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Let’s face it: being a mother is very similar to being the full-time CEO of a startup. Your staff members (that is, children) are always demanding your full focus, you’re continuously on call, and multitasking is your middle name.
But would you believe some methods could streamline your hectic schedule, eliminate the clutter, and simplify the never-ending to-do list?
Thankfully, there is quite an abundance of mom hacks that may help you and aren’t too complicated.
Before going into these tips, let’s discuss some of the hardships that mothers face on an everyday basis.
What are some challenges mothers face?
The world’s hardest job, motherhood, is known for having its own special obstacles. Even while each mother’s journey is unique, there are certain similar obstacles that many encounter. Here are some of them:
- Time management: Juggling work, family, and personal obligations can be challenging. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, getting everything done requires constant juggling. The clock never seems to be on a mother’s side when it comes to balancing domestic duties, going to school events, and fitting in some personal time.
- Financial strain: It can be expensive to raise a child. The expenses, which include healthcare and school bills, can add up rapidly. Many women are always balancing their budgets and seeking methods to save costs without sacrificing their children’s needs.
- Physical and Emotional Fatigue: Being a mother can have both physical and emotional responsibilities. Numerous women may feel worn out by lack of sleep, ongoing anxiety, and the physical responsibilities of caring for small children.
- Maintaining Personal Identity: Mothers frequently lose themselves as a result of their parental responsibilities. When time is spent primarily on family, finding time for personal interests, vocations, or even just self-reflection becomes difficult.
- Pressure to be Perfect: The rise of social media has increased the pressure to be the “perfect” mother, which is problematic. Feelings of inadequacy might result from comparing oneself to others and aiming for unattainable goals.
- Lack of Support: Many moms experience isolation in their journeys, whether it be due to the absence of a partner, distant family members, or even a lack of a supporting community.
These difficulties are frequent, but they are not insurmountable. Mothers may overcome these obstacles with grace and resiliency if they have the correct approaches, resources, and attitudes.
Read More: 25 WFH Tips for Boss Moms
How can you simplify your life as a mother?
It takes a lot of work to be a mother. You balance a variety of duties every day, such as making sure your children are nourished and happy, taking care of domestic chores, and occasionally even working a full-time job.
However, by making a few tactical adjustments and adding a little organization, you may streamline your daily routine and discover more pockets of quiet amid the bustle.
Create a weekly meal plan to eliminate daily decision-making about food.
Making the decision of “What’s for dinner?” each day is one of the most difficult tasks a mother faces. You may streamline the grocery shopping process and save yourself the mental work needed to select what to eat each day by creating a weekly meal plan.
You may make better food selections, avoid last-minute takeaway temptations, and even save money by buying supplies in bulk or at a discount if you plan your meals in advance and stick to a budget.
Additionally, having a clear strategy makes last-minute grocery runs less stressful and guarantees that you always have the right items on hand.
Set specific days for laundry to avoid daily washing.
If you don’t manage your laundry, it could turn into a time-consuming daily task. You can lessen the everyday burden of dealing with a growing pile of dirty clothes by setting aside designated days for laundry. Running at full capacity on designated days saves energy and frees up other days for other pursuits.
Just envision how much easier it would be to not have to worry about laundry the rest of the week if you knew, for instance, that Tuesdays and Saturdays are designated as laundry days.
Designate a “family command center” to centralize schedules, notes, and reminders.
The nerve hub of your home’s organization is a family command center. All significant papers, plans, and reminders are gathered in one location, whether it be a desk, a board, or a wall. This implies that you won’t have to look for that misplaced permission slip or overlook a future dentist appointment.
Every family member can stay informed when everything is in one location, which lowers the possibility of multiple bookings or missed activities.
Additionally, having a dedicated space for these objects might help you clear out clutter in other parts of your house.
Automate bill payments to avoid late fees and manual tracking.
It is unnecessary for one to manually keep a record of each and every bill. You can make certain that every single payment gets submitted on schedule and avoid charges for late payments by automating your bill payments. This makes things less stressful for you and makes maintaining records of what you spend every month simpler.
Automatic processes allow you to set up recurring payments and afterward forget about them, ensuring that your financial obligations will be promptly settled on the clock.
Put self-care first by planning regular “me-time” breaks.
It’s important to remember to care for yourself in the chaos of parenthood. Your emotional and mental health will reap advantages tremendously through arranging periodic breaks, regardless of whether they simply include a leisurely walk or a moment of solitude.
During these periods of self-care, you can replenish your batteries, which will make you feel more energized and attentive in your role as a mother.
Should you ever run short of self-care ideas, you’ll find countless resources online, ranging from DIY spa treatments to simple practices in mindfulness, that can assist you in identifying a suitable approach to unwind and rejuvenate.
After all, you have to take care of yourself so that you can care for your loved ones.
Establish a bedtime routine to ensure consistent sleep for kids.
It’s essential to be consistent with regard to bedtime. If your children establish a set bedtime routine, your evenings will run more easily and reliably. This daily routine indicates to your child that it’s time to unwind, whatever that might be by reading a book, taking a soothing bath, or simply relaxing in quiet.
Not only may this assist your children to sleep better, but it allows you some spare time to yourself or carry out other duties when they’ve fallen asleep.
Plus, a structured routine can aid in your child’s lifetime development of sound sleeping practices.
Use a shared digital calendar for family events and appointments.
When everyone’s calendars become busier, a shared digital calendar can be useful. Keeping every detail in one convenient location ensures everybody remains on the same page, whether it’s used for social events, medical appointments, or school-related events.
Everybody remains informed of any alterations as a result of updates in real time.
Additionally, the majority of digital calendars have reminder functions that make sure no appointment or activity is overlooked.
Conclusion
It is clear that the core of motherhood is about accepting the journey with grace and adaptability rather than striving for perfection. By incorporating these techniques, you’re creating a life where moments matter more than menial duties, not just routines.
Yes, there will still be crescendos and pauses as well as high and low notes. However, armed with these tips, you’ll be better able to negotiate motherhood’s complexity without losing sight of the lovely melody that is your life.
A life where you may enjoy the fleeting joys of childhood and breathe a little easier and laugh a little louder. Therefore, keep this in mind as you move forward in your motherhood journey: simplicity isn’t just about doing less; it’s also about making space for more — more love, more joy, and more priceless memories.
References:
- https://www.peacheycounselling.ca/blog/2021/top-ten-challenges-of-the-modern-mom
- https://femtechinsider.com/challenges-motherhood-modern-world/
- https://tinyurl.com/working-mom
- https://simply-well-balanced.com/simplify-motherhood/
- https://www.motheruntitled.com/blog/2019/7/11/6-ways-to-simplify-life-as-a-parent
Author: Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.
