As busy moms it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the tasks we have to complete in a day. It’s not uncommon for us to always be looking at the clock as it ticks by reminding us that the time we have is limited. But there are some easy ways to take back that feeling of time slipping away and be in control of how much time you spend doing things. Here are five things to do to save yourself time.
Plan the Night Before
I personally like to make school lunches, set out outfits (including for myself) and charge all devices so that in the morning everyone has what is needed for a successful day. By doing some smaller tasks the night before, it allows me to have an easier and calmer morning.
Do One Thing at a Time
Each day I write a list of things that need to get done for the day. This way I know exactly what I need to do that day. Then, tackle each item on the list one at a time. Multi-tasking is great, sometimes. But, studies support that multitasking may cause errors and can block your creativity. Once the task is complete, cross it off the list. I love the feeling of actually crossing off items off of my list. It helps motivate me.
Outsource Your Meals
It’s easy to spend a lot of time and mental energy thinking about meals. The process of deciding what to eat, grocery shopping, and cooking can take a lot of time. To make things easier, there are some services that provide monthly meal planning for you such as Platejoy, and Yummly, that provide whole meals that are ready to eat. If you like to cook but hate the store, sign up for grocery delivery service and online grocery shopping through your local grocery stores. Or consider meal prep options such as Hellofresh, Factor, Blue Apron, or Home Chef.
Establish Routines
Having daily and weekly routines is a great way to save time! It could be having bath or shower nights for the kids on certain days of the week. Plan on having family movie nights or date nights with your spouse on a certain night each week or month. Setting your schedule with breaks or rest time throughout the day. Also, plan outside time for yourself and you children to break up the days. Having a routine can help the planning of your days and nights with ease.
Step Away From Distractions
Social media is a wonderful tool, however, some moments we need to take a break. To help you save time doing other things, put your device in your purse, drawer, or just somewhere farther away from you. If you just can’t put your device away, turn notifications off or set put them on silent. I personally like to turn my notifications off at night when I am trying to rest and relax.
I hope that this is helpful to you! Remember, there are things that you can control when it comes to how you spend your time. By implementing some of these ideas into your daily life- you may have happy and successful days in your future!
While your days may be busy caring for others, don’t forget to care for yourself! Check out this post about taking a time out just for you.
