Being a mother means you must be willing to wear several hats. You are the family chef, the homestead custodian, the chauffeur, and the medical staff. Being organized and managing your time effectively will help you as you shift from role to role. These are the ten time-saving tips that I practice regularly. You may wish to implement some of them into your daily life as well.
10 time-saving tips to make your life as a busy mom easier
1. Menu Plan – Sit down once a week and plan your family’s meals. Look in your pantry, compare what you have on hand to recipes that interest you. Make your list, and head to the store once a week {unless you’re picking up produce, milk and/or bread}. Make extra to freeze and for lunches to take to work.
2. Organize your errands. When running errands, map out which stores you need to visit in your head before leaving the house. There’s no point in driving 20 minutes in one direction, 5 minutes the opposite way, then 10 minutes headed the way you started in the beginning.
3. Shop online for gifts/non-perishable items. I do the bulk of my non-grocery shopping online. Many retailers offer free shipping if you meet certain purchase minimums. I frequent the same websites, and know the products that are available. This is a great time saver when shopping for gifts – and it saves money too as I don’t grab those last minute impulse buys hanging near the register! {I am a sucker for fun, printed socks to wear in the winter months!}
4. Use a Calendar – Having a well thought out planning system will help you keep track of important appointments, birthdays, and other events. If you don’t already have a regular cleaning schedule that you observe, use your calendar to alert you as to when you need to change your sheets, vacuum and wash floors, and clean your bathroom. I use a “paper” planning system, but many people love their online calendars too!
5. Full hands in/Full hands Out – When you enter a room, you’re usually carrying something – a cup of coffee, a towel, a favorite toy – so make sure you’re carrying something out of that room too. This practice will help to keep your home organized too!
6. Keep a tote bag in the car. I use an oversize canvas tote to lug cups, trash, mail, toys and clothes in from the car daily. Doing this ensures my car is free of debris, and all of our cups get washed too!
7. Multitask when it makes sense. When you’re sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office, write your thank you letters or begin planning your child’s birthday party. If you need to throw clothes in the washer, do it while you’re cooking dinner, this way you can toss them in the dryer while you’re eating. Take the dog with you when you go for a run.
8. Fold laundry and put it away. If I don’t fold the laundry as it is coming out of the dryer, there is a good chance that I might not get to it and everything will end up wrinkled.
9. Organize your closet. The clothes that hang in my closet are organized by color and by sleeve length. Doing this allows me to grab the short sleeved purple shirt to pair with my denim skirt in seconds, rather than hunting through the entire closet looking for it.
10. Get ready for tomorrow. When I’m emptying out that tote bag from my car, I take a peek at my planner to see what’s happening the next day. I take five minutes to set myself up for the next day. Sometimes I need to pack lunch, wrap a birthday gift, address a card, or simply make sure my camera battery is charged for a fun play date at the park! I put everything I need back in that tote {except for the lunches} and it sits by the door, with my phone and my purse. I can get out the door in just a few minutes, and that with a toddler in tow!
What are your favorite time saving tips?
I’m so terrible at 5 and 8. In fact, there’s clothes in the dryer right now that need to be folded/hung up. I really do hate that part of laundry the most!
Thanks so much for linking up with Real Life Deals and Mess for Less! hopping over from Real Life Deals and Hobbies on a Budget New follower!
I am so lost without my calendar. Need to get the closet organized though.
Thank you for linking up with Mess For Less and Real Life Deals @ http://www.messforless.net/2011/09/real-life-tips-blog-link-up.html
Vicky