Time has become a precious commodity and being a working mom can be daunting. Having to deal with work stress and family issues on a tight schedule is often exhausting and disheartening. Between your roles as a mother and a career woman, there are numerous other roles, equally important, such as the homework helper, the cook, and the wife, to name a few. If you are a working mom looking for time management strategies that will allow you to take care of your daily errands efficiently, while leaving you some time free for unwinding, take a look at the following time saving tips.
1. Plan Ahead
By planning ahead you save valuable time each day and ultimately each week. For instance, if you spend 15 minutes on deciding what clothes to wear at the office and you do that every morning before going to work, you are more likely to run late than be on time when your boss looks for you at 9:00. On the contrary, if you decide from the previous night what to wear, you save your self at least half an hour sleep more, because the more stressed you become on what to wear the more time you lose. You may also pack your children’s schoolbags, or plan weekly meals, which saves you great amount of time and you make sure that your family eats healthy. For instance, if you cook a meal in the last minute, you spend more time on deciding what that meal would be and you are more likely to eat convenience foods.
2. Buy in Bulk
If you go back and forth to the stores every second day, you spend approximately 14 hours a week on grocery shopping, which is a lot. On the contrary, by buying items in bulk, you save time, gas and money. Especially, if you arrange to make your grocery shopping on the way home from work, you save extra time because you don’t go back and forth from home to the store and then back home again.
3. Do Your Housework Regularly
Housework is rarely fan to do, but it has to be done. Yet, if you let it pile up, it will be more difficult to catch up after an entire week. Every day spend 10 to 15 minutes in moping the floor, cleaning the kitchen and emptying the trash can. The next day, clean the bathroom. The next day, wipe all the mirrors and do the laundry. If you do a bit of something every day, the house will be in shape and you won’t be torn out because of the housework.
4. Avoid Too Much Socializing
Your family and career are top priorities. Of course, socializing is also required, but your top priority is your family. If you are asked to join corporate events all the time, or parties at colleagues’ houses, learn to say ‘no’ and save time for yourself and your family. Instead of wasting time to some boring social event, you can go home, relax with your children, help them with their homework and watch a movie with your husband.
5. Do Not Make Your Children Experts in Everything
If you children have an inclination in sports or in music, keep it simple. Let them choose one favorite activity and become experts in that. If your children want to attend 2 hours volleyball training on Monday and Wednesday and another two hours dance training on Tuesday and Thursday, you practically invest nearly 12 hours in them on a weekly basis for extracurricular activities, let alone they won’t have time to do their homework properly. So, learn to say ‘no’ to your children as well when they demand extracurricular activities that are too much for them, but also too much for you and your pocket as well.
There is no doubt that as a working mom, you are constantly on the run. However, if you manage to find the fine line that can balance your professional and personal life, you will be able to manage your time efficiently, offering your family moments of relaxation and concern.
