It can be hard and overwhelming to get everything on your to-do list done as a busy mama. You are the captain of the household. We have so much to think about in our day-to-day lives. From school, kids' sports and events, to our own jobs, household chores, and trying to take care of our own health and include some time for family fun and even some "me time."
Life can get downright chaotic, trying to balance everything and be sure that everyone's needs are met, including your own, which often get pushed to the back burner. It seems there's not enough time in the day, or we wish we had extra arms to get more done. Somehow we do it though, even when we don't know how the hell we did it, it gets done. Super mom power engages and somehow shit gets done. But, how can we make this all more manageable? How can we take some of the pressure off? In this blog post, I'll share some tips that have helped me to unleash my super mom powers to help me be my most productive self.
Know you're not alone, we all feel overwhelmed at times, mommin' ain't easy!
Tip #1 - Start early
Become part of the 5am club. Starting your day early and getting in some "me time," whether it be to get a workout done in peace, to do some journaling or meditation, to get a jump start on something you're working on, or just to enjoy your home in peace and quiet. Getting in that time to yourself will help your day go more smoothly, before kids and life demand your attention. Getting a jump start early in the morning will set you up for a successful day ahead.
Tip #2 - Set yourself up the night before.
I like to do a "reset" of my home each night before bed. I make sure the counters are clear, the dishwasher is running, floors are swept, laundry is folded, and the house is generally tidy. Do a skincare routine and get to bed at the same time every night so you can wake up fresh and well-rested. I know that waking up to a clean home instantly puts me in a good mood. If you wake up to a mess, your tone for the day is already chaotic. Waking up to a fresh home feeling rested is huge for making your days easier.
Tip #3 - Create a second brain
My second brain is literally the notes app on my phone. I put everything in here. Every Sunday, as I fill out my planner, I make a list on my phone of to-dos for each day that I can check off as I go. I check this list every morning and know exactly what I need to get done that day. I check things off as I go, and this helps to keep the chaos organized and holds me accountable to get things done, like my workouts. I can't check things off that aren't done, and for someone like me, clicking off those boxes is very satisfying. I want them all checked off by the end of the day. Having this "second brain" takes the constant thinking about what needs to get done out of it and makes more time for productivity.
Tip #4 - Plan your week
This goes back into creating a second brain. Writing out your week is huge, but when I say plan your week, I mean plan it all. Pick your days for workouts, choose your rest days, plan what you're going to cook for dinner, choose a house cleaning day for that weekly deep clean, work schedule, appointments, and kids' schedules. Writing it all out helps you to see what is in store for the week. If you have a super busy day one day, you can move things around to even it out. Or if you know you have something you really want to do and want a day that is much less busy, you can push things to other days to make it work for you.
Getting organized is key to keeping your sanity as a busy mom.
Using daily routines, such as early mornings to yourself and setting aside time to plan your weeks, will help the chaos of motherhood become less chaotic. Being organized doesn't come naturally to all of us (me included), so doing these things has been huge in keeping me on track and away from burnout. Forgetfulness has been a problem for me, and using these hacks—the time to myself, the list-making aka my second brain—has been huge for me. I don't know how I'd juggle everything without it. Give these tips a try and let me know how it goes!
