6 Time-Saving Hacks for Busy Moms
Posted: August 23, 2021
What mom out there doesn't need a little time back, am I right? In this post, I've shared my top six time-saving hacks that I use in my day-to-day life. Hopefully there's at least one or two that can help you get a little time back.
Time-Saving Hack Number 1: Batch Cook and Meal Prep
Whether you love to cook, hate to cook, or are somewhere in-between, it's just one of those things that has to get done. And most busy moms I know cherish this time as one of the rare occasions in the day when you can all sit down together as a family. One of the greatest time-saving hacks I've been doing for a few years now, is just making a whole lot more than we need for one dinner, and either saving it for leftovers or freezing it in single-serve or meal-sized portions for lunches or those busy evenings of taxiing your kids from activity to activity. My go-to's include double-batching my spaghetti sauce or homemade soups, freezing the leftovers, then thawing in the fridge and warming up in a pot whenever I need a quick, healthy supper. Or baking or BBQing a whole package of Costco chicken breasts and making a big pot of rice and a big pot of veggies for supper, separating the left-overs into single-sized meals and freezing for lunches or quick dinners. Meal prep is another time-saving hack. While it takes some time upfront to wash all the fruit, chop veggies, or put together snacks and lunches for the week ahead, it takes a lot more time to do little bits of it every day. BONUS: your kids are a lot more willing to pack healthy snacks when they don't have to put in the work to prep it each day.Time-Saving Hack Number 2: Get Your Kids To Help Out
I know, I know... sometimes it's just quicker and easier to do it yourself... in the beginning, that is. But trust me, if you put in the time and effort upfront, getting your kids to help with even a few small chores around the house can save you time in the long run. The best way to do this is to work WITH your kids to create a list of responsibilities, versus just telling them what to do. It gives them a sense of validation and control within the decision-making process, and helps them buy into the chores more easily. Make a list of the things you could use some help with and that are developmentally appropriate for your kids' ages and stages, and sit down and discuss. A few things that kids can start helping out with include:- tidying up around the house
- pet care
- putting laundry away
- yard care
- taking out garbage and recycling
- loading and unloading the dishwasher
- washing the dishes in the sink
- cleaning their rooms
- changing their bedding
- sorting laundry
- cleaning bathrooms
- vacuuming
- dusting
- mopping
- cleaning windows
- wiping the table and countertops
- cleaning up after meals
- setting and clearing the table
- packing their own snacks and lunches
- meal prep
- cooking
- and tons more!
Time-Saving Hack #3: Combine Tasks or Activities
I don't know about you, but folding laundry used to be one of my least favourite tasks! I would wash it, dry it, and then it would sit in baskets getting wrinkled for days... But for the past several years, I started folding laundry after the kids were in bed or busy doing their own thing while watching my favourite shows. Not only did it save me time, but it made the task a lot more enjoyable as well. This was seriously a game-changer... I don't know why I didn't start doing it sooner! I actually look forward to folding laundry now - it's like a quiet, calm task that gets done almost mindlessly, and I don't feel guilty at all about sitting down and watching a show since, you know... I'm still getting stuff done. Combining tasks frees up time. BONUS: combining an unpleasant task with one that you already do and enjoy doing will increase the likelihood that you get the unpleasant tasks done more consistently. In life, there are things we want to do, and there are things that we just have to do. But what we often don't realize, is that they don't have to be mutually exclusive.Time-Saving Hack #4: Start Your Morning Routine the Night Before
I used to be the mom rushing around all morning, trying to pack lunches and backpacks while getting myself and my kids ready for school and work every morning. It was a horrible way to start my day, and I almost always left my house stressed out and frazzled - usually forgetting something. Several years back, I realized I needed the change this frantic morning routine, so that we could ALL start our day out better, so I got in the habit of starting my morning routine the night before. As a busy mom myself, here are a few things I find helpful to do in the evening, so we have less to do in the morning:- make sure the kids' homework is complete
- have any school agendas/notes/permission slips read and dealt with/signed
- have any changes in pick-up/appointment info written in kids' agendas or emailed to Teachers
- make sure the kids's backpacks are packed up and ready to go (with the above, and whatever else they need for the following day)
- have lunches and snacks prepped, packed, and placed in the fridge
- have all my gym stuff packed in my gym bag
- have all my work stuff packed up and sitting at the front door
- look at the calendar and be aware of whatever sports/activities/events we have happening the following day
- if needed, pack sports/activity/event stuff or have it ready to go