Parent Productivity Hacks
Save Your Precious Time and Sanity with These Top Tips
10. ’Twas the Night Before
So many things can go wrong during rushed mornings before school and work. Avoid major drama by setting everything out the night before. Each evening I lay each child’s clothes, socks, shoes, and accessories out. I pack school and sports bags with each child to ensure nothing is missed. The goal is to establish good habits early on so that as the children get older they will become responsible for organising their things (wishful thinking).
9. Stacking vs. Cramming
I speak about this more here but with young children, a little bit of work at a regular cadence is the key to progress. If my children have a project coming up or need to learn a new concept, we sit down, break it up into parts and do a bit each day (c. 20 minutes). Cramming with little ones doesn’t work, especially after long school days. You should always make the most of small periods of time between activities and meals. There is never a “perfect” time with children so it’s important to seize small opportunities!
8. Gotta Do the Cookin’ by the Book
While cooking may prove cathartic, it can prove time-consuming and the clean-up is never fun. Whenever you are inspired to cook at home, double recipes so that you can freeze batches for busy weekdays. It’s a great idea to invest in a high-quality Dutch oven for large family meals. Also, while you prepare the food, throw some chopped vegetables aside. These can be packed into snack boxes that go in your child’s lunch bag or the car for a healthy alternative to pre-packaged snacks.
7. Kill the Clutter
Having moved around quite a lot (often internationally), I embrace the quarterly clean-out. You always end up finding interesting things and can more easily manage all of the “kid clutter” that tends to accumulate. Digitise as much as possible (children’s projects, artwork etc.) to avoid boxes of schoolwork build-up. Organising and labeling storage containers up-front makes life easier later on when you actually need to find something.
6. Clean Up Your Act
Wipes and white vinegar get rid of most surface and fabric stains if you act fast enough. Just rinse stains out with cold water first then wash asap. For the walls and harder to remove marks, get yourself a “magic eraser” — it is a life-saver!
5. Rotate Toys and Books
I’ve found my kids get overwhelmed when they are surrounded by too much choice. I try to rotate the toys and books so that they get the sense of something novel and exciting every few months. They are also encouraged to get involved in quarterly clean-outs and to help with donations.
4. Stick to the Schedule
I always go over the routine for the day beforehand with the kids so that they know what to expect. When everyone is on the same page there is less opportunity to go off-piste (it still does of course, but just a bit less). Even the weekends retain a bit of structure so that sleep schedules stay similar which helps everyone stay rested.
3. Keep an “Emergency Kit”
If you switch bags, strollers, or cars regularly, keep an “emergency kit” that you can easily toss from one into another. I usually have a small garbage bag that contains bandages and antiseptic cream for falls and an extra pair of underwear, socks, and sweatpants in case of accidents. Sometimes a couple of snacks help as well.
2. Be Timely
I set all of the clocks in the house ahead by at least 5 minutes to ensure we have a realistic chance of showing up somewhere on time. The kids use those clocks as their guides so it helps them get ready a bit early. I also live by my Google calendar, ensuring I get reminders via both phone and email on the day of and the day before.
- Operate via FIFO (First In, First Out)
Things come at you constantly with children. The best thing you can do is take care of small fires, such as school notifications, as you get them or else they end up likely to be forgotten.
Of course, this sounds like neurotic overload. And it’s tough to follow everything all the time because life never goes to plan. But overall, these habits have helped me stay organised and avoid last-minute stress. They also help ensure my kids feel well-prepared for whatever comes their way.
