Wondering how to make time for yourself as a working mom? Our schedules are full and busy, and so we tend to put ourselves last. But moms, I’m here to remind you to make time for you!
Having free time as a mom seems like a dream that will never come true. No matter whether you are trying to adapt to life with a newborn or with a newborn and other sibling, challenges are always on the road. Being a mom is challenging but it’s a process you learn so much from. Not only about yourself, but about your children, their personalities, and desires, as well. Every mom wants to be a good mom and this is why many mothers make a lot of sacrifices.
You have quite a few responsibilities and being busy for so long without having free time can be exhausting. Burnout is a real mental problem and it isn’t related only to work settings, but to your entire life and activities. If you have a stressful workplace, children to take care of, food to cook, and other house chores, it seems that your daily schedule is already full.
You do not have to feel guilty that you need time for yourself. To function properly, have patience, and think clearly, you also need to relax and unwind, to spend time with yourself and your hobbies. Moms plan it in your schedule!
How can you have free time as a mom?
So, how can a working mom plan her day so that she always has some free time? Here are some tips and tricks that will help you manage your time more efficiently.
Discipline and Organization
The first thing you need to do when you feel your mom schedule is getting crowded and you do not have any spare time is to become more disciplined and organized. There are indeed only 24 hours a day, out of which 8 are for sleeping. In the remaining amount of time, you might feel you have so many things to do that you simply do not have enough hours in a day to achieve all your tasks. It is therefore important to be as organized as you can be and have a schedule.
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This will allow you to structure all your time and plan your daily activities so that you use your time efficiently. Discipline is also important as it helps you make sure you follow that schedule and accomplish all your tasks. When doing this, it is important to accept that unpredicted things can happen and these call for some flexibility on your part.
Maybe your child is not feeling very well or maybe you catch a cold. Be organized and disciplined, but also have a degree of flexibility and consider buffer time. But if you plan your activities and organize them on a schedule, you will likely save some time as you know what you have to do next.
Delegation
One of the things that many moms avoid doing is delegating some of their tasks. It’s clear that sometimes, your mom schedule can become very crowded and you find yourself juggling between different activities. While this might keep you focused, it can also tire you. Yes, they are your children and you would do anything for them. Your role is to guide and help them and this is a full-time job you have and want to fulfill.
However, it is important to acknowledge that it is a difficult job for a single person. Doing the household chores, cleaning the house, spending time with children, and working are quite a few tasks that could be shared.
Discuss with your partner and delegate some of your tasks. Maybe your parents or other friends can help you with some of them, such as taking the children from kindergarten or school. At the same time, if your children are old enough, you can ask them to help with the house chores. Like this, you will earn some free time.
Multitasking – Good or Bad?
Even though multitasking was long praised to be the most efficient time management technique, later studies prove the contrary. When you multitask, you share your attention between different stimuli, so you do not achieve full focus.
Depending on your task, you can combine routine ones with others that need your focus. But when you have some that are more challenging, choosing to focus on a single task is a wise decision. For example, while you wash the dishes you can quiz your children.
Consider Available Shortcuts
Your time in a day is limited but as a mom, you want to do so many things. This can make you exhausted, so it’s important to consider available shortcuts to make the whole process more efficient. For example, when you are cooking, you can use canned tomatoes that are already sliced and not spend time slicing them by yourself.
Even though it may seem you do not save so much time, in fact, you do. Because it adds up and, in the end, you will have some free time.
Have Some Time for Yourself
With all these tips and tricks put into practice, you will likely save some time you would otherwise have spent it thinking about what to do next or worrying that you still have a lot of tasks on your list. All moms are dedicated to raising their children and offering them the best life in the world. However, to do this and support and guide your children healthily, you also need to feel good about yourself. Being exhausted and tired all the time can sometimes cloud your judgment.
Make having time for yourself a priority as you need peaceful moments to relax and unwind. Exercise to relieve stress and keep fit. Practice your hobby and follow your passion. Read to relax and enlarge your perspective on the world.
Ending Note
Being a mom is not an easy job as there are many challenges along the road. You learn something every day, from your newborn, toddler, or adolescent. You might have so many on your to-do list that you feel overwhelmed. Plan your day in an organized way, consider buffer time, be flexible, and delegate some of your tasks.
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Gayl says
This paragraph, along with all the others, is so good. But this one stands out because often when we are interrupted, it’s hard to remember what we need to do. Having that schedule, even if it’s tentative, can help us know what to get back to once the interruption is done.
“Maybe your child is not feeling very well or maybe you catch a cold. Be organized and disciplined, but also have a degree of flexibility and consider buffer time. But if you plan your activities and organize them on a schedule, you will likely save some time as you know what you have to do next.”
Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #InspireMeMonday.