll presented. JK