Are you tired of feeling exhausted at the end of every day and feeling like you still haven’t accomplished everything you wanted? It’s a horrible feeling and we have all been there. These 10 simple tips will help you maximize your time and be more productive.
Between the kids and all of your other responsibilities it is easy to experience overwhelm, frustration and exhaustion. Having raised two kids myself, I know all too well what it’s like!
Time is the one thing you can’t impact BUT with some intentionality you can master productivity.
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7 Tips For Busy Moms | Maximize Your Time And Be More Productive
Having already been there, it’s my hope these tips will help you avoid some of the learning curves I had balancing raising kids and a busy schedule.
These are the 10 simplest tips to be more productive and see immediate change in your productivity.
These ideas will positively impact your mental health and relate directly back to your self care.
It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I always seem to take on a LOT of extra tasks. There is just something about getting a lot done that appeals to me.
What I hadn’t always been good at is making sure I left time for me in the mix. Does this sound familiar to you at all?
It’s SO EASY to get busy and not have time for the people and things that matter most to you!
Here’s the thing. You can get all of your stuff done in a way that is healthy for you AND your kids!
The best part is, you’re teaching your kids valuable life skills in the process by modeling them!
1. Start Using To-Do Lists
I know, you’ve heard about to-do lists until you don’t want to see it anymore.
Here’s the thing though. You need to use them right for to-do lists to really be productive.
Here are my top 5 tips for using to-do lists to maximize your time and productivity.
- Make a to-do list at the end of each day for tomorrow
- Highlight your Must-do’s for the day
- Put stars by unfinished things from today (make them a priority)
- Review your list FIRST THING in the morning
- Get the “less fun” things done first!
Cross off every item you complete through the day so you can still read it. It feels great to cross tasks off your to-do list and you can look back and see what you accomplished!
2. Make The Healthy Decision To Say “No” When Necessary
There are so many things you are asked to do every day.
Your desire to help others, feelings of obligation and wanting to return a favor tend to trigger your response.
When deciding whether to say no I go through this series of questions to help me decide if I can do what’s being asked of me.
Hopefully these ideas will help you make healthy decisions about when to say no.
- Do I have the time to complete the task from start to finish?
- Will saying yes create a hardship for the people I care about?
- If I agree to complete this will I have to adjust my schedule or plans?
- Do I have the skills and resources to complete this in a timely manner?
- Is there someone else that can help out and has the time & resources to complete it?
If you go through the questions and decide the benefit is greater than the cost, go for it!
Working through these questions will help you make a healthy decision on when to say no.
Avoid thinking you can multi-task and “get it done”. Multi-tasking is not productive. Commit to focusing on your daily schedule for a week and compare your productivity (or completed tasks). Busy mom life can completely overwhelm you if you aren’t careful. Take control of what you can!
3. Have An “All-In” Mentality
So, what do I mean by all in?
It’s pretty simple! When you have something scheduled, eliminate distractions.
It can be hard to make the commitment to whatever you are working on without allowing other things to distract you.
Here are some things you can do to remove distractions throughout the day.
- Turn off your notifications
- Silence your phone
- Turn your phone upside down so you can’t see notifications
- Turn off the tv
- Close your door and get the job done
- Avoid trying to get things done when friends are over
TIP: Being more productive doesn’t necessarily mean getting more done. Maximize your time by focusing on one task at a time. Work through it, start to finish, or schedule it out in realistic time slots.
4. Use A Planner To Stay Organized
When you intentionally plan and stay organized you naturally maximize your time and increase productivity.
Using a planner can be overwhelming if you are used to going non-stop and just finding a way to get things done.
Trying to remember the things you need to do for yourself, your work and your kids means you’re probably running around non-stop.
When you’re not, most likely you are getting ready for the next thing.
Maximizing your time is all about prioritizing and planning with realistic expectations.
Here are some tips to get started using a planner to increase your productivity and maximize your time.
- After using to-do lists start scheduling recurring weekly commitments on a weekly planner
- Schedule out big events on a monthly planner
- When working on your to-do list use a dump list to write down ideas of things that need to be completed (avoid distractions)
- Keep your planner with you and open throughout the day
- Give yourself grace as you transition to using a planner – the more you use it, the better you’ll become
GET YOUR FREE PLANNER AND START MAXIMIZING YOUR TIME!
5. Start Your Day Before Your Kids Wake Up
Waking up before your kids may seem impossible (not to mention miserable).
Making a few simple adjustments to your evening schedule will make starting your day before your kids wake up completely worth it!
If you are used to starting your day off with the craziness of trying to help everyone get ready and where they need to be, you need this!
You can’t control everything but making some adjustments to how and when you start your day will help you maximize your time and be more productive.
Here are a few tips to start your day off on the right foot and setting you up for success.
- Get dressed and ready for the day first thing
- Try enjoying your first cup of coffee or tea before the kids get up
- Nothing is better for getting you ready for the day than some peace and quiet
- Read some morning scriptures or inspiration to start your day
- Enjoy a great skin care routine as you start your day
Starting your day before your kids won’t only start your day off better, it will start theirs off better too.
You will be amazed at how much more productive your day is when you start it earlier than your children. It’s always good to fit in some self care to start your day off on the right foot, too.
6. Reflect At The End Of Each Day
You are a human and will inevitably get it wrong. That’s normal.
Taking a few minutes at the end of the day to reflect on what caused you to be less productive is powerful.
Here are some questions to ask yourself when you have a less productive day.
- What was happening when your productivity started to decrease?
- Were there distractions that led to your change in productivity?
- Did you deviate from your plan or to-do list?
Remember, learning is growth and growth is productive.
You can do anything if you set your mind to it!
7. Don’t Forget To Have Fun
Did you know that you are more efficient and productive when you’re having fun?
Endorphins are released when you’re having a good time. It makes sense that you would maximize your time when you’re enjoying yourself!
What do you enjoy doing?
Build in some time to do something fun each day!
The options are really endless.
Whatever it is, just do something that brings you joy.
How To Maximize Your Time And Be More Productive | Busy Mom Life
You are a mom which means you already have the skills to get a ton done.
Let’s be honest, you are trying to manage your family, your work, personal goals and all the little things that pop up throughout the day.
The most important thing you can do is be intentional about what you do and when you do it.
Want to really impact your productivity and master your mom skills?
Head over to my post on How to Teach Your Kids to be Organized!
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