These simple time management tips from a work a home mom will help you stay on task, accomplish your goals, and save your sanity along the way.
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I originally wrote this post in 2017 and updated it in 2020.
I’m writing this post for busy working moms because that’s me. I write about what I know and after 10 years as a work-at-home freelance writer, I’ve learned a few tricks.
If you’re a mom who is busy at home (and not working) or you’re a dad, or you’re a busy person who can’t imagine what you would do if you had a kid to slow you down… well, these tips will help you too.
“How do you do it?”
Some days, getting everything on your to-do list done is a big pain in the you-know-what. Some of those tasks just take time to get done, but if you don’t have much time, it can seem impossible. My time management tips will help you organize your schedule so you can get more done in less time.
One of the things my girlfriends always ask me when we’re together is, “How do you do it?!”
I can hear the exasperation in their voices. And I can totally relate because like most things, I’ve learned how to manage my time the hard way. I’ve always loved organizing, but it has taken me many years to figure out how to organize my schedule in a way that works.
There are still days where I’m tired or frazzled or don’t feel like I’ve accomplished enough. Usually, though, I get to the weekend and feel satisfied with what I’ve done that week.
These time management tips should help you out whether your schedule includes a day job, home management, kid wrangling, or a combination of those.
Time management tips
1. Block schedule your time.
Block scheduling just means setting aside a chunk of time for tasks, rather than breaking your schedule up into little pieces. Switching between tasks takes time. You have to put away whatever you were doing and get out the new thing and you have to switch your mental focus.
Run all your errands on one day. Have an email hour to read and reply instead of checking it randomly and telling yourself that you’ll come back and reply later.
With kids at home, you’ll be interrupted a lot. Teach the kids that you are going to work for X amount of time and then take a break to help them. For young kids who can’t tell time, set a timer or start an activity that will end when you are free.
2. Do tasks in bulk.
Kind of like block scheduling, doing tasks in bulk means setting aside a chunk of time. Doing things in bulk also means working on multiple projects in the same category.
As a writer, this one is easy to illustrate. I can do all the writing on one day, all the photography on another day, and all the editing on a third day. This is kind of like block scheduling but takes advantage of your brain’s ability to focus on one task and move quickly.
It’s important to accurately estimate the time needed to do those tasks when you can. While you need to be flexible, if you set aside an hour to work on a task and it takes three, you’ll always feel behind.
3. Don’t multitask.
Multitasking seems like a good way to get more done in less time, but it isn’t. In reality, it slows you down because your attention is divided between two activities. At best, you put half the attention and effort into each of the tasks.
One exception: If you can start something and leave it to do its thing while you work on a second task, go ahead. This usually means doing some prep – like starting a load of laundry or putting food in the slow cooker – and then doing something else while you wait for the next step.
When you’ve got kids at home, your mind will always partially be on them. Either you’re thinking about algebra or snack time… or how suspiciously quiet they are. Don’t divide your attention further by juggling two work tasks too.
4. Automate a few routines.
The thing that wears me out on a busy day isn’t the length of my to-do list, it’s having to make a ton of decisions. If you start off your day deciding what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, what to pack for lunch, what time to leave the house, which route to take to the office, and what task to do first… you’ve already exhausted your brain before 9 a.m. Decision fatigue affects everyone.
Set up routines where you can. Your brain will get in the habit of going through those routines automatically, which leads to less stress. This could be as easy as feeding the kids cereal for breakfast every day or something bigger, like subscribing to an air filter delivery service.
A few other automation ideas:
- Set recurring tasks on your calendar.
- Choose a work-at-home uniform and wear a similar outfit combination ever day.
- Send group emails BCC. Mass email might not feel personal, but it is a time saver.
- Set up automatic bill payments or fund transfers.
- I personally use CoSchedule to automate my social media and Tailwind to automate Pinterest.
5. Delegate mundane tasks.
No matter what is on your to-do list, odds are there are a few things that you could pass off to someone else to do. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you have to do it.
Kids can do chores, even if they don’t do them as well as you’d like. Ask a friend to drive your child to practice this week and remember to return the favor. If you can afford it, pay someone to take care of things like yard maintenance or home repair tasks that you just don’t really have time to do.
Getting kids to help out around the house can be a challenge. If they aren’t already doing it, you can’t expect them to change overnight. Start with small age-appropriate tasks and teach them the way you want them to be done. Be patient, lower your expectations, and if necessary choose a little incentive.
6. Avoid social media.
There is nothing that slows me down more than mindlessly checking Facebook. For what, I don’t even know. I do know that if I keep a tab open on my browser, I will click on it every time there is a notification. And then I will find myself scrolling through my feed for 5-10 minutes before I remember that I need to get back to working on a project.
One thing I did to save a ton of time is turn off social media notifications on my phone. Seriously. No beeps or flashing lights for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even my email. I check those things a few times throughout the day and forget about them in between and I haven’t missed a single important thing.
I know Facebook specifically now has a feature on the mobile app called “Your Time on Facebook.” It keeps track of how much time you spend there and you can set a daily time limit. When you reach it, Facebook will notify you.
7. Take real breaks.
I know it seems counterintuitive to get more done by doing nothing. Your brain needs a break, though. Stop and eat three real meals every day. Spend a few minutes outside. Stretch. Spend time on self-care. And know your limits and say no to things you don’t have to do. You’ll automatically feel more able to focus when you get back to your task.
Don’t wait until you’re burned out to take a break either. Add it to your schedule, just like you would plan for other tasks. It might be helpful to create a relaxing routine to start the workday and end the workday.
These are all pretty simple time management ideas on their own. Together they can really change your work from home routine. You can start them all today, but if you’re struggling, just pick one. After a few days, add another.
Just like any habit, good time management takes practice and repetition to become part of your natural routine.
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
Great post and reminders.
Thanks! I tend to need a reminder myself sometimes. It’s so easy to get caught up in being busy!