Time Management for Moms: How to Have a Calmer Household

Time Management Tips for Moms: How to Have a Calmer Household

When your household feels out of control, it can feel like no area of your life is going right. If you’re constantly feeling behind, overwhelmed, or like you’re being interrupted every time you try to get stuff done, you probably need to manage your time better.

I know, I know, that is so annoying to hear. But let’s get real for a minute: it’s probably not that you’re bad at managing your household or schedule, it’s that you don’t have the right systems in place. 

It is totally normal to feel like your home life is chaotic when you’re constantly running around taking care of little ones. But let’s work on controlling the chaos. 

Reframe your goal from perfection to calm and productive. Today I’m sharing my favorite tips for time management for moms. Create a calmer household today!

You’re Not Bad at Time Management

You simply need systems to make your household flow smoothly. Check out this post for time management grocery hacks.

Identify the Real Time Drains at Home

There are areas in every home that cause paint points. It could be the lack of storage space, a combative child that just won’t put his shoes on when you need to leave, or habits that cause unwanted clutter. 

Being aware of those pain points is the first step. Be mindful of the mental load you carry as well. Keeping track of everyone’s appointments and schedules and birthdays takes it’s toll as well. I’ve got a great guide on digital declutter that will help you free up mental space as well. 

These pain points can also include overpacked days with no down time, or constantly having to pivot due to interruptions or trying to do too many tasks at once. 

Make a List

Walk around your home and make a note of the glaring areas that cause you stress. This can include the location, time of day the pain point occurs, or even tasks or events that drain your energy. 

Build a Gentle Daily Rhythm 

A rhythm is different from a schedule in that it’s a general outline of your day, not a strict rule you must follow. 

Start by using anchor points throughout your day: meal times, nap times, bedtimes. Having these at set times of the day makes it more predictable and you don’t have to scramble to figure out what to do each day. This can lower stress levels for every family member, not just you.

I like to have a loose weekly rhythm, because each day varies throughout the week. This keeps me aware of our schedule but not overwhelmed. 

I also have a daily toddler schedule that you might find helpful. The key is to keep your day flexible, that way you can adjust if something unexpected happens. 

This rhythm will need to be adjusted as your child grows, by the changing seasons or school year, or if you add a new member to your family. 

Below is a sample of what your daily rhythm could look like, with the anchor points in bold:

• 7am – Wake up, play
• 8am – breakfast
• 8:30 – get dressed, play time 
• 9am – library story time
• 10am – running errands/cleaning
• 11:30 – prepare lunch/lunchtime
• 12:30 – nap/quiet time 
• 1:30 – outside play
• 4pm – craft/activity
• 5pm – ballet class
• 5:45 – prepare dinner/dinnertime
• 7pm – bath/bedtime

If breakfast doesn’t start til 8:30, you can adjust accordingly. Your toddler is sick and can’t make ballet? Pivot. You get the idea.

Time Blocking for Moms (In Real Life)

Time blocking is a great way to get more done in less time. You can break up your day however works best for you. Redefine time blocking to fit interruptions. This is one of my favorite time management tips for moms.

Do you have a baby that isn’t sleeping for more than 45 minutes at a time? Try blocking off 30 minutes to catch up on bills, and if you get done early, you’ve got some peace and quiet for 15 minutes. 

You can also try themed time blocks instead of tasks lists. Instead of trying to go down your list, checking things off, group your tasks in any sort of theme that works for you. If there are multiple cleaning tasks, sort them by area of your home. 

Have several errands to get done around town? Map out the route that hits all of them without having to backtrack, or plan to execute two at a time that are nearby. For example, if you need to go to the post office that just so happens to be two blocks from the library, schedule that task for the next time your kiddo has storytime. 

You can check out my post on time saving hacks for moms for even more ideas. Some other examples of time blocking might include: 

• Mornings dedicated to cleaning and afternoons dedicated to kid’s activities
• Quiet time split evenly between organizing the kitchen cabinets and resting
• A fifteen minute house reset at the end of each night

Try to block off at least one small area of your day to dedicate solely to you. I’ve got a great post on getting in self care during the winter for more ideas.

Simplify the Household Systems That Cause the Most Stress

Creating household systems gives you a sense of control over your home even when it feels chaotic. Focus on high impact areas for the most noticeable differences. 

Meals

• Rotate a short list of go-to meals
• Theme nights (Taco Tuesday, Pasta Friday)
• Order out once per week to give yourself a break

Cleaning

• Reset your home daily each evening to give yourself the gift of a calm morning
• Use a deep cleaning schedule to keep your home from becoming overwhelming
• Let go of “always clean” expectations

Laundry

• Load and schedule your washer at night to start the next morning. This gives you a headstart on the following day
• Hang the majority of your clothes to avoid extra time folding
• Do one load per day to never get overwhelmed with excess laundry

Pick ONE system to simplify this week. These micro-adjustments will give your home a sense of calm. My guide on creating household systems will give you an in-depth look at overhauling your home.

Plan the Week Before It Starts

If you are always dreading Monday or feeling like you’re behind before the week even starts, it could be due to a lack of planning. In order for your home to feel calm, you have to make a plan. 

By planning your week out, you’re not surprised by anything happening on any given day. This gives you a powerful advantage over trying to figure everything out the night before. 

Simple Weekly Planning Framework:

Try planning on Sunday evenings or Monday mornings for the whole week. Make note of any appointments, activities, or things that must get done. Take note of some of the things below and adjust your weekly schedule accordingly. I love using a desk planner to keep track of everyone’s appointments. 

• Appointments & commitments
• Meals (Check your pantry for needs and make a grocery list)
• Cleaning
• Bill paying
• Movement (gym, yoga, running, wind surfing, IDC just move your body, girl!)
• Top 3 priorities (not 15)

Create Breathing Room in Your Day

Build in buffer time on purpose each day. This gives you a chance to catch up if you’re running behind for whatever reason. If you are all caught up that day, it gives you a chance to rest and reset so you can be the best mom you can be. Time management for moms doesn’t happen overnight. You have to create it.

Don’t feel guilt for saying no to extra time commitments when you already feel stretched too thin. You’re no good to anyone if you’re stressed out. By lowering the bar on how many commitments you take on, you can feel accomplished without feeling pressured.

Mindset Shift:

Remember, calm comes from margin, not mastery. You will never (ever, ever, ever) get all the things done. There will always be more. Giving yourself the opportunity to decompress is an important time management skill to have. This is where your calmer household begins. 

Involve Your Kids

Time management doesn’t solely fall on your shoulders. It is important to teach your children to manage their time well, and that starts when they are small. 

Teaching responsibility reduces your load in the long term and sets your children up for success as future adults. 

You can even start before they can read! Make systems that work for your family that are visually digestible and predictable. This can look like chore charts with pictures, or feeding the dog at the same time every day. 

I have a whole post on age appropriate chores for children that is divided by age range. Start by introducing one new responsibility this week for each of your children. It can be brushing their teeth on their own, getting dressed by themselves, or taking out the trash when it gets full. 

When the Day Falls Apart

Every single day is not going to run smoothly. Maybe you oversleep or two out of three kids have a stomach bug or you’re at the point in your cycle that even your husband’s breathing sets you off. 

YOu have permission to reset as many times as you need to on those days. You have permission to ‘slack off,’ and get back to it tomorrow. What actually matters is your mental (and physical) health, and if you need a ‘down day,’ so be it. 

Some days you will be miles ahead and others you’ll get behind. Give yourself grace and move forward, even if it is only an inch at a time. 

Calm Is Built in Small Steps

Every bit of progress counts, no matter how small. By taking the time to use these tips for time management for moms, you’ll create the calm your home so desperately needs. You are doing better than you think you are. Try just one small change today and see if it lightens your load. 

Do you think time management for moms is important? How so? Let me know in the comments below what your biggest time struggle is! Be sure you save this page so you can come back later!