5 Biggest Time Wasters for Working Mothers

Time management mistakes to avoid each day

I believe every day is an opportunity to be better than the previous. As we learn more about ourselves, grow, and become better. One area that I am constantly working on is my time management skills. As a busy mom, how I manage my time can make or break my day. Chaos lurks and waits for me to slip up so it can creep in. I’ve observed a few costly time management mistakes that I have made in the past but now work to prevent. In doing so, I am noticing a better flow to my day, less stress, and less burnout.

In today’s post, I am sharing the five biggest time wasters for working mothers and what you can do to prevent them.

Time Management for Moms

The dictionary.com definition of time management is “the analysis of how working hours are spent and the prioritization of tasks order to maximize personal efficiency in the workplace” (Dictionary.com, 2022). Time management includes our ability to prioritize and work efficiently. The definition above is geared towards the workplace but the same is true for our personal lives.

To me, personal time management is the ability to effectively manage tasks while accomplishing goals and daily objectives. As a working mother, each day is unique and presents a different set of challenges. Especially when dealing with younger children.

Time management mistakes to avoid

Time management for working mothers — Time Management Tips for Moms

The biggest time management mistake is not having goals and plans. Without these things, moms fall victim to time-wasting activities. Sounds cliche but it is true. Here are the five biggest time-wasting activities for working mothers:

Not having a plan for the week or day
Clutter and disorganization
Overcommitment
Multi-tasking
Unnecessary meetings and activities

The time wasters above are all activities that I have experienced along with countless other mothers.

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How to avoid these mistakes

The million-dollar question that many moms ask is, “how do I make it all work”? The thing I’ve discovered about time management and motherhood is that the goal is to not “make it all work”. Instead, I focus on what is important at the moment. For me, purposeful prioritization is key.

Planning helps me to prioritize.

Prioritizing helps me to avoid over committing, the need to multi-task, and taking on unnecessary tasks.

Last but certainly not least, clutter leads to chaos, low productivity, and wasted time. Avoid this downfall at all costs. Trust me, I know from experience and I am still a work in progress in this area.

What are some time wasters that you are committed to avoiding?

Read Maximizing Productivity as a Working Mom – Career Mom Community for more productivity tips.