How do busy moms manage their time?
Picture this: Wake up, do a 50-step skincare routine, rock the best leggings, cook a gourmet breakfast, wake up the toddler with a cheerful song, plan a day full of Pinterest-worthy activities, hit the gym, whip up snacks, clean the house, and oh, get the work done of your paying job.
Of course, you can do it! — in an ideal world, with an imaginary house and imaginary children.
Let’s be real — I work a double shift from home. And I bet you do too. But here is the thing, I’m not here to sell the idea of a supermom. That’s not me.
As women who are also mothers, we’re bombarded with expectations to excel in every part of motherhood, entrepreneurship, and womanhood. But, we’re humans. Feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and stressed is normal. Unfortunately, society might not see it that way.
And the worst part is that if we say anything about it, we’ll be judged as ungrateful and they might suggest that our frustration is the consequence of poor time management -yeah, sure!
Well, I’ve discovered that not all time management tips work for the overwhelmed mom.
Embracing realities
I’m in a race against the clock, trying to make the most of 24 hours, dealing with tantrums over the “wrong” cup, and facing the exhaustion of negotiations with a tiny human with a strong will.
That’s why following strict time management tips from productivity gurus who probably haven’t experienced the chaos of motherhood left me frustrated.
So, I tossed them aside and crafted my own survival guide. I took what makes sense to me in the messy, real-life chaos of being a mompreneur with a demanding toddler.
I’m gonna share them with you now, please be free to take what works for you and ignore what doesn’t.
I identified my day-to-day challenges
When I started journaling, it was a dump of daily chaos. Tantrums, meltdowns, and the same battles with my daughter. I began to see patterns.
Her tantrums were often about not getting enough attention from me. In my case, I felt more irritated during the afternoons, while mornings were my best time.
Understanding these challenges was the first step.
With this information, I started to plan a routine that adjusted to my reality.
Then I started prioritizing tasks and responsibilities
What matters more to you? I ranked my priorities: My health, my daughter, my business, and the house chores. This ranking became my guide for organizing tasks and what I choose NOT to do.
For example, house chores will always come last. My house might be a mess, but it’s a CHOICE, not a consequence because I run out of time. And then, on weekends, I would prioritize the house cleaning and choose not to do tasks for my paying job.
Trying to do everything in a day is an illusion, the truth is YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING.
I organized those tasks in realistic time blocks
I used to make a to-do list of the 3 most important tasks for the day. And then, I noticed another pattern: certain tasks aligned naturally with certain times of the day. With this discovery, I decided to start organizing my day in time blocks to focus during an established period on one task at a time.
It’s not flawless, especially during summer vacations without daycare, but it adds a touch of organization and makes me feel at peace.
Also, timers became my best friends. They help me focus, give my daughter a heads up as it is easier for her to understand “Mom is gonna play with you when the timer rings” than “mom is gonna play with you when she’s done” as when “I’m done” seems vaguer, also it helps me control her screen time
I realized and accepted I couldn’t do everything by myself
Dreaming of a team? Me too. But for now, simple strategies work. Chat GPT helps with meal planning and grocery lists.
If I could, I would leave groceries also to be delivered to my home, to save time shopping and avoid going all the way with an energetic toddler. Still, I live in Brazil and the fees are too high for my economy right now, so my husband stepped up, sharing chores like grocery shopping. It’s a start.
I started to say ‘no’ and set boundaries
Setting boundaries felt wrong initially, but it’s liberating. Learning to say ‘no’ to family and clients wasn’t easy, but it’s essential.
It’s about valuing your time and well-being. I stopped accepting unexpected meetings at times that were chaotic for me. If it’s not urgent we can schedule it for another day.
If I don’t do anything for me, I easily explode
Forget the 50-step skincare routine. In this phase of life, it’s unrealistic. My self-care is 10 minutes of journaling and 20 minutes of exercise. It’s not much, but it’s enough to keep my anxiety at bay. Having that time for myself motivates me and adds a sense of accomplishment.
So, there you have it — time management strategies (?) for the overwhelmed mom. Embrace what resonates with you, discard what doesn’t. We’re not striving for perfection; we’re navigating this chaos with resilience.
Let’s build a community around this journey. Join me for more insights — give me a follow!
