The Best Organizing Tips for Busy Moms to Get More Done in the Day
When a woman starts a family, she automatically becomes a busier person. Being a mom is already a full-time job in itself so it’s even more challenging when you have to work a 40-hours-a-week job. Finding the right balance between your work and time with family is essential.
For a mom, it seems that your to-do lists never ends. Sometimes we end up neglecting one thing for another until the job piles up, and we end up stressing about it. For your day to be smooth, you have to learn to organize. A schedule and an organized home can make such a big difference for busy moms. Every mother faces different challenges that are unique to herself and her situation. That said, only you can work out a plan that will best suit you. To help you kick-start your plan, here are my organizing tips for busy moms.
Organizing Tips for Busy Moms
Have a place for everything
Storage is vital to have an organized home. When you know where something is, it saves you the time and energy from looking through boxes, drawers, etc. Implement a “return to where you got it from” rule to avoid misplacing items. You may use color coding or labels to help the whole family find things for themselves. That way, they won’t be asking you all the time too. Looking for things won’t be such a burden. It will definitely ease the stress for a busy mom.
Set up a system that files your papers
Paperwork is hardly ever fun. If you don’t have a system going on for your mail, you could be missing out on something important. Or worst! You could end up paying a late fee because you’ve been late in paying a bill. Sort them out to letters and bills or business and household. Fortunately, due dates are usually on the same day of the month so it’s easier to keep track. You can also enroll to those automatic bills payment that deducts from your account on the schedule. Keeping your papers organized will help you a lot especially when its tax season.
Write it down
Whether on your whiteboard, on your phone, or a planner, try noting down your schedule to manage your time. Keeping track of what you still need to do within a timeframe steers you away from stressful moments and pressure. To-do lists will also prevent you from forgetting important things.
Prepare a menu
You don’t need to stand in front of the fridge thinking to yourself, “What should I cook for the family?” Having a menu for the week saves you the time from doing that. It also makes grocery shopping easier because you should already know what to get. You won’t need to go through the stress of cooking under the pressure of a hungry family because you’ll be well prepared. You can even bond with your kids over the menu and the cooking.
Establish a routine with your children
Getting your kids to do chores is one of the hardest things to do. It will even be more challenging if you didn’t set rules and routines early. The earlier you establish a routine for chores, the easier it will be for you to get them to help you when they grow up.
You will need to be creative with chores to get your kids motivated. To begin with, do not use chores as a punishment. Instead, encourage them to take responsibility for their things and their home. Start with simple tasks like changing the empty toilet paper roll, or cleaning up their toys. Once your kids have gotten used to the routine, it will be a breeze both for you and for them.
Of course, work with your husband or your partner in this. Agree on chores together. Maybe some nights, he can cook dinner and help the kids with homework, while you take a break. The partnership will get you a long way with your family.
Start your day on the bright side
“How?” you ask. Well, how we start our day affects almost the rest of the day. So if you start it right, expect a good day ahead. Avoid any unnecessary stress by preparing for the day, the night before.
- Help your kids pack their school bag the night before to avoid any misplaced homework and school books. You should also pack your bag for work or for your routing. Prepare your day’s to-do list, any paperwork you may need, the car keys, etc. Pack lunch too and refrigerate, so in the morning you can focus on breakfast and getting the kids ready.
- Choose your outfits for the next day. Looking for what to wear can take so much time. Have your children do the same while you supervise them.
Getting your children out of bed is already hard enough. When you prepare things the night before, you are avoiding the morning madness. Make sure you’re up at least an hour before them so you have enough time for yourself. Get dressed, have coffee and eat your breakfast. Once your kids are up, all the focus will be on them.
Make time for yourself
This may sound impossible for a lot of moms. However, when you take care of yourself, you can better take care of others. Sometimes, you just have to sit back on a rocking chair and close your eyes. Relax. Take a breather. That way, focusing on your next task will be easier.
- When you find yourself in a waiting line, make the most of it. Catch up on some reading, your social media, or catch up with a friend.
- Don’t forget to make time for you and your husband. Schedule date nights together. Looking good together is great for the both of you. When the kids are out with friends, take the opportunity to spend time with him.
Planning and organizing will get you a long way. However, don’t be afraid to be flexible and make changes in your plans. Leave some room for spontaneity. Stop being a perfectionist and accept the fact that you will make mistakes once in awhile. Finally, as I’ve mentioned earlier, every mom is different and goes through unique situations. Only you can find a way to make things work for you. Take these organizing tips for busy moms and adjust them according to your set of challenges.
About Sarah:
Sarah Morgan is a sister, a daughter, a wife, but most especially a mother. Being a mother makes me realize that life is a great adventure. No day is always the same, which makes every day so much more exciting. And while juggling my duties as a mom, I found a way to channel myself as being a woman and a mom through my writing.
More Organizing Tips for Busy Moms
