Time Management Strategies for Working Moms

Balance the many areas of your life, reduce stress, and get everything done by applying these strategies:

General Time Management

• Make a plan for each day

• Know your priorities

• Don’t sweat the small stuff

• Carry a spiral notebook with you for home and work to-do lists

• Be flexible

• Reflect on tomorrow’s tasks today

 
Making Time for Your Partner

• Get away regularly to relax and have fun together without the kids

• Share responsibilities

• Each day at work, e-mail, phone, or text your partner

• Creatively fit in time together at home to complete home and yard projects

• After putting young kids to bed, spend time together

Managing Time with Your Children

• Establish time for your children each day

• Learn to distinguish between attention-seeking and needing help

• Be honest with your kids about time

• Set limits

• Bring stability to your schedule by insisting everyone be present for dinner

• Take turns with your spouse for morning tasks and bedtime routines for the kids
  

Making Time to Take Part in Your Kids’ Extracurricular Activities

• Always have a Plan B

• Utilize time normally spent waiting at your kids’ events

• If necessary, alternate extracurricular activity attendance with your spouse. You’ll save time and stay connected.
  

Capturing “Me” Time

• Arise 30 minutes earlier to do what you love before anyone wakes up

• Leave home earlier

• Meet friends for hors d’oeuvres after work

Getting Out of the House on Time in the Mornings

1.      Getting Yourself Ready for Work

• Have an area in your closet just for work clothes. Organize clothes by type and color.

• Wear easy-care clothing

• Organize your shoes by color or work versus casual

• Designate a space to store work-related items so you can “grab and go”

2.      Helping Your Family Prepare for Their Day

• Sign papers and put backpacks by the door in the evenings

• Make lunches the night before

• Have your kids pick out their clothes ahead of time

• Add 15 minutes to your morning by setting bedside alarms 15 minutes earlier

• Enjoy your breakfast together. Wake up to coffee and breakfast already made.

Managing Meal Planning

1.      Using a Meal List

• Make a Meal List with a number of simple meals along with their grocery lists

• Share the Meal List with your spouse

• Place copies in convenient places and on your computer and Smartphone

• Consult your Meal List when grocery-shopping

2.      Meal Preparation

• Plan ahead. Make tomorrow’s salad or Jell-O today to save time

• Double your recipe for tonight and freeze half for a future dinner

• Double duty: use meal preparation time to also spend time with your spouse

• Triple duty: Have your spouse and kids help you cook dinner for some quality time
  
  

Housecleaning

1.      Daily cleaning and organizing

• Set a timer for 15 minutes each day to quickly complete a few house tasks

• Give each child a basket or box to do a walk-through and pick up their own items

• Make a game for your kids to race to pick up their own things

• Do a quick room walkthrough to dust and put things where they belong

2.      Divide and spread larger house-keeping tasks over time

        For example:

• Mondays, dust

• Tuesdays, sweep

• Wednesdays, vacuum

• Thursdays, wipe down appliances

• Saturdays, do laundry
  

        Teach young children how to do basic cleaning tasks

Unwind, Rest and Sleep

• Fit in some me-time

• Compliment your efforts of the day

• Take time to read and converse with your partner

Ready to take your time management to the next level?