Time management tips for busy moms are like precious gems that we all crave. You know that feeling when you wake up in the morning with big plans to conquer the day, but somehow time slips away, and it’s already noon? It happens to all of us, especially if you’re a mom to a little one. With infants or toddlers around, your plans can go topsy-turvy despite your best efforts. And if you live in India, oh boy, anything can happen to upset your schedule – a missing maid, power cuts, or even a talkative neighbour.
Managing time well is crucial, and there’s another reason why. When we’re short on time, we tend to put ourselves last. This holds especially true for Indian Moms, particularly those in joint families, where the burden of extra work often falls on Mom’s shoulders. With poor time management, she ends up being last on her own list. It’s heartbreaking to hear Moms say they don’t even have time for basic self-care activities like exercising, meditating, or even using the toilet!
It’s not just about managing time; it’s about managing ourselves too. As life gets busier, sticking to fixed schedules becomes harder, especially for working moms. I’ve been through it all – managing kids, a blog, a business, an NGO, and my home. I know how challenging it can be. But even with only 24 hours in a day, we can get creative and make the most of our time with some simple time management tips. Let’s prioritize wisely and find ways to make each day count!
8 Time Management Tips for Busy Moms: Time Management for Working Moms
1. Say No
This is the number one rule of time management for anyone, and especially for a busy Mom like you and me! Whether it’s in an attempt to please, or because of a barrier of ‘respecting elders’, many of us find it really hard to say ‘No’ to events or errands, making our already busy life more hectic. Always remember this important advice from Stephen Covey – when you’re saying ‘yes’ to something unimportant, at the same time you’re saying ‘no’ to something important. By taking on the catering responsibility for the association’s Diwali function, you’re saying ‘No’ to your child’s daily reading session. Is it worth it?
2. Delegate
Once you’ve decided what you want to say ‘Yes’ to, it’s time to see who else can do it! No, it’s not sneaky, it’s essential. You are not the only person who lives in that house, and your being female does not automatically make you the one-woman army responsible for its smooth running. Involve the entire family in household chores, whatever they can do. If you have been used to doing every single thing at home, this may be hard to do, so start out with very small steps. Even little children can do age appropriate chores – it also has several benefits for them, developmentally.
3. Prioritize
All time management experts agree that managing time is actually managing your priorities. You’ve already done this in one way, by eliminating the things you don’t want to say ‘Yes’ to. Now of the tasks you have decided to do yourself, prioritize them.
To make this easier, identify your goals first, marked down on a priority basis. Then break it down to smaller chunks. We have a tendency to do the easier tasks first, just so that we have a morale boost of having achieved something. However, this often leads to the more important things being left for later, which is why it is recommended to ‘Eat the Frog’ first.
4. Simplify
Much too often, we make things hard for ourselves by complicating matters! Just think, does your family of four really need two subzis and two non-vegetarian curries for one meal? There are numerous ways you can simplify your life, which will save you loads of time. Plan your errands so you can do them all in one go. Make a meal plan and do your grocery shopping for the week. Automate payments that need to go out every month/week. Pay your utility bills and order your groceries online. Most banking operations and fee payments can also be done online.
5. Organize
It’s hard to hit a target with your eyes closed, and it’s just as hard to accomplish something when you aren’t organized. A simple task that should take just a few minutes can take an unnecessary amount of time when things are scattered and messy. Train everyone at home to follow the goal of ‘A place for everything and everything in it’s place’. When your ingredients are all prepped and your utensils are in the right place, imagine how fast and joyful cooking would be? The same goes for getting ready during busy mornings, or searching for something in an emergency.
6. Assess your Time
As much as we think that we don’t have any time to even breathe, there are times in our day when we aren’t really doing anything worthwhile, not even resting. It may be when we’re chatting with that nosy neighbor, or mindlessly scrolling through Facebook or sitting like a zombie in front of TV. Recognizing these wasted pockets of time can help us be more focused about spending our time.
7. Make a Plan
Most successful people have said that their first task of the day is making their To-Do List. It is the only way to ensure that important tasks get done, and the time for them is not wasted on insignificant busywork. Plan out your day keeping your priorities in mind, making sure you consider possible disruptions and taking into account your usual ‘wasted time’.
Focus on the vital few rather than the vital many, and focus on one task at a time. Planning out your day also gives you a chance to carve out time for yourself – your health, hobbies, or simply to unwind. Remember, that your plan needs to be achievable, so cut down on stress by being realistic.
8. Just Do It
Looks like the Nike company has a point! Once you’ve made a realistic, achievable plan, develop an attitude of ‘Doing it now’. Procrastination can seriously derail your plans and create a whole lot of stress. If this happens to you a lot, take the time to identify the cause – is it a fear of failure, a lack of interest, a lack of skills/resources or something else. Whatever it may be, sort it out so that it doesn’t come in the way of executing your plan.
Everyone experiences stress from time to time, and sometimes we actually operate a little better when there is some level of stress. On the other hand, too much stress affects us adversely as well as our near and dear ones. The relief you get when you are able to plan your day well, tick off the tasks on your to-do list and pay due attention to your priorities without compromising on your own self. With these simple time management tips for busy Moms, I hope you are able to spend your time on what’s important, and that you are able to live a full and happy life!!
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