Being a mom is one of the toughest jobs on the planet—if not the toughest. And when you’re a mom, you know that your everyday tasks along with managing your household can become a bit stressful and chaotic. However, what most mothers don’t realize is that there are a few tips and tricks that can help ease some of this burden and create a mom life that’s a little more organized. If you’re looking for some simple tips that will help you get more of your mom life and responsibilities under control, these would be them.
4 Simple Tips that Will Make Your Mom Life Less Chaotic
1. Have a family calendar.
No matter how many people are in your family, it’s extremely important for you to create a family calendar. This can be a physical calendar that’s hung somewhere in your home or you can create a family calendar that lives in your smartphone calendar. No matter which way works for you, having a family calendar that includes everyone’s schedules and extra-curricular activities will make your life so much easier. This way, you know who needs to be where when, and you can have this information well in advance so you can make necessary adjustments for carpools, dinners, etc. Without a family calendar, it’s on you to remember all the information, and that’s simply not fair.
2. Meal prep.
One of the biggest burdens is making breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the family. When you’re too tired or too overwhelmed, you end up dining out, and this can be costing you a fortune. Instead of wasting money or allowing your kids to have a free-for-all at McDonald’s every day, it’s a good idea to meal prep. Take an hour to decide what your family is going to eat for the next week. Then, make a grocery list that associates with this menu. Take time over the weekend to make some of these meals ahead of time. For instance, if you have two meals throughout the week that involve chicken, cooking the chicken ahead of time will let you spend less time making dinner on a busy weeknight. If you have a decent amount of free time on your hands one day, you should consider making a variety of freezer meals to keep on hand for those days when life just becomes too crazy.
3. Get organized.
When you’re organized, it can make your life less stressful. As a mom, this means finding ways to organize a variety of different elements throughout your home. For instance, be sure to know how to organize your pantry so you can easily find the items you need, your kids have their own section of snacks, and you can tell when you’ve run out (or about to run out) of a staple item. You should also organize your entryway or mud room so your kids have a specific place to put shoes, backpacks, coats, and anything else they need for school or activities. By having a designated spot, you won’t need to waste time looking for important things when you’re trying to walk out the door. Organizing your kids’ rooms, bathrooms, and living areas should also be placed on your list. When everything has a place, it’ll keep your home running smoothly.
4. Create a budget.
Money is often the source for stress, and you can help to eliminate this type of stress by creating and sticking to a budget. Be sure to budget out your necessities, such as your mortgage payment and utilities. You should also create a budget for groceries and gas. If your children have monthly expenses (such as sports or school fees) be sure to budget for that as well. When you have a budget in mind that you and your spouse can stick to, it will make your life so much easier to manage because you’ll know exactly what you can afford to do. Opting for the envelope system is a great way to stay on course with your budget too. Plus, it’s a great way to teach your children about money, and that’s a good thing to teach them at an early age.
When you’re a mom, there’s a lot you’ll have to deal with. However, it doesn’t mean you need to drive yourself crazy because of it. Instead, by using these simple tips, you’ll find that your life gets a lot easier just by planning meals, having a budget, and getting organized.
