How to Save Hours Each Week and Your Sanity as a Busy Mum

With 4 biological children here, a stepdaughter in Vanuatu, business, cultural expectations, extra-curricular activities for the kids, my hobbies etc. I get how busy life can be.

We also have various needs in our family due to autism, ADHD and PTSD so it can be a juggle.

Before I share the tips, I strongly suggest you talk with your partner if you have one about the mental load and tasks within the home and each of your careers.

You can use Fair Play, a deck of cards to help sort tasks and create a visual of it all.

Ideally, you would communicate well with each other and work together.

I know in some families there is only one parent, others have one who travels for work, one might be sick and various other situations that can make things harder.

Since most of my parenting life I have done it one my own or close to, these tips are based on that.

If you have a partner though, work together!

Here are some suggested time management techniques I find helpful and how to implement them.

1. Prioritize with the Eisenhower Matrix

The Eisenhower Matrix is an easy system you can do on a piece of paper to work out which tasks to tackle first.

List the tasks you have then categorize tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance.

If a task is urgent and important, it should be done first.

When you look at the tasks set out in the quadrant, review how you spend your time and if you are truly focusing on the most important and urgent tasks first.

Often we do a lot in the urgent but not important section because we can tick many things off.

Focus on important and urgent tasks first, delegate where possible, and minimize time spent on non-essential activities.

I tend to go for the most fun task first or the easiest and that isn’t the best option when it comes to time management.

Learning how to outsource (and insource aka teach my kids) effectively has freed up my time and forced me to tackle tasks only I can do and get other things organised to pass to my assistant.

2. Batch Similar Tasks

Group similar tasks together, such as running errands, responding to emails, or meal prepping.

This reduces the time spent switching between different activities and increases efficiency.

I know this can be tricky if you have babies/toddlers or kids in general who have needs and interrupt a lot.

The more you can batch tasks, the easier it gets though.

If you can, sit down on a Sunday or in the evening to work out what you have to do that week or the next day and how you can consolidate it to save time and energy.

Meal prepping is an easy one for me.

I rarely cook 1 meal at a time because if I have to cook, why not get a few meals done at once.

I’ll often have a few things on the hotplates, something in the slow cooker and be prepping other things such as salads or school snacks.

Getting my kids involved means they quickly learn how to do it all and can cook later so you aren’t doing it all.

Doing meal preparation this way means we have less to clean up since we are not cooking every night and we always have meals in the freezer to reduce the temptation for takeaway.

Another one is errands, I tend to do as many as possible as soon as I have dropped my kids to school/daycare.

How to Batch Tasks When You Have Kids

If your kids don’t sleep, are clingy, have health issues or you have a few kids, batching tasks can feel impossible.

Accept It Will Not Be Perfect

The first thing I had to do when attempting to batch tasks was accept it will not be perfect.

I couldn’t plan out my week perfectly because it depended on so many variables with my baby/toddler and even my teens.

Create a List of Tasks to Batch

Parenting is a tough gig and most of the time I felt as though I was braindead so trying to decide what to do when I had the time left me frozen instead of productive.

Create lists of tasks you can batch, what can be done when e.g. some things can be done with babies, others need to be done without them.

Having this to refer to meant when I had a little spare time I could use it productively.

Take Care of Yourself First

Everything else can wait because if you can’t function, nothing happens.

Prioritise your health and hygiene above everything else.

Take care of your needs such as showering, exercising, eating something nutritious etc.

Maybe you can’t get a full workout in how you want but can you play on the playground, run around with the kids, do yoga with them, take them for a bike ride etc? Be active with them.

Can’t shower because you can’t leave them?

Take them in the bathroom with you and give them spray bottles to spray the mirror or toys in the bath or have them shower/bathe with you.

It’s not the same as having the time to shower on your own and collect your thoughts but your body will be clean.

Or if you know they will nap, shower as soon as they fall asleep and take the baby monitor in with you.

Neglecting your basic hygiene and health will cost you long term so prioritise it.

Decide What You Can do With Them and Teach Them

Look at everything you need or want to do and how you can do it with the kids around.

My eldest placed a string on the washing line with one of those round hangers with lots of pegs so the little ones could reach to change socks and things.

Kids generally love to help so find ways they can because the sooner they learn to do it and the more normal it is, the easier it is for you as they grow up.

Give them a spray bottle and cloth to help clean as you clean.

Work out with them or look at ways to be more active with them so you get your heart rate up.

I had to get creative with ways to entertain them so I had 10 minutes here and there to check emails, do articles etc.

Exercising was difficult at one stage and could only be done when they were asleep but now they do it with me and we do things like bushwalks more too.

As for food, I batch cook and freeze my food in portions so I have healthy options even if I am running short on time.

Too many parents, especially mothers, neglect their nutrition and it costs them dearly later.

3. Create a Family Schedule

Establish a daily or weekly schedule that includes everyone’s activities and responsibilities.

Having a visual overview helps manage time better and ensures everyone is on the same page.

We have a joint family calendar so everyone can see what we are each doing, when there is free time and when there isn’t.

The calendar is also printed and placed in the kitchen for everyone to refer to.

As for other schedules such as cleaning up the kitchen or the morning/evening routine for the toddlers, I printed those too.

By placing the steps in each area of the house it was needed e.g kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, tasks got easier.

My teenagers could see what needed to happen, less was asked of or expected of me and everyone did what needed to be done.

4. Use Time Blocks

This tip used to frustrate me so much when my kids were babies/toddlers because nothing seemed to go to plan to allow for any time blocks.

In an ideal world, if your kids are in daycare or school, aim to time block to make things easier.

Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities, such as work, family time, self-care, and household chores.

Stick to these time blocks to stay focused and reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.

I lock them into my calendar so my older kids know not to disturb me unless it is an emergency.

5. Delegate and Share Responsibilities

Don’t hesitate to delegate tasks to your partner, children, or others who can help.

Sharing responsibilities lightens your load and ensures that important tasks don’t get overlooked.

We’ve found doing things together much easier and ensures everything gets done quickly so everyone can relax.

One of us can be washing the dishes, another folding clothes while one is bathing the toddlers after dinner in the evening.

Or we might fold the clothes together, someone wash the dishes while one dries etc.

Write down all the chores that need doing and how they can be delegated or done easier.

A side benefit of doing chores together is that everyone talks and opens up.

The conversations with my kids while tidying a room or doing the dishes have been amazing.

6. Set Realistic Goals

Break down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

Setting realistic goals helps you make steady progress without feeling overwhelmed by a long to-do list.

When I had two teens, a toddler and a newborn, my goals and time management expectations were wildly unrealistic which resulted in extreme stress and disappointment.

I placed the pressure on myself to be there completely for my kids, have an immaculate home, workout, do full skincare, haircare, makeup, dress beautiful, cook perfect meals etc.

All while managing my business and increasing my income.

Because before having my last 2 children, I could do all that.

When your kids are in primary school and you’re out a lot, the house stays clean when you clean it.

Toddlers create cyclone-level disasters and mess everywhere they go plus you cannot leave them unattended for a moment.

Being able to shower on my own, go to the bathroom, get myself ready was next to impossible, let alone have an immaculate house and everything else.

They weren’t sleeping, I never got a break and their father was in another state most of the time so I was doing it all on my own.

It broke me.

Once I accepted something has to give and made changes to my goals and expectations, life got a lot easier.

Instead of trying to do everything, I focused on what I could do that would have the biggest impact in the small moments I got.

Then once my younger two started daycare, I split my time to focus on health (exercising), wealth (my business) and the home.

They go 3 days a week so on each of those days, the time is split into those 3 categories.

On days they aren’t at daycare, anything I get done for any of those categories is a bonus and no longer expected.

Be realistic about what you can achieve in the timeframes you have and what goals are possible.

7. Utilize Technology

Use apps and tools like digital calendars, task managers, and reminder apps to keep track of appointments, deadlines, and daily tasks.

Delete and unsubscribe from any that waste your time e.g. social media and streaming networks.

Check your screentime usage and you will probably be mortified by how much time you spend on apps that could be used for other things.

Go through and get rid of apps that waste your time and replace them with apps that help you instead.

There are tools such as apps that can help you stay organized and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

I resisted using apps and various AI because it felt icky.

Since accepting they can be useful, my whole world has changed and many things are easier.

My Favourites AI/Tech Things That Help

Google Calendar to help the whole family stay organised, see what we are all doing and have reminders.

Health App (any you prefer) to track your steps, general fitness, nutrition, sleep and your cycle.

Audiobooks and podcasts to listen and learn when I am not with the kids.

Cash back apps such as Shopback and Cash Rewards to get everything the family needs on sale and with bonus cash back.

Spotify for music playlists that get me moving or motivated.

Duolingo to learn languages when I have spare time and Kindle to read books.

I also get my teens to text me links for things they need so I know it’s the exact one and we have a running shopping list online.

Whenever anyone notices we are low on something or have run out, they can add it to the list.

Online shopping and getting things delivered also saves me significant time and money.

8. Practice Saying No

Be selective about commitments and learn to say no when your schedule is already full.

Prioritizing your time and energy is essential to avoid burnout.

I failed at this miserably when I was younger and had grown up in a strict religion, taught I need to be of service to everyone.

Taking on everything for everyone, stepping in to help with everything from cleaning someone else’s house or babysitting to doing free marketing when I owned a marketing company.

Learning to stop being such a people pleaser and say no was life-changing.

Then recently when I had my two younger kids, I fell back into the doing everything for everyone mode, especially for my kids.

Babies and toddlers need a lot from you so you can’t say no but where I failed is I started doing more for my teens as well because I was already doing it for my younger two.

Mum guilt can be severe and I didn’t want them resenting their younger siblings so I started driving them everywhere (they used to ride their bikes or catch the bus).

I started doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry etc when we used to share that.

This was terrible for them and me because it prevented them from developing their life skills and made my workload much harder.

No. It’s a complete sentence. You do not need to explain yourself but you do need to learn to set boundaries and say no as needed or wanted.

9. Plan Meals in Advance

Meal planning has been mentioned a few times because so much time can be taken up thinking about, planning, shopping for, preparing and cooking meals.

My favourite method is to cook up a bunch of meals on a Sunday, freeze some and prioritise the rest for the next few days.

It reduces waste and means we eat much healthier.

Since my 15 year old is a champion wrestler, we are conscious of what we eat and aim to eat a variety of foods for gut health too.

We often prepare breakfast burritos, eggs, salads and a selection of main meals to have ready.

It saves time and money plus has improved our health.

If you don’t know where to start with meal planning, you can try meal kits to get some ideas, taste a variety of foods and go from there. Grab up to $200 off a selection of meal kits here.

10. Incorporate Self-Care

Schedule time for yourself, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.

Taking care of your mental and physical well-being is essential for maintaining the energy needed to manage your busy schedule.

I found this particularly difficult the past few years due to the sleep patterns of my kids making me extremely sleep deprived and doing it on my own.

Here are some tips for self-care even during difficult times.

Do what you can to maintain some exercise, meditation, skincare and similar.

View your self-care as a need, not a luxury because you matter and if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be there to take care of the family.

Evaluate everything you are doing and find ways to incorporate more self-care, hobbies and things you enjoy into your life.

11. Use the “Two-Minute” Rule

If a task takes two minutes or less to complete, do it immediately.

This prevents small tasks from piling up and cluttering your to-do list.

Little things such as taking rubbish or items out of a room when you leave it can make a huge difference to how much needs to be cleaned and organised later.

Wiping over the bathroom vanity after you’ve been to the bathroom is simple but can make an impact.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, look around and identify 2 or 3 things you can do immediately such as return a cup to the sink or wash one dish.

Chances are once you do that one thing, you will get the momentum you need to keep going and doing more too.

The two-minute rule can be great for eliminating little, irritating tasks but also a fantastic way to get momentum and motivation when you have none.

12. Create a Morning Routine

Whenever people told me to get a morning routine, I rolled my eyes.

My main priority was sleep because I had many nights where my kids woke every 20 minutes or alternated so I did not get a full hours sleep at any point.

That level of exhaustion made it impossible to do my ideal morning routine in full but a shortened version was usually still doable.

Once I established my morning routine I quickly noticed the difference.

On the mornings I get my routine done, even if it is a shortened version of it, I have more energy and am in an infinitely better mood.

The mornings I am sluggish, don’t bother with even a short version and roll out of bed into the day, it’s bad.

My energy, focus and mental clarity are significantly lower which means my patience with the kids is lower too.

Check out my ideal morning routine, even if I only do each thing for 1 to 5 minutes, it makes a positive impact on my life.

Establish a consistent morning routine that helps you start the day on a positive note.

This could include exercise, planning the day ahead, or spending quiet time before the hustle begins.

It’s your morning routine, you know what fuels you so make it what you want.

13. Plan the Night Before

Packing school lunches, selecting outfits, making sure notes are signed, alarms set, my to do list/work schedule is sorted makes a difference.

Decision fatigue is a real issue so dealing with as many of the mundane decisions as you can in the evening to free up your morning helps you be more productive.

Generally, in the morning we are the freshest and best for making decisions.

If we fill that time with mundane tasks that do not require much brain power, we are wasting it.

Do everything you can the night before so the next morning you get up and go.

Doing it this way also means when it comes time to work or get through your to do list, you already know what to do first.

Spend a few minutes each night reviewing your schedule and preparing for the next day.

Take note of the difference it makes and look for more things you can switch around like this to free up your decisions and brain capacity first thing in the morning.

14. Automate Where Possible

Use automation for recurring tasks, such as setting up auto-bill payments, online grocery shopping, or automated reminders.

This frees up time and brain space for more important activities.

I love having my bills automated, the only one I don’t is my electricity because it fluctuates and I like to check it is accurate.

Everything else such as our phones, internet, savings etc are automated.

I list savings because it is crucial you are saving and investing regularly so automating it makes it simple.

Look at everything you do and pay for, how can it be automated?

15. Be Flexible and Adaptable

Recognize that things don’t always go as planned, especially with children.

Stay flexible, adjust your schedule when needed, and don’t be too hard on yourself when things don’t go perfectly.

More often than not, I’d have things planned out then my kids would get sick or need me for various reasons.

Accepting this is part of life and doing what I can around the kids instead made it easer.

Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

Learn what can be done around the kids, what can be outsourced or delegated to them and gp with the flow.

16. Get Quality Sleep

When we are sleep-deprived, everything is harder, we move slower and take longer to make decisions.

Getting quality sleep or enough sleep can be difficult, especially if you have little ones.

Do what you can to improve your sleep and allow your body to rest.

Being well rested makes managing everything in life easier and therefore, helps with your time management too.

Check out my tips for dealing with sleep deprivation and how to improve your sleep.

17. Wear A Uniform and Apron

Knowing what you are going to wear each day or having your outfits planned for the week can save time and decision fatigue.

Work with a stylist to learn the outfits, styles and colours that are best for you then change your wardrobe to those items.

Decide what you will wear ahead of time and ensure it’s clean, ironed and fix any issues as they arise such as buttons or seams.

Also, use an apron or pinafore over your clothing when you’re at home.

It will save your clothes from getting dirty and needing to change before heading out again.

This is especially useful if you are cooking that day or have babies or toddlers at home who love to wipe their hands on you.

18. Create a Community

Life was not meant to be lived alone, previous generations worked together and there was more of a village or community around to support mothers.

I’ve often considered moving to Vanuatu where the other side of our family is and I would have numerous adults to help with my kids, share housework and errands etc.

Having a village can make some tasks easier and quicker.

Finding friends and creating your own village can be tricky.

Use apps such as Peanut to make friends with other mums, join classes, look for Facebook groups aimed at your interests in your area.

See if there are walking or running groups that welcome mums and kids.

One of the big differences I noticed between raising my teens and now raising my toddlers is when my older two were little, I had a village.

I don’t now and it is so much harder to do it all.

Back then, my siblings and other friends would visit each other, chat while we did housework or cooked etc. It made all aspects easier and more social.

No one I know near me is having kids or has kids of similar ages and I no longer live near my family so I am creating a village through other means.

Do what you can to create a village, even if only for the mental and emotional aspects.

What tips do you have to help mums save time?

Resources Mentioned in This Article

The Eisenhower Matrix
Shopback
Cash Rewards
Up to $200 off a selection of meal kits here
Tips for self-care
My ideal morning routine