School has started back, things are slowly returning to normal(ish), and life is busier than ever. It feels like the weeks are starting to pass in a blur and some days we are struggling to hold it together. Between work, home life, and keeping up with the kids and their activities, things are hectic, to say the least. I love finding time-saving tricks to make mom life a little easier, and today I’m sharing five with you.
Have a Go-To Meal Plan
As much as I love to meal plan, sometimes it can be a daunting task on a busy week. My solution? Keep a few pre-made meal plan options on hand to reference when you’re in a pinch. I have a meal plan of family-favorite recipes (including the grocery list) that I can use when I don’t have the energy to create one from scratch. I just need to quickly put in a grocery pickup order, and I’m ready to go for the week!
Do Laundry Daily
With a family of five, the laundry is never-ending. One way to stay on top of it is to do one small load each day. If we have time, we put in a load in the morning and set the timer to start an hour before we get home. The clothes are ready to be transferred to the dryer in the afternoon. I usually save the folding for the weekend when we have more time, but at least I know everything is clean.
Prep Dinners in Advance and Cook Enough for Leftovers
If I know we have a really busy week coming up, I try to meal prep as much as I can over the weekend. This might mean washing and chopping produce or portioning out any ingredients that I will need for meals during the week. When it’s time to cook after a long day, I can get it on the table much faster. I also love to cook one or two large meals on Sunday if possible, so we have leftovers to eat throughout the week.
Keep Essential Items in your Car
We’ve all been there…you rush out the house on a busy morning just to realize you forgot to put on deodorant or your oldest child didn’t brush his hair. Turning around is never an option if you don’t want to be late. To help with situations like this you can keep an “oops I forgot box” your car with various items that can help in a pinch. Some examples of things you might include are a hairbrush and accessories, personal grooming/hygiene products, snacks, or extra clothes. Another good idea is to keep a school supply box in the car. This is great especially if you have after school activities or errands to run so your kids can start on simple homework assignments. If you can help them use this time wisely, it will make for a much less stressful evening.
Follow the Two-Minute Rule
Finally, one of my favorite time-saving productivity hacks is the two-minute rule. Basically, if you see something that needs to be done and you can tackle it in less than two minutes- DO IT! For example, if there are shoes lying on the ground, a few dirty dishes in the sink, or maybe the bed needs to be made. These are all small tasks that are often overlooked, but if you take two minutes to do them it will prevent small chores from accumulating. This will in turn will save you more time in the long run! As busy as you may be, you can always find small pockets of time to get quick tasks done.
What are some of your favorite time-saving tricks? Share them in the comments below!
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