How do those people have a career, kids and still seem like they have got it all together?
If you ask yourself this question, trust me, you are not alone. I used to ask myself this very question. I would have just taken care of my kid, and boom, it would be the end of the day already!
So, I decided to figure out how to find time, at least for self-care and what I found out is that the reason why most people look like they have their life put together is that they work on time management skills daily.
In this article, I will share my time management tips for stay-at-home moms to find time for things you want.
1. Create routines
And stick to them.
It might be a little hard in the beginning to stick to them. But after some trial and error, routines will start happening, and you will wonder why you didn’t do this earlier. Knowing how important routines are for families gave me the motivation I needed.
I found that the more routines I created, the less stressed I felt because it takes away from me having to make decisions about what to do or where to go next. This also puts your family (especially your kids) at ease because they know what’s coming next.
It also frees up a lot of time in a day.
Recommended reading: Why Routines are Essential
Recommended reading: 10 Parenting Hacks That Will Make Life Simple
2. Have a physical to-do list
And put it where you can see it often.
Once you have routines down, you will need to make a to-do list. Now, I know what you are thinking “I don’t want another thing to do; I already have my hands full”.
Trust me when I say that this one time management tip will not only help you to organize your daily tasks, but it will also help you lower your stress levels. Out of sight is out of mind, so make sure that you keep the list where you can see it.
3. Keep a calendar
That you can access from your phone for events like your kid’s doctor appointments and soccer practice; this way, you don’t have to memorize the dates or panic when you forget it.
I recommend using Google calendar since it is easy to access from your phone, and you can sync it with several devices such as your computer or iPad.
If you prefer making a note on pen and paper, our Mom Life Planner is your best option.
4. Create an “I don’t care” list
This is one of those time management tips for stay-at-home moms that may sound unproductive, but trust me, it is not. The reason why you need to create this list is that there will be things that your kids want or do that you just can’t stand, but if you say no to them all the time you may end up feeling exhausted and frustrated.
So, what I did is that I came up with a list of things that my kids can do or get if they want, but it would not bother me at all. This included going to see a movie by themselves, having friends over for dinner even if I cook nothing, etc.
The more things I added, the better I felt because not only did they stop asking me for everything, but it also made them feel more responsible and understanding of what is going on in their life. And the amazing bonus was peace of mind and more time in my hand.
Recommended reading: Don’t Let Society Tell You How To Live
5. Block ‘Me’ time on your calendar
You need to block your ‘me’ time on your calendar and make sure that it is when you are available, so no one will schedule over it.
Be it learning something new or having a skin-care session, spend it exclusively for yourself and without guilt. “Without Guilt” is the keyword here! Being stay-at-home moms we might feel obligated to be there for others all the time and feel guilty spending time on ourselves.
But there shouldn’t be any guilt for making time for yourself.
6. Get Dressed
When I say get dressed, I mean putting on real clothes, not pyjamas or sweatpants. I know this sounds silly but trust me, it is important to change your everyday routine because you will feel better about yourself if you do so.
So, try to take at least two days a week when you are fully awake and put on real clothes. You will feel better, look more ready to tackle the day, and you’ll not allow laziness to take over.
So, there you have it, time management tips for stay-at-home moms that I am using on a daily basis. As a mom, I do understand how we often neglect ourselves because taking care of everyone else is at the top of our priorities list. However, taking a little time to take care of ourselves will make us better moms and help us feel less stressed and more productive throughout the day.
