Time Management Hacks for Busy Moms – The top 5 best tips for busy moms that will actually help you finally take control of your day for good!
Let’s be real here – time management is something that we all struggle with mastering. Mom life is busy!
Just when we think we have it under control, have our day perfectly planned, something distracts us and suddenly we can’t seem to catch up. And throwing off just one day can end up throwing off your schedule for the rest of the week.
Who else has been there? I can plan my day perfectly, but when it comes to actually making it work, suddenly I’m a hot mess and the whole plan goes right out the window.
All it takes is one appointment that was written down on the wrong day. Or maybe it’s that you forgot the key ingredient for tonight’s dinner at the store. Maybe it’s that you wake up exhausted thinking about how much you have to do in the day and that fear paralyzes you from doing anything at all!
Here’s the deal. I get it! But let’s break that cycle!
There is hope – yes, even for the most disorganized mom out there. There are some time management hacks for busy moms that will actually work for you!
By learning how to manage your time better and take control of your day will not only allow you to be more productive, it will also help you enjoy the day more. Instead of waiting for chaos to strike and throw off your day, you can learn to handle it quickly so you can easily get back on track.
Here are a few of my favorite time management hacks for busy moms to help you take back your day:
1. Find your time drainers.
You know all those little things you do that “will only take a minute” and end up taking an hour? Those are your time drainers. Hopping on social media for a quick check-in, throwing in a load of laundry mid-day, checking your email every time it dings for a new message, those are the things that take you off course.
Instead of fitting them in and losing track of time, schedule them. Yes, schedule time in your day to waste time. Start with 30 minutes and adjust as needed. Then, during your “waste time” appointment with yourself, take care of all those little things. When time is up, get back to work knowing you’ve been productive and didn’t get off track.
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2. Limit your priorities.
Often times the reason we get so far behind is that we’re trying to juggle too much in a short period of time. Instead, limit the number of priorities you have each day to just 3 or 4.
Make a list of everything you want to get done for the week, then prioritize today’s top tasks. You’ll feel so much more accomplished at the end of the day when you’ve managed to check off everything you were supposed to do instead of looking at a long list where nothing got done.
3. Cluster your errands.
Instead of running in 10 different directions every day, figure out where you need to go and map out your route to be more efficient. If the car wash is next to the grocery store and you have to pick up groceries today, go to the car wash as well instead of waiting until tomorrow.
You’ll not only save yourself time by doing everything at once, you’ll also save money on gas.
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4. Try time blocking.
Time blocking allows you to take control of your time instead of letting it get away. Use a calendar system that works for you; a paper calendar, a timer, or an app. Google Calendar is nice as it allows you to easily shift blocks of time around and syncs with your phone automatically without any extra steps.
Block time for all of your appointments, errands, work, and time drainers. Then stick to the amount of time you blocked, pushing away any distractions during that time. If you blocked time to work from 10 am to 11 am, during that time shut down your email, don’t open your browser, and put your phone in another room.
You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you can be.
5. Take time off!!!
When we get tired, both mentally and physically, we slow down. Slowing down means less productivity. Make sure you take time for yourself every day. A few minutes between work tasks and some time at the end of the day will allow your brain to rest and keep you motivated.
Time management doesn’t have to be hard, but you do need to be committed to controlling your time better in order for it to work well. But if you take control of your time, you’ll find yourself being much more productive and experiencing fewer moments of chaos.
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Chaos, exhaustion, and insanity don’t have to be your normal life forever.
The good news is that you can get control of your time and your day. You’ve heard the expression “if momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy,” right? Well, it’s true!
When you feel like you are in control of your time and your days, you will feel calmer and at ease knowing that you have control over something! Which, as a mom, is a luxury of its own!
Take some time for you. Your sanity is important! Don’t overlook that aspect of time management each day.
Enjoy your coffee early. Read a chapter in a book before bed. Watch The Bachelor on your phone in the kitchen while the kids watch cartoons (no shame – I do this!)! Do something that is purely for you!
Try out some of these time hacks for busy moms just like you. I know that they have worked for me! 🙂
More tips for moms:
- How to Live on One Low Income
- Making the Marriage of a Saver and a Spender Work
- 7 Ways to Still Date Your Spouse When Money is Tight
- 50 Date Night Questions for Your Spouse
- 20 Crazy Easy Green Cleaning Recipes
- DIY Starbucks Copycat Recipes
- Essential Oil Rollerball Recipes
- Cheap and Easy Instant Pot Recipes
- 8 Ways to Stop Spending Money You Don’t Have
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