How to Stay Organized in the Busyness of Motherhood
In my few years of mothering experience, I’ve learned that the seasons of it are consistently changing, stages come and go, and that time is precious and fleeting. How I managed my time in the newborn phase is definitely different than what works in the toddler and preschool phase. Over time, I’ve learned to make adjustments and pivots as my daily priorities and realities have shifted.
As life has only gotten busier over the years, I’ve been doing my best to focus on making sure my time is better balanced between all the areas that motherhood entails. One of the most helpful ways I’ve found to manage my time more efficiently, is by creating systems and tools for everyday household tasks. What started out as me jotting these things down on a piece of paper in a very random manner, eventually turned into me designing templates and reusable tools to make this part of motherhood just a little bit easier for myself and for other moms as well.
Create systems that work for you
Creating a system can have a variety of meanings - one example being assigning tasks to certain days. Ex: Laundry gets done on Sundays, cleaning bathrooms on Saturdays, garbage taken out on Mondays, etc. This, along with other systems utilized within the household, are helpful because it takes the guesswork out of when specific activities will take place. This allows members of the family to be on the same page and to help each other out as needed.
Save time on recurrent tasks
I’m a work-in-progress in this area, but I believe that if I can save even a few minutes here and there on things that need to be accomplished regularly, that time will add up. I can then spend that time on the things that matter most to me. For example, adding items to my shopping list used to create a problem. I would either add them directly to a list on my phone, or go straight to Amazon and search for the items then, just so I wouldn’t forget. This would lead me down a never-ending rabbit hole of distractions because I picked up my phone. Instead, I now write them down (yes, on paper!). And then I have a reminder set on my phone each day to check the shopping list at a certain time. This way I’m not relying on my phone or being taken away from time spent with the kids.
Small changes do add up
What I’ve gained from making even small changes and adjusting my habits, has been quite beneficial for me in my various roles, and so I want to help others find this freedom too. Whether you use the products below or not, I simply want to stress the importance of finding what works best for you. What works well for one person might not work for another - that is perfectly okay. Everyone’s situation is unique. I just want to offer these here for you in case you are looking for a way to get started.
If you click on the images below, you will find the items I designed to help make organization a little simpler. I want to give a quick overview of the different products and how I actively use them on a daily basis in my own home. (You can click the links in the descriptions as well to be taken directly to each item) :
Planners
Using a planner is a great option for those, like myself, whose schedule is constantly changing. I admit, that I get bored with routine very quickly, and I need variety in my days. I’m always trying to come up with creative ways to spend our time - whether it be trying out new parks, play-dates with friends, or discovering new places to go check out. A planner works well for this because I can visualize what my day/week is going to look like, list out my priorities and to-do’s, and track all the things in one spot. Available in a Monthly (Dated or Undated), Weekly or Daily format, you can choose whichever one works best for you.
Meal Planner and Grocery List
Meal planning and grocery shopping are things that honestly used to stress me out. I think we as moms, who are already making hundreds of micro-decisions every day, can get burnt out in this area quickly. When I started to become more intentional with planning out my week in advance, I found that meal planning was key in easing my stress load throughout the week. The grocery list is handy in that it breaks down the sections for you. (Tip: I laminated mine and stick it on the fridge. Using a dry-erase marker, I can quickly add items to the list and wipe off after shopping. It saves on paper and time!) You can find the Grocery List here, the Meal Planner here, or you can save a bit with the bundle here.
Weekly Schedule
Whether you’re a working parent, stay-at-home-parent, or perhaps even a college student - this weekly format can be a great option if your schedule generally stays pretty consistent. Available in either a Sunday or Monday start - both are included with your download.
Habit Tracker
Tracking your habits is an easy way to stay accountable, and helps you see the progress made towards building better habits or working on your goals. It can be fun too! A visualization tool such as this Habit Tracker can provide motivation and inspiration to keep going!
Planner Bundle
If you’re feeling ambitious and want to add more of these tools to your toolbox all at once and save at the same time, this 6-in-1 bundle is a great option for you as well.
I designed these tools with you in mind, in hopes that they would provide an all-in-one resource that saves you time and sanity throughout your week. These digital downloads are also versatile - they can be printed out, used electronically on your phone or tablet, or even laminated for re-use. I’m also excited to offer more resources that are currently in the works! Stay tuned for those to be announced in the near future. Thanks so much for reading and for checking these out. Your support allows me to continue serving you more in the future!
