It may be challenging to stay organized as a working mom. You have to balance between working full time and a mom’s responsibilities like ensuring your kids are fed, bathed, and prepared to attend school on time. Time is precious for a working mom; since you spend considerable time away from your children, you have to make the most out of your time at home. You have to master the art of balancing the demands of your job with those of your family. Some strategies for simplifying life as a working mom include:
- Learn to Delegate Tasks
Take some tasks off your to-do list if the tasks can be handled by other people. You may not have enough time on your hands to do all tasks. Consider hiring service providers like cleaners. Find a college student or a retiree in search of work and hire them to assist you.
Do not leave out your kids; delegate some household chores to them as well. The kids may not perfectly perform the chores at first, but they will keep getting better. To keep the kids motivated, give them some chores, and give them an allowance upon completing the chores.
- Have a Meal Plan and Prepare Meals in Advance
You can avoid stress as a working mom by having a meal plan in place. Meal planning helps you schedule grocery shopping trips and also saves you the hassle of wondering about the meals to prepare for your family. Keep the meal plan where you can easily see it. For instance, you may stick it on the refrigerator door; this way, everyone in the family will know what is planned for dinner and can assist in preparing it.
Consider preparing some meals in advance. For instance, if you have spare time in the evening, you can prepare some meals to use for breakfast and lunch the following day. You can avoid rushing in the mornings as you fix breakfast for your kids. You could also save money by planning and prepping meals in advance. By knowing the exact meals to prepare, you can avoid regular take-outs. Having a meal plan also encourages healthy eating, as you will not have to order pizza every now and then.
- Have a Family Calendar
Moms need to stay organized and de-clutter their lives. Properly organizing your family affairs alongside your work-related issues will help you stay calm and clear your mind. Use one calendar for all your family plans as multiple calendars may be hard to follow. Do not combine your work calendar with your personal calendar. You may maintain an online digital calendar that you can easily access whenever you need to. It does not matter whether you use an electronic calendar or a printed calendar; just have a main calendar and abide by it.
- Turn off Your Work Electronics
Upon leaving your workplace, tune your mind to your home and your children. Avoid carrying work home unless you cannot avoid it. For instance, avoid constantly checking your work emails at night or during the weekend. You need to rest and sleep properly to ensure that you are ready to face a new day or a new week.
Turnoff work related notifications in your phone unless the most important ones like phone calls or voice messages. In a society addicted to smartphones, it may be hard to stay off your phone. However, while at home, you have to be a mom and while at work, a professional.
- Organize Your Bills on Time
As a working mom, you have to organize your bills and ensure they are paid on time even as you attend to your busy schedule. Schedule a day at the beginning of the month to review and pay your bills. With auto-pay options, you may forget to review your bills before paying them. By taking the time to go through your bills, you can identify any discrepancies or causes of concern before making the payments.
- Shop in Advance and Shop Smart
Shop in advance for upcoming events, including birthday parties; you can save a lot of money and time by buying gifts in advance. Whenever you see a good gift, buy it and keep it. Take advantage of coupons whenever you can. You can get great discounts from your favorite stores, and this will help you avoid overspending. You will maintain happiness in your family by surprising your kids with timely gifts for their birthdays and other occasions.
Do not forget yourself!
It is common for moms to fulfill the needs of other people and forget their own needs. Indulge in things that make you happy and set aside some time for yourself. To effectively manage your career and your family, you have to take care of yourself!
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