Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

10 ways to accomplish more stress-free

“Intentional planning, strategy, and an abundance of grace” is my working mom’s motto. I came to the realization a while ago that my ability to not only plan my week but also my ability to manage and protect my time boxes was an essential component of a stress-free and productive week. In today’s post, I will be sharing time management tips and 10 ways to accomplish more without the added stress.

Let’s be clear and level set the conversation, I am not suggesting that we live an overworked and overwhelming life of busyness. Busyness is not productive. Nor is sacrificing our time, freedom, and joy a sustainable approach. I believe with the right mindset and systems in place we can transition from overworked to overjoyed.

Stress Free Planning

I read this article online in Psychology Today, “6 Reasons Why You Should Use a Daily Planner”, by Barbara Markway Ph.D. (Source – 6 Reasons Why You Should Use a Daily Planner | Psychology Today, 2018). One of the key call out was using a planner is excellent for stress relief.

“Stress has many forms, but a common denominator is the feeling of being overwhelmed. You are often stressed due to a hectic schedule, having too many demands, or just putting too much on your plate. “
Barbara Markway, Ph.D.

This article emphasizes using a planner, but in today’s digital age, we have an abundance or digital planning tools to satisfy multiple preferences.

Time Management 101

Our ability to manage our time is connected to our ability to plan our days and prioritize our commitments. Prioritization helps us to determine areas of focus and where to best allocate our time. Similar to digital planning resources, there are a number of digital ways in which we can manage our time.

10 Ways to Accomplish More

I often hear mothers say “I struggle with having enough time” or “I simply don’t have enough time”. Figuring out how to make the most of my given 24 hours in a day can be a struggle for sure. I know this from experience. However, it is what we do with the time that we have that matter more than the amount of time.

Here are 10 Ways to Accomplish More:

Focus on what’s important
Set short-term and long-term goals
Align your plans to your goals
Delegate
Defer (see also point 1)
Write/type out a to-do list
Factor in rest and breaks
Group like tasks
Time-block plan
Have an accountability system or go to person

In my experience, the above list is helpful for working mothers and allows us to accomplish more stress free.

Let me know in the comments some of your go-to methods for managing your day and accomplishing your tasks. You can read more time management tips in this blog, Time Management vs. Life Management – Career Mom Community!

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