16 Effective Time Management Strategies for Overwhelmed Moms
As a busy mom there is always so much that needs to get done each day. By the end of the day, I often think “where did the time go and did I get anything done?” I look around my house and see a bunch of unfinished tasks and projects and feel defeated.
These effective time management strategies for overwhelmed moms will help you balance everything on your plate. Here are 16 useful tips to better manage your time as an overwhelmed and busy mom.
So where do you start?
This post may contain affiliate links. That means we may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you!
Start With a Plan
Before you can truly know what you need to get done, you need to have a plan. Write down your yearly, monthly, weekly and then daily goals and tasks. This will help you stay focused and on track. It is hard to know what to priorities if you don’t have a plan.
Do you know what kind of planning works best for you? A daily physical planner? or maybe you want to keep things digital and use either an app on your phone?
Find the form that works best for your personality and get good at writing things down that need to get done.
Make a Schedule
One of the best ways to stay on top of things is to create a schedule for yourself. This can be a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule, depending on your needs.
When planning your schedule, consider the activities or tasks that are most important to you, such as family time, work, exercise, and self-care.
By organizing your time in this way, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re spending your time on the things that matter most to you.
Prioritize Your Tasks
Another important strategy is to prioritize your tasks. Identify the things that are most important and focus on those first.
For example, if you have a deadline for work, or this weekend you are hosting and you need to make sure the house gets cleaned and you go to grocery shopping, make sure to work on that before taking care of other things.
By doing this, you’ll be able to make the most of your time and avoid getting overwhelmed by too many tasks at once.
Write Everything Down
As busy moms there is already so many details and information that need remembering. The best thing you can do to help with staying organized is to write everything down.
Even things you feel that are small and easy to remember. A few small things, can quickly add up and it doesn’t take much “extra” details to feel overwhelmed.
Need help with making effective list? Check out Moms Need To Make Lists And Here’s The Most Efficient Way!
Use Time-Saving Techniques
There are many time-saving techniques that can help you get things done more efficiently. For example, if you have a long commute, listen to audiobooks or podcasts to make the most of your time.
You can also use technology to your advantage by setting reminders on your phone or using an app to help you stay organized. By using these techniques, you’ll be able to get more done in less time.
Delegate Tasks & Outsource
It’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything yourself. If you have family members or friends who are willing to help, don’t be afraid to ask.
Assigning tasks to others can help lighten your load and give you more time to focus on the things that are most important to you. Whether it’s asking your kids to help with dinner or delegating a project at work, don’t be afraid to share the workload.
If the budget allows it, outsourcing is a great time management technique. The two biggest areas that give busy moms the best bank for your buck, is outsourcing for your deep cleaning and a meal delivery service.
I highly recommend both of these!
We use HomeChef for our meal delivery service and it saves me hours each week and helps me better manage getting healthy meals on the table in a timely manner.
I also bring in a cleaning service to help me with the deep cleaning. This saves me hours each month and are great time management strategies for overwhelmed moms to help keep up on the house cleaning.
Related Post: Why Moms Should Not feel guilty about hiring a house cleaner and how it is possible to afford one
Clean as you go
Clean as you go can save you hours in extra cleaning and keep you from feeling overwhelmed when you look around and feel your house is a mess. This is a great habit to teach your kids and for you as mom to practice too.
When cooking dinner, form the habit of cleaning up prior to moving on to the next step in the recipe. Or when playing with the kids at home, prior to transitioning to the next activity, clean up and put that activity away.
After using the bathroom and before washing your hands, store Clorox wipes behind the toilet and use a Clorox wipe to quickly wipe down the toilet and floor area. This will save you hours on deep cleaning your bathroom.
Related Post: Quick Cleaning Bathroom Hacks
Automate as much as possible
I talked about this earlier when I touched on switching to online shopping for your groceries. But now is the time to automate as much as you can! Have technology work for you.
- Set up automatic recurring shipping for diapers, wipes, vitamins, household products. This eliminates one more thing you have to remember or task to do.
- Set up auto-bill pay. There is a lot of stress around trying to remember all of the little details of managing your day to day life. Auto-bill pay is a great way to know your bills will be paid on time but eliminating the task of you doing each month.
- Order groceries online. By far one of the best time management techniques to save hours each week. Another great way to save time and to manage your purchases easier is to switch to online shopping for your groceries and household items. I switched to Walmart + delivery three years ago and it was the best decision I made for our family and my time. I have saved 182 hours and $1873 since switching to online shopping for my groceries and household items.
Related Post: Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping – Especially for Moms
- Set up cleaning schedules. When you routinely clean it feels less burdensome and you know that everything in time gets cleaned. Check out The perfect cleaning schedule for a stay at home mom.
Use Alarms and Timers
Have you ever sat down to do something and next thing you know an hour has gone by? The best way to stay on task and on schedule is to use alarms, alerts and timers.
This is one of the best features that most phones provide. Prior to starting a task, determine how much time you want to spend on the task and to set an alarm or timer to notify you when the time has expired.
As a busy mom, timers are such a great mom hack. I use timers to help with sharing with toys, Race The Clock to quickly clean and pick up the house, and for when you get on Social Media.
Don’t waste your day with losing track of time, timers help a lot!
Create a Block Schedule
Our brain works more efficiently when we do like and similar things together. Schedule out your day doing similar tasks together. This is known as creating a block schedule.
Instead of switching back and forth between multiple different tasks, group them together.
This can be hard, since often times when cleaning the house you can find yourself going in circles. Stay focused.
Use a laundry basket for items that don’t belong in the area you are cleaning. Instead of leaving that room to go put something away, put it in the laundry basket and stay focused on cleaning that specific room or space.
Related Post: 5 efficient and easy mom scheudles that work
Implement helpful Routines & Rhythms
Time management strategies for overwhelmed moms is all about how you can most successfully use your time efficiently. One of the best ways to do this is through routines and rhythms.
When the brain can natural perform a task on auto-pilot with minimal thinking required, your brain and body are functioning at the most optimal capacity.
Schedule your day consistently with similar items grouped together and you will start to see the natural flow to your day through the use of routines and rhythms.
In our house we have morning and evening routines as well as cleaning routines that help that help me stay organized and on top of everything.
Related Post: 13 Important Daily Routines for Moms
Have an Organized Home
Having an organized home is essential for time management strategies for overwhelmed moms. When your home is cluttered and disorganized, it can be difficult to find what you need and complete tasks quickly and easily.
Here are some tips to help you create an organized and functional home:
- Declutter regularly
2. Create designated storage areas
3. Develop a cleaning routine
4. Use labels
5. Involve your family
6. Designate a drop zone
7. Create a system for paperwork
Remember, an organized home will not only save you time and reduce stress but also create a more peaceful and enjoyable environment for you and your family.
Related Post: 6 steps to simplify your home with decluttering and organizing
Limit Distractions by Turning Off Notifications On Your Phone
One of the biggest distractions and time wasters is our phone and the constant beeping, ringing and popups. What is meant to act as a tool to bring us efficiency, often times becomes the biggest obstacle in our day as a busy mom.
Eliminate the distractions by creating some rules with your phone.
- Turn off notification to all apps that don’t need your immediate attention. Most common apps would be all of the Social Media apps. They usually take more of your time then you want to spend.
- Go to screen time and turn on down time & app limits
Check your screen usage time weekly and be open to reducing the amount of time wasting on apps that are not helping you use your time wisely.
Practice Self-Care
It’s essential to prioritize self-care. This means taking time to focus on your own needs and well-being. Whether it’s going for a walk, taking a relaxing bath, or reading a book, make sure to set aside time each day just for yourself. By doing this, you’ll be able to recharge your batteries and stay focused on your goals.
Have a Sunday Reset Day
This one day alone could change your entire week, having a Sunday Reset Day is THAT good!
Avoid having a stressful Monday and chaotic week with spending a few hours on Sunday to get your week in order. Stock your refrigerator with groceries you ordered online, prep your food for meals, lunches and snacks for the week, and get your home organized and the laundry done.
For all the details on the MUST DO items on Sunday, check out The Perfect Sunday Routine to Reset your week + FREE Checklist
Just say “no”
Lastly, many times we feel too busy and overwhelmed because we said “yes” instead of saying “no”.
I get it, FOMO is real and it’s hard to say no when asked on the spot.
Next time you are asked something and you are feeling hesitant, say “let me check my calendar and get back to you”, instead of quickly saying “yes”.
This will give you time to think about the requests, double check your schedule, think through what is already on your plate and make sure it is the best decision long term for you and your family.
Sometimes, the simple “no” can free up so much time in our schedules to be able to focus on more time with our family or our hobbies.
Time Management Strategies for the Overwhelmed Mom Recap
Being a mom is no easy task, but with effective time management strategies, it’s possible to balance everything on your plate.
By making a schedule, prioritizing tasks, using time-saving techniques, delegating tasks, and practicing self-care, you can maintain your sanity and stay on top of your responsibilities.
Remember, it’s important to take it one day at a time and not get too overwhelmed. With the right mindset and tools, you can be a successful and happy mom.
Looking for more genius hacks? Don’t forget to check out…
Want other amazing mom routines to help you stay on top of mom life?
Check out 13 Important Routines for Moms
I would love to hear from you, leave a comment, and share your favorite hacks below.
Want to remember this post? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!
This post was all about time management strategies for overwhelmed moms.
Thanks for sharing and reading!
