Time-Saving Tips for Busy Moms: Maximizing Your Day Without Sacrificing Time
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In this post we talk about how to maximize your daily routines and stop sacrificing time!
Before you dig in, here are my FAVE product picks you’ll find mentioned in this post!
crockpot-the easiest way to cook dinner!
Alexa Show with smart home hub
Google Nest programmable thermostat
smart lighting- compatible with Alexa and google assistant!
The 5 AM Club” by Robin Sharma
For the new Mom:
diaper caddy- a portable diaper bag for the home
rolling cart- great for diaper changing gear or pumping supplies
baby monitor- a quality monitor is a must!
bottle warmer-such a time saver for reheating breastmilk or formula!
baby carrier-take your babe on the go!
Hey Mama! Being a mom is a full-time job in itself, and juggling household responsibilities, work, and personal time can feel overwhelming. If you’re constantly running on empty, trust me, you’re not alone. In this post, we’re diving into practical tips designed to help you save time and reduce stress while still ensuring you have quality moments with your family. Since I’m all about helping the new mom, I’ve added some tailored advice to help you adjust and find balance during the exciting and demanding time of newborn bliss.
Prioritize and Plan
Ok, so this seems obvious right? But how often do you actually do it? It seems hard to stick to, or make a habit of, so often it’s easier to just give up. As a mom, you learn a whole new definition to the word busy, and it’s time to buckle down and build those good habits in order to make life easier in the long run. To keep your days on track, start with effective planning. Use a planner or digital calendar to map out your week. Set aside a dedicated time each week to organize meals, activities, and appointments. Additionally, create daily to-do lists to help manage tasks without feeling overwhelmed. Prioritize important tasks and tackle them first to make your day more productive.
My tip: Start small! Even if it feels disorganized, just start with one to-do list in a public space. Write down your needs and ideas as they come, and check it daily. Once you start marking things off the list, you’ll become more adept at noticing when the best time of day or week is to do each thing, and a more organized version will develop. This list can also serve as a parking lot for tasks like making doctor’s appointments or calling the insurance company about a bill. You’ll be reminded everyday of it, instead of remembering a week or two later (mom brain is real!) and panicking that you forgot!
For New Moms
Incorporate baby's feeding and nap times into your schedule. Consider using a baby planner app to track feeding, diaper changes, and sleep patterns. Planning your day around these routines can help manage expectations and avoid unnecessary stress. I’ve added printable daily & weekly baby trackers for newborns, and cleaning checklists in the free New mom bundle! Check it out!
Streamline Your Routine
Simplify your morning routine by preparing things like tomorrow’s outfits and meal prepping the night before. Consistency is key, so establish a bedtime routine for both you and your kids to ensure restful nights. Multitasking is my middle name, but I have learned habit stacking can truly be a mom’s best friend. One example to implement is deciding that after you brush your teeth every night, you’re going to pick out everyone’s outfit for tomorrow. Meal prepping can be a game-changer—consider batch cooking and storing meals to save time during busy days. I found even just making a menu for the week and posting it to my fridge for reference, helped me to not have to come up with something last minute as to what I’m making, and I can use that to build my grocery shopping list as well!
Shopping tip: I have a note in my phone that has all the grocery staples we tend to get every week. Then I add what we need to it during the week and as I’m making my weekly menu. As I’m shopping I take off items I get while shopping. Then it’s reset to the essentials for next week!
For New Moms
Prepare baby’s essentials (like bottles, diapers, and outfits) the night before to avoid the morning scramble. In the newborn phase I made sure to clean all the bottles, restock diaper caddies in every room, and pick out an outfit for at least myself, before going to bed. I didn’t even stop to consider letting it become tomorrow morning Marilyn's problem. As appealing as that can be, mornings are too chaotic, and having a good headstart really is a time saver. Consider also, prepping freezer meals or easy-to-cook dishes that you can quickly add to a crockpot at lunch time to have ready to serve by dinner! I’ve included some great recipes to prep during the nesting phase- or whenever- in this FREE New Mom Bundle!
Delegate and Share Responsibilities
Share the load by involving family members in household chores. Create a chore chart to fairly distribute tasks. Again, even just creating a visible list of all the household tasks is a reminder to everyone what needs to be done. Break it up by day and week to make it even easier. Have a discussion about who will be responsible for each task and be flexible if needed. Sometimes you need help moving the laundry, or you just have to take the trash out when it’s full, so you’ve got to help your partner out, and that’s ok! Try to always make it a team effort! If feasible, consider outsourcing tasks like cleaning or grocery shopping to save time. Find affordable and reliable services that fit your needs. You can Instacart grocery deliveries or just do grocery pickup these days at most major grocery chains. You don’t even have to do it every time, or for everything. For example, I personally like to pick my own produce, but for the other essentials you can easily put that all in a pickup order to grab after you’ve done your other shopping for a shorter trip!
For New Moms
Enlist help from partners, family, or friends. A simple request for assistance with baby care or household chores can make a huge difference. Don't hesitate to accept offers of help or hire temporary support if possible. Our first week at home, my sister and my mom often just came over in the morning to make or bring us a meal, taking care of the baby for an hour let us get in a nap, or be available to do things like the dishes or some laundry. This kind of help is invaluable, and I plan to accept any offers for the like with baby # 2!
Simplify Household Management
A well-organized home is a more efficient home. Minimize the need to declutter and create designated spots for essentials to make finding items quicker. Explore smart home gadgets that automate tasks, like the Alexa Show with smart home hub, programmable thermostats like the Google Nest and smart lighting, to further streamline your household routines.
For New Moms
Keep baby’s items organized in easily accessible bins or baskets in your main rooms. We love our rope basket diaper caddy we keep in our living room! It’s also helpful to have a rolling cart to contain your baby items and pumping essentials. This is easier to move all around the house where you need to be! Invest in a quality baby monitor and consider other gadgets that can make life easier, like a bottle warmer or a baby carrier. I carried my new baby around all the time when I was home, I felt like I could get snuggles and chores done at the same time!
Self-Care and Efficiency
Taking care of yourself is crucial for maintaining energy and well-being. Integrate quick self-care practices into your schedule, such as short meditation sessions or a relaxing bath. Again, habit stacking is really going to help you here! For example I always made sure to immediately brush my teeth and wash my face upon waking and going to the bathroom every morning. I didn’t put it off until later, even if that was my norm before kiddos. Implement time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique or time blocking to stay focused and minimize distractions. Start small! Set aside just an hour a week for Mommy me time on a set day, and just get everything done for YOU that you can. Make a list during the week of things that you like to do for you, or part of your beauty routine and just mark off as many as you can in that hour. Grab a free printable self care checklist here! Or just take an hour to read and relax in the bath. Whatever works for you!
For New Moms
Carve out a few minutes each day for yourself, even if it’s just making yourself a hot cup of tea or going outside for some sun each morning before the day gets crazy. Get creative, and really learn what centers you. Finding solace and gratitude in the chaos makes it easier to manage the day. Self-care is essential for maintaining your well-being, so prioritize it when you can. For more ideas, check out my Blog Posts on Mom Self-Care — XO Marilyn Elizabeth
Utilize Technology and Apps
Embrace technology to enhance productivity. Use apps to manage tasks, grocery shopping, and scheduling efficiently. Family coordination tools can also help streamline family schedules and activities, making daily management easier. I utilize lists on the fridge and calendar, but I also add everything on my phone, in to do lists, on the calendar, and via texts. I also ask Alexa to set timers or make reminders for me daily. It’s easier than writing it down or whipping out my phone. Aside from just plain productivity, you may also want to consider automating other aspects of your life. If you haven’t already, automate your bills by setting up app access to things like internet, phone, and utilities, or use billpay with your bank. Most banks offer this now. Setting up autopay relieves so much stress about getting bills paid on time. Utilizing online banking just to monitor your spending as well, if you have not already done so, will really simplify your life.
For New Moms
Use baby-specific apps to track milestones, health, and feeding schedules. Apps that offer parenting tips and support communities can also be a valuable resource for advice and encouragement. There are tons of apps out there for newborn life!
Harnessing AI to Simplify Life
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a powerful ally in managing your busy life as a mom too! Here’s how:
Virtual Assistants
Use AI-powered virtual assistants like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to set reminders, manage schedules, and even control smart home devices. These assistants can help with hands-free task management, saving time and reducing mental load.
Personalized Recommendations
AI-driven apps can recommend recipes based on what you have in your pantry or suggest personalized workout routines. This can make meal planning and staying active easier and more tailored to your needs.
I use BetterMe during pregnancy and postpartum as a nutrition and fitness tracker, to save myself time and money on a gym membership. If you’re ready to prioritize your own health and fitness, check out their plans ranging all over from yoga to wall Pilates here!
Automated Customer Service
Many services now use AI to handle customer inquiries and manage bookings. From scheduling appointments to resolving issues, AI can handle routine tasks efficiently, freeing up your time.
Smart Home Integration
AI can enhance smart home devices like thermostats and lighting systems. For instance, AI can learn your preferences and adjust settings automatically, saving time and improving home efficiency.
It may not have occurred to you yet, but as a mom, you can also use AI like Chat GPT to streamline your life to save you tons of time! Some examples would be asking ChatGPT to create a rotating menu for the week/month, cleaning schedules, chore charts, or even just asking it to organize the tasks you need to get done in order of priority. The possibilities are endless!
Book Rec’s and Expert Advice
“The Whole-Brain Child” by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson: Provides insights into child development and effective parenting strategies.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear: Offers strategies for building good habits and improving productivity.
“The 5 AM Club” by Robin Sharma: Discusses routines and time management techniques that can be helpful for busy moms.
As moms, working or not, we often become the household manager. It can often be overwhelming, but prioritizing and planning, streamlining your routines, leveraging technology, and harnessing the power of AI, you can make your days more manageable and enjoyable. For new moms, integrating baby-specific strategies and seeking support can make a big difference. Try out these tips and see what works best for you. For more tips and updates, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Don’t forget to check out related posts on my blog for additional resources and insights!
NEED MORE HELP MAMA?
