If you’re a working woman, and also a mom, you know much of your time goes to planning, scheduling, and juggling priorities. And there’s always some upset that makes an average week a little more difficult. Here are 10 lifestyle tips to help you make the most of your time, so you can enjoy your family more.
1 – Teach Kids To Clean Up As They Go
Teaching your children to clean up as they play, snack and do activities can have big benefits for making your life easier. Even if you have a cleaning service, having your children clean up after themselves will have to keep daily life more organized and will teach good habits.
2 – Choose Clothing the Night Before
Get your kids used to picking out their outfits for the next day the previous evening. This can avoid much confusion and “finding” shoes and other items in the morning. Many working moms make this task even easier by taking a page from the corporate playbook and “standardizing” their kid’s wardrobe with favorite styles in various colors and patterns and that easily be put together.
3 – Learn To Delegate Effectively
Getting help with housework and childcare means you will have to learn to delegate these tasks quickly and with proper instructions. You can hire relatives, neighborhood teens or retirees to help with picking up children and taking to classes, but make sure you have provided all the necessary schedules and details to make this method successful.
4 – Use The Word “No” With Conviction
Learning to use the word “no” with conviction and confidence can help you to deal more effectively with your children, as well as in managing your participation in family events, school activities, and other groups that may ask for time and energy you don’t necessarily have.
5 – Make A Family Schedule Board
You may have your own personal notebook on your cellphone schedule for work and personal activities, but your family can also benefit from a central board that lists where everyone needs to be at various times during the week. The board will help you, as well as all other members of the family, keep track of where to be, and when.
6 – Use the Internet Judiciously
The internet makes shopping and communications easier, but it can also lead you into spending too much precious time on searches, newsletters and community forums. Set a limit on your internet use, get your online tasks accomplished and enjoy a little time for getting in touch.
7 – Make Use of Supermarket Options
Many stores offer online ordering that allows you to pick your order on the way home from work or have a home delivery service. Most stores offer a variety of pre-prepared items, such as rotisserie chicken, salads, potatoes and other foods that eliminate cooking from your schedule. Instead of carrying home large trays of bottled water, purchase a water filtration system to provide unlimited good-tasting water.
8 – Connect With Your Spouse Regularly
Hectic family schedules can make marriage feel more like an organization than a loving partnership. Time a moment whenever you can to connect with your spouse or partner to say hello, tell them you appreciate them, and share a joke or experience. These small moments, made person-to-person, can help to strengthen the bond between you.
9 – Schedule in Some Me Time
Even a tiny amount of time for yourself can make a big difference in how well you feel during the week and how productively you work. It can be just a hot bath with a glass of wine or an appointment at the local spa for a facial and massage. A hot shower with a shower steamer from BodyRestore can also be a great way to relax after a long week. Maybe you prefer an evening out with good friends. Whatever activity refreshes you should be a part of your weekly schedule that pays off in a better mood and higher productivity.
10 – Plan Time For A Good Night’s Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is the single action you can take to help you maintain good health and work productively every day. Although it may be impossible to get a full 8 hours every night, schedule the amount of sleep you need as much as possible. The benefits are noticeable, and you will find upsets bother you less when you’re feeling rested and healthy.
Even with the best of planning, working moms know that some weeks can be chaotic and disorganized. However, you can minimize that feeling of disruption if you rely on these 10 tips to help you create a workable lifestyle for your own and your family’s needs.
