Managing your time is a challenge for everyone, especially for working moms. You’re not just responsible for yourself—you have to manage the needs of another person (or multiple people) while managing your career goals/todos and you make sure that everything gets done. Let’s talk about some of the challenges working moms face when it comes to time management and how we can overcome these challenges with simple solutions that help us get through the day.
How do working moms manage their time?
What works for one mom may not be what works for another, and that’s okay. The tips below can be easily adapted to fit your specific lifestyle. Let’s get into it.
Make a plan, then be flexible.
Okay, I know this sounds a little contradicting. Let me explain. When it comes to managing your time, this is the most important lesson you can learn. You need to create a plan and be flexible. At the same time.
As a working mom, many of your days will be spent juggling multiple tasks at once. You have to manage work demands, kids’ needs, household chores, and so on – all while trying to maintain some semblance of personal life. In order for this system to work for you (and not against you), it’s essential that you remain flexible in your approach.
Don’t get caught up in trying to stick exactly with what was originally planned for the day; if things change at work or at home during the course of the day – make the adjustments as needed without worrying about sticking to the perfect plan. We are human. We were designed to feel and move with life. A bump in your day is not the time to be overly critical of yourself. Plans are meant to be a guideline for our day, not a word-for-word prediction. Make the necessary adjustments, then get back to your day.
Be realistic about housework and kid work.
Being realistic about housework and “kid work” (kids have their own schedules, special needs, etc) is a part of the challenge. You can’t do everything at once, so you will have to prioritize. If you are like me, you might have time for some extra stuff, but not much. If I’m being honest, this is where I go wrong the most. I often think I can do a little of everything with very little time to spare. To help set realistic goals, I like to keep these tips in mind–
1. Establish a morning routine
Establishing a morning routine is one of the best defenses against chaos. If you’re not feeling rushed in the morning, it’s easier to set aside time to pray and sit with Jesus before going into everyday tasks and chores from eating breakfast and exercising to attending to your family, home, and business. Your body (and mind) will thank you for it later!
When devising your morning routine, remember that everyone in the family has their own needs and preferences. For example:
- Do your kids need help getting ready? If so, how and where do you make time for that in your routine?
- Do you need to set aside some time for yourself before heading out? (Hint: the answer is YES) If so, should this happen after or before breakfast with the family?
You’ll want to keep this as consistent as possible so that everyone knows what to expect and has a point of reference for returning to life as normal after vacations, holidays, and disruptions out of your control.
This routine can be as long or as short as you need it. I even have 2 versions of a morning routine that serve me through different phases.
2. Build in some downtime
When you’re a working mom, downtime can seem like an impossible luxury. But taking some time for yourself is essential for your mental health and well-being. So how do you set aside some non-work time? Here are some tips:
- Think about when you have the most freedom and flexibility in your day—and plan accordingly. Do you need to be home by 5 PM to have a few moments to yourself? If so, look at your calendar and see whether any meetings or appointments could be moved around to make that happen.
- Create regular blocks of time to use however works best for your family and schedule, rather than trying to squeeze in random chunks here and there. This will help ensure that it becomes part of your routine instead of something that falls through the cracks because it wasn’t planned ahead of time.
3. Outsource
Outsourcing is essential as a mama juggling business, goals, family, and more. A key to being successful as a working mother is learning the art of delegating. If you can, I highly encourage you to grow and add to your team sooner rather than later. If not, ask friends or family members for help. From babysitting to tackling small tasks, I am still afloat on my journey because of the support of friends and family.
With so many people leveraging their God-given talents, platforms like Fiverr and Upwork are trusted and affordable marketplaces to find talented freelancers to fit your needs. (Get 10% off your first order with Fiverr by using the link above!)
If you need support with items not related to your work, consider utilizing platforms like Instacart and Walmart+ to save valuable time with household chores like grocery shopping. I’ve also found this to be a helpful tactic for sticking to my meal plans.
Beautiful, you can do this!
You can manage your time well if you’re flexible, realistic, and organized. Don’t underestimate or overestimate your energy and capabilities. My new 2023 Digital Life Planner includes all the resources you need to:
- Gain clarity on how much time you really have
- Set and stick to daily and weekly routines to maintain your progress in your business while juggling the day-to-day demands
- Manage your mental, physical, spiritual, and financial health in ONE PLACE
And so much more! If you’re ready to put this information into practice, order your copy today.
Even with the perfect resources, time management as a working mom is going to look different from what other people in our industries or other moms are doing. It has to and that’s okay. It will look different as we journey through different stages of business and as our children and families journey through phases as well. Remain flexible and organized. Don’t compare what your day-to-day looks like to another mama. Remember, we typically only get the highlight reels. Most don’t show the days when they feel utterly defeated and inches from giving up. Yet, we ALL have those days. That’s why this community means so much to me. We are able to learn and grow together transparently and continually.
Keep going, beautiful.