One of the best ways for a busy Mom to stay on top of her game is to have a foundation of helpful habits that she can put to use each week. These 5 habits will help you to get organized, put together a plan to tackle the week, as well as allow you to recharge your own batteries!
5 Helpful Habits for Busy Moms!
#1 Have a good calendar system that works for you
Any time someone asks me how she can become more organized- my first question to her is always to ask what kind of calendar system she is using and whether or not she can rely upon it completely to run her life?
In order for a busy Mom to be able to manage her family, her home, and her career- she needs to know what her commitments are- her own appointments, those she needs to take her kids to, deadlines for projects, etc.
It must be recorded somewhere- and all be available in one place so she can see a clear picture of what is required for each day. Post-it notes left all over her computer, a sports calendar that lives only on the fridge door, and separate systems for work and home make staying on top of everything extremely challenging.
This post on the Best Family Calendars shows you the calendars that I think are the best ones available to help busy Moms!
#2 Take time each week to plan ahead
I am a huge fan of taking an hour on a Sunday afternoon to sit down, look at my calendar, look at my to-do list, and give some thought to the steps I should be taking this week to work towards my bigger goals.
I will print a copy of that week's calendar in a list format, and then using my Clever Fox planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. , I will start penciling in work projects, phone calls I need to make, errands I need to run, etc.
The idea is for me to get it all down in one place so that each morning I have a complete list of what I would like to accomplish each day.
The key to making this system work, however, is to make sure that I don't load too many things into any one day- that is just setting myself up to fail.
If you are looking for a great planner system for your life- check out this post on the Best Planners for Busy Moms!
Looking for more great tools to organize your home?
Then be sure to check out these lists of my favorite Closet Organizing Tools This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and Bathroom Organizing Tools This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !
#3 Use a weekly cleaning /errand schedule
Regardless of whether or not you have outside help in cleaning your house or if you and your family tackle the job yourselves- we all have home responsibilities and errands that we need to take care of each week. And these things can feel like they are hanging over your head undone unless you have a plan to tackle them weekly.
So set up a schedule that works for you- and add it to your calendar. It might look like this:
- Mondays: launder clothing/ clean kitchen floors/errands at the bank and dry cleaner
- Tuesday: launder sheets and towels
- Wednesday: clean bathrooms/water plants
- Thursdays: clean bedrooms and upstairs hallways
- Friday: launder clothing /clean main living areas & kitchen
- Saturday: family day!
- Sunday: grocery shopping
Sure you might need to re-assign tasks to different days based on what is going on for a specific week, but a simple system you try to stick with every week is going to be the most effective way to “get it all done”.
I have created a separate color-coded calendar in my calendar system which serves as my weekly to-do list for my weekly cleaning and errand schedule. You can read my tutorial on how simple this process is: How to Put Your To-Do List in Your Calendar.
#4 Declutter every day by putting things away right away
One of the best habits busy Moms can develop is always to put things away immediately when you are done with them– and to teach your kids to do the same thing!
When you walk in the door- hang up your handbag, put your keys away in that specific spot in your top drawer, and put your phone in the same place on the kitchen counter. This way- you'll never have to look for these items because they will always be where they belong!
Don't just put that stack of mail down- sort through it- and toss in the recycling bin anything you don't need. Put bills in a “Bills to Pay” folder, and leave mail for others in a specific inbox just for them.
When you change clothes- immediately put away that which can be worn again and toss into the hamper that which needs to be laundered. Don't leave it for later!
Everything you can put away- just do it. This eliminates there being large areas of the home that you'll need to declutter and straighten later!
#5 Have some routines that help YOU to recharge!
What makes you feel as if you “took a break” from your busy life? Spending 30 minutes reading a book? Getting in a workout? Spending time outdoors? Date night once a week with your spouse?
Whatever that is for you- it absolutely has to happen. And that means you need to make it a priority in your life and in order to ensure that you do it- you need to schedule it into your calendar. I do this as part of my Sunday afternoon planning ritual.
Making time to take care of yourself is one of the most essentials things you can do as a busy Mom!
Would you like to get organized?
Here are some more posts to inspire you:
- 15 Fantastic Command Centers to Help Busy Moms Stay Organized
- 5 Ways Using a Family Calendar Can Improve Your Life!
- The Best Planners for Busy Moms
- Free Customizable Printable Grocery List
- How to Create a Magnetic Menu Planning Board
Are you ready to get your life organized? Register for Busy Moms Boot Camp!
It's a free series of 10 weekly emails that can help you put some organization back in your life and help you to create room for all of those things that you'd like to be doing- whether that's making time to celebrate the little things with your family or carving out some space for yourself. Busy Moms Boot Camp can help you to move from chaos to organized! Simply sign up below to get started!
What helpful habits do you use as a busy Mom?
Jessica says
Thank you for sharing these useful tips. I’m pretty good, but I must tackle no. 2. and no. 4.
Best regards from an Italian in Milan.
Lina says
These are all great tips. I hope I can get to follow everything to a T. I’ve been struggling with managing my schedule lately due to circumstances at work but I know I can get around it. I just have to think positive.