Time management tips to help overwhelmed moms get more done!
Are you a mom who really needs time management tips that actually work? With back to school, time management can be a huge issue for working moms!
Have you ever heard the saying “a mother’s job is never done?” I have heard this saying for years but I never fully grasped the concept until I had my own kids. As a full-time working mom and wife, I soon began to feel that I just didn’t have enough time in a day to get everything done that I needed to do.
With 2 little people and a husband relying on me every single day, I started to feel very overwhelmed with my day-to-day responsibilities.
That is until I started planning ahead and implementing a few simple routines that have helped me stay organized and free up more time in my day.
No matter if you are a stay-at-home mom or work full-time outside the home, implementing these routines are sure to save you so much more time.
Here are 8 time management tips every busy mom should know:
Organize your kid’s clothes for the week
This was life-changing for me!
Prior to starting this new routine, I was running around each morning looking for kid’s clothes, backpacks, trying to pack lunches, while also getting my own things together.
Now on Saturday or Sunday, I get out 5 outfits for each of my kids and iron their clothes for the week. I also get out enough socks, pajamas, shoes, hairbows for my daughter and organize it in their closet for the week. Having everything clean and organized before the week begins helps with organization.
Now in the morning, I can just grab what they are wearing for the day without all the hassle of looking for something. This is especially helpful school days and prevents us from being late.
At night, I can easily grab a pair of pajamas. The reason I do it for the week is because I have more time on the weekend to get everything together and organized.
This also is extremely helpful in the event of an emergency and you quickly need to get your kids out the door.
Plan your outfits for the week
Once I started doing this for my kids, I also started doing this for myself.
Like I said in the first point, I have more time to plan for my week during the weekend. So now I also plan out all my outfits for the week, and I don’t have to look for anything which saves me so much time in the mornings and evenings.
I know this may seem like overkill but trust me this is something I have done for the past few years and it works great for me.
Schedule your weekly tasks
Another great thing to do is map out your week on Sundays.
If Saturdays work better for you, plan it on that day.
Planning things out beforehand saves a lot of time and prevents you from forgetting things. I recommend you doing this early in the morning before your kids wake up or at night after you put them to bed.
This is so you have some quiet time to think.
During this time, you can write out what all you need to get accomplished for the week, such as appointments, work deadlines, grocery shopping, kid’s projects, or any other to-dos.
I typically write it out by hand and then schedule everything in my phone. Having a paper planner like this one with a to do list is a must.
For appointments I use my planner and my calendar app. My to do list is also listed in my planner and I plus I use an app on my phone called Cozi (I use the free version). It is great because it is a shared family app that my husband can also view. Find what works best for you and be consistent with this new routine.
Pack your car the night before
Once I have put the kids to bed, I pack everything in my car that I need for the next day.
Because mornings can sometimes be hectic with kids who don’t want to get out of bed or I may have slept a little bit too late, I pack the car the night before so I don’t forget anything.
This includes kid’s backpacks, work items, anything I need to take back to the store, etc. This saves time from looking for things in the mornings.
Map out your family’s menu
As you can see, I am big on planning.
This is because planning really does save you a lot of time.
During your Saturday or Sunday planning session, be sure to plan out your family’s meals for the week. Write out a menu for Monday through Friday.
If they eat lunch at school every day, then you know that is one less meal you have to plan for. But if your kids pack a lunch everyday, write down or put in your phone what they will bring for the week.
This is also a great time to check your refrigerator to see what you have and what you need to buy from the grocery store.
I typically like to do most of my meal planning Saturday evenings, this is so I can buy whatever I need from the grocery store on Sundays. Map out what you want to cook for the week.
Be sure to include your husband in meal planning to see if there is anything he needs from the store or if there is a day he will cook. I also ask my kids if they would like anything specific from the grocery store.
This gets the whole family involved. Once you have your menu mapped out, you can either meal prep everything for the week or cook it on that day.
Whatever works best for you!
Save time with grocery pick-up and delivery services
I love, love, love HEB’s curbside grocery pick-up!
I cannot say enough of how much of a time-saver this is.
You simply go to their website, schedule a pick-up or delivery time/date and begin your grocery order. Because I live further out in the country, outside the city, delivery is not available, so I frequently use the curbside option.
I have tried Walmart’s grocery pick-up as well but I honestly can say HEB’s service is my favorite.
At this time, if you order a day before, the personal shopper fee is free but if not the current personal shopper fee is $4.95. For me is it well worth it as this literally saves me 1-2 hours every week.
Because I really value my time, I don’t mind paying the fee.
Plus, the previous items you purchased are saved in their system. This allows you to complete the next order faster than the first order. You can also make notes for the personal shoppers if needed.
I usually place an order every week or every 2 weeks depending on what we need. I usually wait 5 to 10 minutes for them to bring out my groceries.
Try it for yourself, I promise you will love not dealing with long lines or the hassle of looking for something you are having a hard time finding in the store.
Wake up early each morning
One of the best things you can do for yourself is wake up early each morning.
Before you get your kids up, you should wake up early and spend at least 30 minutes to an hour by yourself. During this time, you can think about the day ahead and make sure you didn’t forget to do anything the night before.
You can also spend this time exercising, praying, meditating, reading, journaling in a gratitude journal or working on your goals.
Waking up at the very last minute will definitely waste your time, causing you to rush, and you will spend the rest of the day trying to catch up.
Do yourself a huge favor and wake up early every day. The All-new Echo Dot is perfect to buy and keep on your nightstand to help wake you up each morning. This little device is just awesome. It has alarms, plays music, and of course it is always ready to help when given voice commands.
Ask for help
By default, a lot of the household and kid responsibilities falls on mom.
Just consider yourself the CEO of your house.
Your husband and kids look to you for everything.
And although, you can do anything, you can’t do everything. Trying to do everything, simply leads to burn out.
You must ask for help. Asking for help really helps with time management.
Delegate some of your household responsibilities to your husband, kids, or both. If you are a single mom, assign some of the household chores to the kids. If your kids are too young, ask a family member or friend for help.
For example, my 7 year old daughter knows she folds the towels, vacuums, and makes her bed. This not only teaches your kids responsibility, this is also one less thing you have on your list.
If you have it in your budget to hire housekeeping or any other outside service, do it. Ask your husband to cook dinner one night, bathe the kids, or anything else you need help with.
I previously tried to do everything myself. However, between working a full-time job, taking care of my kids, and starting my own business, I found out I needed help.
Once, I started asking for help, I was less stressed out. These time management tips are not only extremely helpful while the kiddos are in school but also on weekends and even during the Summer time.