JGI/Jamie Grill
If you’re like most working moms, you’ve probably wished for a
magical nanny who would cheerfully and efficiently tidy up the house,
fold the laundry, settle the disputes amongst the kids, organize the
play dates, do the grocery shopping, and prepare a delicious dinner for
them all before 6 o’clock. Imagine the sheer joy of knowing that you
wouldn’t have to do it all.
Unfortunately, I cannot gift you any extra hours in your day. But I
can give you a few tips for getting organized and getting more done with
the time you do have. Here are five organizational tips for working
moms.
- Start earlier.
If your personal needs aren’t being met then you won’t be able to
meet the needs of those that count on you the most. Set your alarm to
wake up at least an hour before everyone else in house. This way, you
can enjoy your 15-minute morning shower and a cup of coffee in peace
before you tackle packing lunches, waking children and answering those
morning emails. If you take the time to channel positive energy in the
morning, you’ll be better equipped to handle the unexpected twists and
turns that come throughout the day.
- Secure and maintain quality childcare
Knowing that your children are in the best hands while you’re at work
will give you the confidence you need to be more productive while
you’re away. Take time to get to know the person that is caring for your
children and develop a strong relationship with them. Having this kind
of relationship will prevent you from worrying unnecessarily about your
children’s safety while you’re at work, allowing you to put your full
focus on the tasks at hand
- Rethink your errands.
Assign tasks to others whenever and wherever you can. Perhaps you
can’t afford to hire a full-time housekeeper, but you can afford to have
someone come in once a week to do the laundry. Consider what tasks you
can delegate to others so you can have more time in your day for your
family.
- Establish your momtourage.
Become familiar with the people, places and things in your
neighborhood that can make your life easier. Volunteer to meal share
with your next-door neighbor. Coordinate your grocery shopping trips
with your favorite play date mom. They say, “it takes a village” for a
reason! When you find other moms in your life whom can help share in the
overwhelming demands of mommyhood, you’ll lessen your load and increase
your support group.
- Manage your expectations.
None of us can be everything to everyone. Once you’re able to grasp
your limitations, you’re better able to manage your expectations.
Perhaps you can’t be the weekly classroom volunteer, but you may be able
to be the snack mom or assist the teacher in other ways.
The truth is all moms (working or not) will at some point become
overloaded with their responsibilities, but the key is to manage your
life so that we can evaluate our choices based on what’s best for our
family.
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