Okay, Moms, how many times have you heard this? Even moms who I say it to, say it back to me. My standard answer is that I don’t sleep a lot. And neither do other moms I know. Or, they give up something else—exercise, time with their husband, time to read or do something else they love. The bottom line is we all do what we have to because we have to.
I’m no time management expert, but I have given workshops on how becoming a mom taught me to manage my time. Here are a few tips that might help you. And please give me some of yours, too!
1. Get up before everyone else in the household and get a head start.
I know from personal experience that the days I am up early go more smoothly than the days I “sleep in.” I can get a lot done when I don’t have a short person calling for me every three seconds or hanging on my leg. I’ve recently been reading a book titled What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast by Laura Vanderkam. She makes a great case for the productivity and accomplishments of the early-risers. I suppose if you’re absolutely against mornings, you could do as much of the morning stuff as possible the night before.
2. Make naptime productive.
If you are lucky enough to have a child young enough to nap, or even one who is willing to retreat to his or her room for quiet time for an hour, take advantage of this time! I know I am tempted to use my daughter’s naps as downtime for me too, but that’s a mistake. Again, I can get a lot done more done without interruption, and I can surf the Internet or watch TV or fold clothes later and with a child talking my ear off.
3. Make a list.
If you don’t know what you need to accomplish each day, you’re not going to accomplish it. I have a list of what I need to do each day—how many pages I must write, household chores, phone calls to make, etc. My daughter’s activities are on the list too, so I don’t get caught up with laundry and forget music class (not that she would let me!). As a mom, it’s sometimes hard to feel as though you’ve accomplished something at the end of the day. It’s a lot easier if you’re working a traditional job where you make a deal or sell something or cure a disease. But most of the moms I know feel better when they have goals each day and are able to accomplish those goals.
Now it’s your turn. What are your tips?
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Shana Galen, Multitasker Mama
I’m Shana G
alen, AKA Multitasker Mama (and aren’t we all?). I’m a wife, mom to a two-year-old daughter I call Baby Galen. My parenting motto is, “Keep moving. Don’t pass out. Don’t throw up.” Or maybe that’s my fitness motto? www.shanagalen.com
I’d add a couple more. My littlest one still gets up pretty early so I don’t get up earlier than that, I find time in other places. I’m a big supporter of early bedtime. Once our kids are in bed, usually by 7, we have several hours in the evening to work and it gives my and The Professor some quiet time together.
Find some educational TV shows you don’t mind your kids watching and use that time and don’t feel guilty about it. It’s great to catch 30 minutes or even an hour of time to get something done while they have downtime and learn in the process.
I pay for a mother’s day out program twice a week so that I can have a longer break, get lots of writing done and so that they can socialize with other kids.
I also am a big advocate for naps. My oldest daughter I think is getting pretty close to giving them up, but then we’ll be moving to quiet time in our bed with books. I think we all need that time. Great blog, Shana, and thanks for the tips!
These are great, Robyn. I also pay for a MDO-type program. It is great in that Baby G gets to see her friends and play, and I get some concentrated time to work.
My husband is great about taking our daughter to do things, that they both enjoy. He takes her to movies, basketball games, and Sam’s Club without me. That gives me some alone time in the house, which I need. When she was little he even took her to see the Wiggles without me. I had taken her once already, so I didn’t feel like I was missing out.
Gayle, Ultimate Sportsfan is getting better about this too. They make a weekly trip to the grocery store and sometimes on Sundays he takes her to the museum or bookstore. I usually deal with Saturdays, so Sundays he’s on call.
Hmm… I do a lot of these things, though I don’t get up earlier than 6, which is already far too early in my mind. But lists are great, and we do an hour or so of quiet time in the afternoon. I also kick my husband and daughter out on Saturday mornings. They go pal around, and that’s when I clean the house–it’s so nice being alone that the chore becomes a treat.
I also multi-task in the evenings while we hang out and watch TV. That’s when I do project-y things that otherwise might not get done.
But mainly, I manage my expectations. Things that I used to think HAD to get done, I now realize don’t NEED to get done *right now,* especially if getting them done means sacrificing my sanity.
Great point, Alexa. I have definitely had to let things go. I’m also glad you mentioned multi-tasking when watching TV. if there’s something I can do while watching TV or while my kiddo is watching TV, I’ll save it for later.
I’m very fortunate that both my husband and I are currently at home. This means that I stay up until 5am (the girls go to be between 7-8pm) to work; if they get up during the night (which they still do), I take care of them so my husband can have uninterrupted sleep. Then I get 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep from 5am-12pm, then I take the afternoon shift with the girls until family time after 5pm. Having a schedule is the most important thing for us, I think, and being a night owl and a flexible partner is really great, too. I know not everyone can do this, but I’d really emphasize the importance of schedule. Great post. =)
I totally agree that a great schedule makes everything so much easier. I often hear my mommy friends talk about needing to get back to the schedule. Elise, you are so lucky to have worked everything out so well.