This post shares 33 working mom hacks with you, to help make life a little bit easier.
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As we all know, balancing work, kids, and home life every day isn’t easy. But who says we can’t add some smart hacks to make our lives a little easier? I’m here to share 33 working mom hacks that can help you save time, keep your home tidy, spend quality time with your family, and make the most of your time off work. These are practical, tried-and-tested ideas to keep your kids entertained and your life a bit more organized.
33 Working Mom Hacks to Keep Your Life Together
Time-Saving Tips for the Morning Rush
Mornings can be a whirlwind, can’t they? Here are a few tricks to get you and the kids out the door without the chaos:
- Prep the Night Before: Lay out clothes, pack lunches, and have backpacks ready. It saves precious minutes in the morning.
- Keep Breakfast Simple: Quick, healthy options like yogurt, fruit, or ready-made smoothies can be lifesavers.
- Prepare a ‘Go Station’: Set up a designated spot near the door where everything needed for the next day is placed the night before. This could include school bags, your work bag, keys, wallets, and even a section for ‘things to remember’ like library books or gym clothes. Having a ‘Go Station’ ensures you have all the essentials in one place, minimizing the frantic search for lost items in the morning.
- Morning Routine Charts for Kids: Create visual charts for your kids that outline their morning routines – like brushing their teeth, getting dressed, and packing their school bags. This not only encourages independence but also reduces the time you spend directing each activity. You can make it fun by adding stickers or rewards for completed tasks.
Keeping a Tidy Home with Minimal Effort
A clean house feels great, but who has the time? These hacks can help:
- 15-Minute Clean-Up: Set a timer for 15 minutes each day for a quick tidy-up. It’s amazing what you can do in a short burst.
- Declutter Regularly: Less stuff means less to clean. Every month, take a little time to clear out things you no longer need.
- Use a Basket System: Place a basket in each main room of your house. (I recommend making the basket aesthetic, so it’s not an eyesore in each room.) Throughout the day, as you find items that don’t belong in that room, put them in the basket. Then, at a set time each day, redistribute the items in the baskets to their proper places. This method prevents clutter from building up and makes tidying up feel less overwhelming.
- Micro-Cleaning Moments: Incorporate small cleaning tasks into your daily routine. For example, while waiting for your coffee to brew or during commercial breaks on TV, quickly wipe down kitchen counters or straighten up the living room. These micro-cleaning moments can add up to a cleaner home without setting aside a large chunk of time.
- One-Load-a-Day Laundry Rule: Doing one load of laundry each day keeps the pile manageable.
- Cleaning Supplies Station: Keep a set of basic cleaning supplies on each floor of your house to quickly deal with messes.
- Use a ‘Ten-Minute Tidy’ Rule Before Bed: Every night, before bedtime, spend ten minutes with the whole family tidying up together. Turn on some music and make it a fun, quick session where everyone picks up toys, straightens cushions, or puts away dishes. This not only makes cleaning less of a chore but also ensures you wake up to a tidier home, setting a positive tone for the next day.
Quality Time with Your Partner and Kids
It’s all about making memories, right? Here are ways to spend meaningful time together:
- Family Game Night: Pick a night each week for board games or a movie. It’s a fun way to bond.
- Date Nights at Home: After the kids are in bed, have a special dinner or watch a movie with your partner. It’s about the company, not the location.
Making the Most of Your Time Off: Working Mom Hack
Your days off are precious. Here’s how to make the most of them:
- Plan Ahead: Think about what you want to do a few days in advance. Even a simple plan can make the day smoother.
- Local Day Trips: Explore local parks, museums, or new playgrounds. Sometimes the best adventures are close to home.
- Do Something Different: Don’t get in a rut and go to the same places every time, your experiences will just start to blend. Pick a new place, restaurant, or park, every single time. Seriously, you will see such a difference in the memories made by trying new places.
Keeping Kids Entertained (Not Just Occupied)
We all want our kids to be engaged and happy. Try these ideas:
- DIY Craft Projects: Simple crafts can keep kids busy and encourage creativity.
- Outdoor Fun: Encourage play outside. Whether it’s a walk, a bike ride, or a simple game of tag, fresh air does wonders.
- Activity Boxes: Prepare boxes with different sets of activities for each child. These could include puzzles, coloring books, DIY craft kits, or educational games. Each box should be filled with activities they can do independently. This is perfect for times when you need to focus on work or household chores but want to keep the kids engaged in meaningful activities.
- Educational Apps and Websites: Make a list of child-friendly educational apps and websites. When you need uninterrupted time, you can be assured that your kids are not just entertained but also learning something new. Choose apps that are interactive and cater to your child’s interests and age group. This approach offers a productive way for children to use screen time.
Efficient Grocery Shopping and Meal Prep
Managing meals can be a big-time consumer. Let’s make it easier:
- Online Grocery Orders: Use online shopping and curbside pickup to save shopping time.
- Batch Cooking: Cook in large quantities on weekends and freeze meals for the week.
Working Mom Hack: Self-Care Strategies
Remember, taking care of yourself is crucial:
- “Me Time” Scheduling: Block out time in your calendar for yourself, even if it’s just 30 minutes.
- Quick Workouts: Fit in exercise with short, high-intensity workouts at home.
Efficient Morning Routines
Start your day on the right foot:
- Prep Overnight Oats: Easy, healthy, and ready-to-go breakfast for the whole family.
- Clothing Organizers: Use labeled bins for each child’s weekly outfits to avoid morning outfit battles.
Smart Family Organization Tools
In the whirlwind of family life, staying organized is key. Let’s integrate some tech-savvy and simple methods to keep everyone on the same page:
- Shared Digital Family Calendar: Use a digital calendar accessible to all family members. Include school events, appointments, and special family activities. Everyone can add and view upcoming events, making scheduling a breeze.
- Collaborative Grocery List App: Choose an app where you can add and view items in real-time. This way, anyone can add what’s needed, and whoever is shopping knows exactly what to buy. It saves the “Oops, I forgot to tell you to buy milk” moments.
- Family Group Chat: Set up a group text for quick communication. Share updates, coordinate pick-ups, or send a fun family meme to lighten the day.
- Weekly Family Meetings: Have a brief weekly meeting to discuss the upcoming week. It’s a chance to check in on everyone’s schedules, plan meals, and delegate chores.
- Chore Chart Apps: Utilize an app where you can assign and track chores. This helps in teaching kids responsibility and sharing household tasks.
- Important Documents Folder: Create a shared digital folder for important documents like medical records, school forms, and emergency contacts. This ensures that crucial information is accessible to all family members when needed.
Smart Time Management
Make the most of your time:
- Use a Timer for Tasks: Set a timer for tasks like email or social media to avoid getting sidetracked.
- Delegate: Don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to family members. It’s a team effort!
Final Thoughts on Our Working Mom Hacks
With the help of these working mom hacks, you will make your everyday routine easier and more fun. The main thing to keep in mind, though, is that you have to implement some of these hacks, and not just read them and file them in the back of your brain. Pick the one that sticks out the most, and try to add it to your routine this week; then next week, add another. After a month, you will find that you have more time and are less stressed about all that is on your plate!
