Time Management for Busy Moms

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could add an extra hour to every day? This has always been the dream of busy moms – and is doable with the use of good time management skills. Having good time management skills doesn’t necessarily mean running around with a stop watch to time every move, but it does mean making sure you are spending your time on the things that really count.

In order to make sure the routine, humdrum things we all have to do actually get done, we suggest keeping a written down morning and evening routine with each item listed.

My morning list includes:

- doing one load of laundry
- laying out the morning vitamins
- checking my calendar for the day’s meetings
- and making sure that “what’s for dinner” is thawing if necessary

Similarly, my evening list consists of :

- having every child lay out their clothes for the next day
- making sure all lunches are packed
- and the house is locked for the night

With written routines, there is no longer any question of what has to be done, or any forgetting or last minute scrambles over lunches not packed, etc.

Next, I suggest keeping a master To Do list – use it to make your daily To Do lists and be sure to keep it updated. If you keep it in computer format, it is easier to delete and add tasks as your priorities change. Both your daily and master lists should be prioritized as to A, B, and C level tasks. In order to set the appropriate level, ask yourself what will happen if this task is not finished. If the impact is major, then it is an A and so on. It is amazing how many of us spend most of our time on C level tasks!

Now, schedule the A tasks for the hours in which you are the most productive. If you are a morning person, make sure they are scheduled for the morning. Leave the Cs for fillers – things to do when the important items are done.

It is also very important to keep your lists doable and manageable. It is easy to get discouraged and give up when facing an impossible list of items. So, don’t overdo it.