How Can Mums Manage Time Better?

My interaction with many young and busy mums today tells me that they are too engrossed with managing their  kid’s activities, household responsibilities and the demands of a stressful job and are left with no time for fun with kids, quality time with spouse and some alone time to look after themselves and to do things they enjoy. Many mums have benefitted by following some time management tips.

Some tips to manage time better: 

• Busy mums need to realize the importance of organization; being organized would eliminate stress on account of missed appointments, double booking, lost homework and other stress traps that they face. Focusing on the key areas of organization would go a long way to save and manage time better.

• Mums become busy doing everything for their spouse and children that leaves them with no time and energy for themselves. It would help if busy mums like us learn to delegate tasks to our children and spouse by break up chores into simple tasks and encouraging them to help us by reward and praising.

• Learn to say, “No” to things that are absolutely not necessary by working on priorities; this effective time management skill that have worked for many busy mums. Though it may disappoint others initially, however it would save further disappointment when do not do the task efficiently.

• One of the well praised time management skill is multi-tasking; however it is best to realize it works only when it is appropriate because certain tasks need a lot of focus for effective completion. It would help to pair mindless tasks with focus dependent ones; it would help to attend to social calls on the cell phone while you are taking a walk, or ask your kids test questions while you are cleaning the kitchen.   

• Busy mums could follow the time management tip of taking shortcuts; if you can afford it you could get cut vegetables for dinner, get a dishwasher to rinse the dishes better or work on shortest methods to do various routine jobs like getting to office, doing the homework and getting the house clean.

• Most busy mums have benefitted from the time management tip of having a routine; this routine applies to all activities in the day that helps save mental energy and stress. Though it may seem automated, it saves time and effort in reinventing the schedule and makes the mind free to focus on the rest of your day. 

• It is one thing for busy mums to have a routine, but it is equally important for mums to be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected tasks that may come up like a sick kid or occasional meltdown. This would take out the stress out of the unexpected and not allow it to throw the day into confusion. 

• Lastly most busy mums may put off taking after themselves last on the list of priorities, but it is equally important for her to care for herself for good physical and emotional health; even busy mums need quality sleep, a healthy diet and time for herself to prove more productive as a mother, wife, employee and person.

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