Raise your hand if you wish there were fewer hours in the day. No takers? Exactly why we all need some help when it comes to saving time. Here are some of the things I have found to be helpful. We’d love to hear your ideas too!
1) Wash your dishes at work. No, not ALL your dishes, that might be a bad move if you want to stay employed. But instead of bringing home another chore to do when you get home, try washing your lunch and snack containers at work!
2) Run a quick errand on your way to pick up the kids. I can’t tell you how many times I have made the (wrong) decision to first pick up the kids and then run an errand. That’s the last thing my three- and six-year-olds want to do after a long day. Enter two cranky, over tired, hungry kids. Wise words – stop before picking the kids up if you are at all able to.
3) Make lunches as you make dinner. You’re already in there making a mess of the kitchen, may as well throw together snacks and lunches for the next day for you and the kids while you’re at it.
4) Throw in laundry right when you get home. Working moms, we are not home and able to do quick chores like laundry during the day. I hate folding laundry. Hate it. I tend to put it off and keep re-running the dryer because I am too lazy to fold it the first time round. I realized it’s partially do to my attempting laundry too late in the evening when I am wiped (and partially because, again, I just plain hate it). I now start a load when I walk through the door so I am more likely to actually dry it and even fold it before the evening completely gets away from me.
6) Plan out a week’s worth of outfits on Sunday. I am always up before the rest of my household meaning I either get ready at the gym or in silence AKA I must have my outfit picked out (and packed for the gym) the night before so I don’t wake them up. But to save more time, try planning a whole week’s worth of outfits.
7) Say no. Many of us want to pretend there are 44 hours in a day and that we can conquer it all. We cannot. You will save time if you stop trying and give yourself room to breathe.
8) Call to book appointments first thing in the morning. Studies show the call/wait time is less.
9) Find a dentist by work. Don’t waste time traveling to and from the office. Make lunch time appointments and avoid taking away family time.
10) Pack it all up the night before. On the days I get ready at the gym, I get ready super quick because I have it all packed up the night before. This could include not only outfits but think about also backpacks, lunches and even signatures on things like field trip forms etc. In the morning, aim to just be able to grab and go versus searching for things or making lunches.
What are some of your biggest time-saving tips for working moms?
