Let’s be real—being a mom means juggling more hats than a circus act. Between diaper changes, meal prep, endless laundry, errands, and maybe even a side hustle or homeschool schedule… it can feel like you’re constantly racing the clock.

After my first daughter was born, I genuinely felt like all I could do was take care of her—and even then, some days I didn’t feel like I was doing that well. I was overwhelmed and exhausted. I thought something was wrong with me because I couldn’t “get it all done.”

So I did what I always do when I feel stuck: I started learning. Over the past five years, I’ve devoured every book and podcast I could find on time management and home efficiency—most of them written by men. Not to sound overly feminist, but they just didn’t work for moms. Their strategies often assumed uninterrupted time, predictable days, and full control over your schedule—none of which exist in mom life.

Eventually, I found a handful of resources written by and for moms—especially stay-at-home moms and homeschoolers—and those changed everything. They helped me realize that time management for moms isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing what matters most, and letting the rest go.

As Christy Wright says in Take Back Your Time: “Balance isn’t doing everything for an equal amount of time. It’s about doing the right things at the right time”.

Now, after the birth of my second daughter and years of trial and error, I finally feel like I have systems that work (most days—because let’s be honest, motherhood is full of curveballs). I’m not just surviving—I’m slowly learning to thrive.

In this post, I’m sharing the practical strategies that have helped me save time, stay organized, and finally feel more in control of my days. Not perfect, just better. Let’s make time for what matters—including you.

Why do busy moms need time management?

The truth is, without some kind of rhythm or routine, mom life can feel like a never-ending to-do list where nothing really gets done. I know how easy it is to feel buried under the mental load, like you’re running in circles but never actually moving forward.

What finally made a difference for me wasn’t learning how to “do it all”, it was learning how to do the right things at the right time, and let go of the rest. Having even a loose routine, daily anchors, or a flexible plan can ease that constant decision fatigue and help you show up more intentionally, for your kids and yourself.

As Jessica Turner says in Stretched Too Thin,“We cannot do everything. But we can choose what matters most and give ourselves grace for the rest”.

Time-saving strategies like time-blocking, prepping the night before, or even just naming your top three priorities for the day have changed how I show up in my home. They helped me create space, not just to do, but to be present.

If you’ve been feeling scattered, stretched, or stuck in survival mode, you’re not alone. These tools helped me reclaim my time and my sanity—and I believe they can help you too.

What’s the Best Daily Routine for Busy Moms?

Honestly, it’s the one that works for you. It has to be structured enough to bring order to the chaos, but flexible enough to handle the curveballs (because there will always be curveballs). Rigid schedules that don’t bend with real life? Guaranteed burnout. The sweet spot is somewhere between rhythm and realism.

A solid morning routine can set the tone for the day—even if it’s just getting dressed, feeding the kids, and pouring that first cup of coffee while it’s still hot. From there, small systems like time-blocking or simply choosing your “big three” tasks for the day can help you stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.

As Julie Morgenstern puts it in Time to Parent: “You don’t need more hours in the day. You just need to decide what to do with the ones you have”.

The best routine is the one you can actually stick to, one that leaves space for work, laundry, snacks, snuggles, and you. Keep it simple. Let it grow with your family. And give yourself permission to change it when life changes.

How to Prioritize Tasks as a Mom?

Prioritizing as a mom can feel like trying to juggle flaming swords while someone tugs on your leg asking for a snack. There’s just so much to do—and it all feels urgent. But the real key is learning to focus on what matters most, not what screams the loudest.

I once heard a metaphor that stuck with me: “Catch an elephant instead of chasing ants”. And wow, if that doesn’t sum up motherhood! We spend our days chasing ants: wiping spills, folding laundry, picking up toys, organizing a drawer only to abandon it halfway through because someone colored on the wall. Sound familiar?

But what if, instead, you chose just one elephant for the day? One high-impact task that moves you closer to your bigger goals—whether it’s a work project, a meaningful moment with your kids, or finally tackling that thing you keep pushing off. When you catch an elephant, your day feels purposeful instead of chaotic.

Start with a brain dump. Sit down one night (cup of tea in hand or a show on in the background) and list everything swirling in your head. Then, pick 1–3 priorities each day—just enough to make real progress without overwhelming yourself. You don’t need to do it all. You need to do what matters most. And feel free to cross things out that actually aren't that important in this season of life at all. 

As Jessica N. Turner says in Stretched Too Thin: “You can’t give your best to everything. But you can give your best to the things that matter most”.

Let the ants go. Go catch some elephants.

What is Time Blocking and How Can Moms Use It?

Time blocking is one of the most powerful tools a mom can use to get things done without feeling constantly scattered. It’s a simple system: you divide your day into chunks of time and assign each block to a specific task or type of task: whether it’s work, cleaning, playing with your kids, or even just sitting down for a cup of coffee without guilt.

Before I had kids, I used time blocking to run my business like a machine. But when my first daughter was born, I was so overwhelmed in the newborn haze that I thought, “There’s no way this could work now.” But I was wrong. In fact, mom life might be the perfect setup for time blocking. Naps are built-in blocks. So are awake windows. Once I saw the day in those terms, everything changed.

When you time block, you reduce the mental chaos of multitasking—something moms are famous for, but let’s be honest, it’s exhausting. Ever put your phone in the fridge by accident? (No? Just me?) Multitasking feels productive, but really, it spreads your energy thin. As Laura Vanderkam writes in I Know How She Does It: “Time is highly elastic. We cannot make more time, but time will stretch to accommodate what we choose to put into it”.

That’s exactly what time blocking helps you do—stretch time intentionally.

Here’s how it looked like in my life with a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old on 2 naps:

9:00–10:30 AM (Baby’s First Nap): My older daughter does Tonie Box, crafts, or FaceTime with Grandma (minimal-mom-intervention activities). I use this block to film videos, edit, and publish content.
2:00–3:00 PM (Second Nap): Quiet time or sensory play for my older daughter. I do admin work, manage finances, or write.
7:30–8:30 PM (After Bedtime): I finish whatever I couldn’t get to earlier in the day or just relax.

I also use awake windows for household tasks. That’s on purpose. I want my daughters to see me care for our home—not because I need them to help (though someday, yes please!) but because I want them to understand that homemaking is real, valuable work. For example:

Monday, Awake Window 2: Baby laundry
Monday, Awake Window 3: Tidy and organize the baby’s room

I don’t assign exact times, just time slots. These tasks repeat every week, blocked in my calendar. And yes, life happens. Naps get skipped, tantrums explode, plans change. But even an imperfect time-blocked day is so much calmer than my old “wing it and hope for the best” days.

If you’re new to this, give it time. My older daughter didn’t instantly settle into this rhythm—it took consistency and a routine we repeated day after day. But it did click, and it can for your family too. I have a post about quiet time where I talk about tips and ideas of how to introduce it and keep it for as long as you can, because let's be honest, we all need that little break. 

I also don’t use screens during the week (except for two online lessons and like I said, FaceTime with Grandma, because we don't live close), which is where our Tonie Box becomes a lifesaver. If you do allow screen time, use it intentionally as part of your time blocks. There’s no one right way—just your way.

Time blocking gave me structure without rigidity. It helped me show up for my work and my kids without feeling pulled in a million directions. And more than anything, it reminded me that my time is worth protecting.

How Can I Get Help and Delegate Chores as a Mom?

Learning how to delegate chores is a key time-saving strategy for busy moms. Many moms search for ways to get help with household tasks to reduce the daily workload and avoid burnout. Delegating chores to family members, such as assigning age-appropriate tasks to kids or asking a partner for help, can make a big difference. Creating a chore chart or a weekly task schedule ensures that everyone in the household contributes. You can also outsource tasks, like hire help for cleaning or using grocery delivery services. By effectively delegating and asking for help, moms can free up time for themselves and reduce the stress of managing everything alone.

This is what works for us right now: we have a responsibility chart and a chore routine for my oldest daughter that follows along with my weekly time-blocking schedule. I do not pay or do rewards for chores. Nobody pays me for it (I wish they did though!), so I don't want my girls to get paid in any way for this, including candy or buying them stuff. I teach them that we are a family, and they are part of it and they need to help. The responsibility chart has little stars that my daughter loves putting up. I see it as a habit tracker. Adults use it all the time, so I see nothing wrong with kids having it as well. Teaches her to build good habits. 

Another routine that was a game changer for us is a 15-minute nightly pick-up as a family. Yes, we set the timer and race to clean as fast as we can. My husband has chores that he does regularly. And I heavily rely on grocery delivery. Instacart and Thrive Market for the win! It saves me at least 3 hours every week. Do you know what us super moms can do in 3 hours? Literally, everything! And you don't have screaming kids at the store, you don't have to convince me here. 

Also, this is maybe not the most important point, but we get a lot of books from the library, and it takes a long time to go pick them out, and a lot of the time you don't know what the book is about. So I started ordering the library books online. Check with your library. You can pick books at home, and I usually google the best book lists and go from there, and then just go to the library and they will have it all ready for you. But I am going to the next level now, our library has the Borrow by Mail option when they send books to your door. I love this so much! My daughter waits for those packages like Christmas gifts. It is absolutely amazing, saves me another hour per week. You do have to return them in person, but our library has drive-thru book drop-off, so it only takes seconds for me. So check with your library how you can save time there and pretty much try to analyze your days as you go and see what can be delivered or automated. This makes a huge difference.

When I just had my second baby I did meal plans with ready meals sent to my house and had a cleaner come in to clean the kitchen and bathrooms every week. It was not too expensive and helped tremendously. So, take a few nights and think about what you can outsource and how you can automate or delegate your load. I bet you can find a few solutions yourself. Every little bit counts.

What Are the Best Productivity Apps for Moms?

If you are here you are probably constantly searching for the best productivity apps to help manage your day-to-day tasks and stay organized. From meal planning to family scheduling, there are many apps designed to make life easier. Popular apps like Trello and Google Keep help moms prioritize tasks, create to-do lists, and time-block their day. For managing family schedules, apps like Cozi are often highly recommended. Moms also look for meal planning apps like Plan to Eat and Paprika to simplify grocery shopping and meal prep. These productivity apps for moms are essential tools to help juggle work, household responsibilities, and kids' activities, ensuring more efficient time management and less stress.

But for me searching for all of these apps and trying them out was a form of procrastination. All I needed was a combination of simple (and free) apps and actually doing the tasks, and not just trying to organise everything and creating system after system. 

So this is what works for me now: a combination of Google Calendar, Reminders app on iPhone, and Google Keep. 

I use Google calendar for everything that is like a meeting: classes, playdates, events, trips. Each family member has their own color and calendar. I have access to my husband's Google Calendar and I usually am the one who puts all of the events where he needs to be family wise into his calendar. And it helps a lot to know if he is busy or free work-wise, we don't spend time figuring out wheather we can attend this or that event, it's all in the calendar. 

I use the Reminders App for anything that is like a task: actual to-dos, routines that are reccuring, things not to forget, meals to make this week, groceries to buy. Routines for work and home has assigned time to them, that falls into the time block (wither for nap or awake time, depending on the routine type). Other tasks have a date assinged to them, but no time. It has been working so well for me, because I can just open the Today tab and start working on my tasks. I do not need to remember when I need to do laundry, or clean a shower, or meal plan, to order groceries, or pick them up, neither do I need to remember when to call the dentist, or to write school. It's all in there, reccuring or not. 

And Google Keep is my list of lists: books to read, movies to watch, things to learn about, gift ideas, guest lists, emergency lists, packing lists, and what not. 

I think you get the idea. It is not about the app. It is about doing the things that are on your list. As long as you don't miss anything, that's where the recurring feature come in handy, and calendars. 

How Can Meal Planning Save Time for Moms?

Meal planning is a game-changer for busy moms looking to save time and reduce stress in the kitchen. By planning meals ahead of time, you can avoid the last-minute scramble of figuring out what to cook, making daily life more manageable. I tend to go with easy meal prep ideas and weekly meal planning to streamline my routine. Creating a weekly menu, batch cooking, and prepping ingredients in advance helps reduce time spent cooking during the week. Ultimately, meal planning allows busy moms to save time, stay organized, and ensure their families are eating healthy, home-cooked meals with less effort.

You can say, yes, that sounds wonderful, but I don't have time or I can't really stay consistent with meal planning. For me it's all about the routines. Pick a day, set the reminder and this is when you always meal plan. It tends to change for me, depending on our class schedule and outings, but for now this is what is working for me: 10 minute meal plan session on Sunday evenings, followed by copy pasting the ingredients into the search bar on Instacart, placing an order to pick up at the store that is close to our library, so that on Monday, I can swing by to get my groceries put in my trunk after story time. The whole process takes less than an hour. I used to spend hours looking for recipies, but now I just use ChatGPT or go with the recipes that everyone likes. 

The key here that works for us is is to have a rotation of the most favorite recipies. And this is how I stream lined my meal planning: I never plan breakfast, it goes on rotation, lunch is alway soup (also goes on rotation), and I make 3 dinners per week, each lasts 2 days and 1 day we eat frozen pizza. Bam, you are done. Having the same recipies on rotation helps a lot with planning. But I also like trying new things, that is when I ask for 1 new recipe per week from ChatGPT and it can be anything I'm in the mood for.

There you have it, this system has been working for us for at least 5 years, and everytime I change it, I always tend to go back. This way, we go out only if we trully want to go try a new restaurant or go out for fun, not because we don't have food at home. I save a lot of money on empulsive purchases. Maybe you don't have this problem, but shopping by the list at the store never worked out as well as shopping by the list online. And we eat home made food all the time. 

And this is the last point and it probably is the most controversial, but I am going to go ahead and say it: I don't buy snacks. This one little change was so huge for us: saves a ton of money, kids eat better at meal times, they don't wonder around asking for snacks, and after a while they are used to it now and are perfectly fine. We do have fruit that is always available, including frozen fruit that my oldest daughter loves snacking on, it's like ice-cream she says. But because they eat more at meal times a lot fo times snacks are not necessary. I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and at 3pm we have a smoothie. We eat early, some people make fun of me for this, but my main point here is: do what works for you. Snacks were stressful for me, kids were never hungry enough at meal times, and always hungry in between, so I had to make a change. If something isn't broken, don't fix it. But I just wanted to let you know, there is life without snacks in the pantry and fresh or frozen fruits are snacks too!  

How Do I Simplify My Cleaning Routine as a Mom?

Let’s be honest—cleaning is not exactly at the top of my "things I enjoy doing" list. But I do love a clean, calm home. So as a busy mom, I’ve made it my mission to simplify my cleaning routine as much as possible. I used to Google things like “quick cleaning hacks” or “how do busy moms keep a tidy house” every single time I had a spare minute (usually while hiding in the bathroom).

What actually helped me wasn’t some magical deep-cleaning product—it was a mindset shift: smaller chunks, more consistency, and way less pressure.

I now break things down by task or room—like laundry on Monday, bathroom wipe-down on Tuesday, fridge reset on Wednesday—super short, doable pieces. I rarely spend more than 15 minutes on a cleaning task, and that’s on purpose. Tools that save me time or brain power are always a yes—like my robot vacuum (bless it), multipurpose sprays, and even the humble timer. I’ll set one for 15 minutes and just go. When it rings, I’m done. No guilt, no overthinking.

The key for me was creating a cleaning routine once, setting it on repeat in my Reminders app, and then just following it without having to think every day, “What should I clean today?” Now it’s just part of the flow. And I never clean on weekends—intentionally. That’s family time, reset time, living-in-the-house time. So a little weekday planning = no Sunday panic cleaning.

Here’s a truth that changed how I think about housework:

“Done is better than perfect.” — Sheryl Sandberg

That applies so well to mom life. A 10-minute tidy beats an all-day cleaning marathon you keep putting off. Every. Single. Time.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, start small. Pick one thing. Set a timer. Automate what you can. Delegate what you can. And don’t forget: you’re not failing if your house isn’t spotless. You’re living in it. And that’s kind of the point.

How to set boundaries and say no as a busy mom?

Okay, real talk—this is by far the area I struggle with most. According to literally every personality test I’ve ever taken, I’m a professional people pleaser. Like, certified. I want to help, I want to be liked, and I really don’t want to disappoint anyone. But here’s the thing: when I became a mom, I realized that people-pleasing and motherhood don’t mix well.

All of a sudden, all my energy was being poured into my kids—and I just didn’t have anything left to give to the extra, non-essential things. Still, the guilt would creep in every time I tried to say no. So I started paying attention to how other moms did it. I asked questions, listened, read books, and slowly started learning that setting boundaries isn’t rude—it’s necessary.

If you’ve ever felt like you're stretched too thin, like you’re constantly saying yes out of guilt or habit, this is for you: You don’t owe anyone your time. You’re allowed to protect it. You’re allowed to say no. You’re allowed to disappoint others in order to honor what matters most.

It starts with knowing your priorities—your family, your peace, your rest, your goals. And then getting brave enough to communicate those boundaries clearly. Not everyone will understand, and that’s okay. You’re not here to be everything to everyone.

One quote that really helped me shift my mindset comes from Greg McKeown’s Essentialism: “If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will”.

That hit hard. Because it’s sotrue: if we don’t take ownership of our time, it will be swallowed up by everything and everyone else.

Setting boundaries takes practice. Saying no can feel awkward at first. But it gets easier. And the peace, the space, the focus it brings? Totally worth it.

So say no to what drains you, and say yes to what fills you. Protect your energy like it’s sacred, because it is.

How Do I Find Time for Self-Care as a Busy Mom?

Finding time for self-care is such a huge struggle for moms—myself included. I mean, I used to Google things like “self-care tips for moms” and “how to make time for myself as a mom” constantly. And sure, there’s a lot of advice out there. The problem? None of it addressed the real issue I was facing: mom guilt.

I knew self-care was important. I wanted to take care of myself. But deep down, I felt bad even thinking about it. I had this internal dialogue going like, “I can’t leave the kids,” or “I should be using this time to catch up on the house or work or literally anything else.” Sound familiar?

Eventually, I realized that guilt was the real reason I “didn’t have time” for self-care. Because let’s be honest—if someone handed me a free, all-inclusive family trip to the Maldives, I’d make the time, pack the bags, and go. So why couldn’t I do the same for a 30-minute walk alone, a coffee with a friend, or even just a quiet bath with the door closed?

Once I worked through that guilt, it finally clicked: taking care of myself doesn’t take away from my family—it actually gives them more. More presence, more patience, more joy. My kids benefit when I’m not running on empty. And guess what? It’s good for them to spend one-on-one time with their dad or learn how to entertain themselves for a few minutes. Everyone wins.

So now I plan for self-care. I put it on the calendar like it’s any other appointment. I wake up earlier some days for a quiet moment, use nap time to recharge instead of hustle, and block out time for the things that fill my cup. And yep,I've even started doing monthly meetups with girlfriends and date nights with my husband (kid-free!). 

One quote that really helped me let go of the guilt comes from Brené Brown: “When we value ourselves enough to set and honor our boundaries, we create a culture of respect in our homes.”

Let that sink in. Modeling self-respect and self-care is actually part of being a good mom. So if you’ve been putting yourself dead last, I want you to ask yourself why. And then, start small. Make the plan. Stick to it like it’s your one-way ticket to the Maldives.

You’re worth it. And your family needs you, not a burnt-out version of you.

How Do I Handle Interruptions While Managing My Day?

Oh, interruptions—every mom knows the struggle. I used to google things like "how to stay focused as a mom" or "how to get anything done with kids around" while holding a baby on my hip and trying to answer emails at the same time. If that’s you right now, just know: you’re not alone.

I’ve learned that instead of fighting interruptions, it helps to plan with them in mind. I started time-blocking my day—but with buffer zones. That way, when someone spills a cup of milk or needs help with a puzzle, I’m not throwing my whole schedule out the window. I also set clear expectations with my family: this is “quiet time,” this is “play together time,” and this is “mom’s working time.” It’s not perfect, but it helps.

Sometimes, managing interruptions is really about managing ourselves. When I get thrown off course (because I will), I remind myself: it’s not about being perfectly productive—it’s about staying grounded and coming back to what matters.

A quote I love from Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown is: “The way of the Essentialist means living by design, not by default”.

That one really made me rethink how I was spending my time—and who was deciding how my day would go. With kids, nothing goes exactly as planned. But that doesn’t mean we can’t build a flexible structure that supports what matters most.

Plan for the chaos. Allow space for interruptions. And design a day that works for your real life, not an ideal one.

How Small Time Management Changes Can Make a Big Difference

If you're anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself searching “easy time management tips” while stirring dinner and answering a million “Mommm!” calls. I used to think I needed some huge overhaul to get my life under control, but it turns out, tiny shifts can change everything.

For me, the magic started with setting a short daily to-do list—just the top 3 things. Not 10. Not 20. Just 3. That alone helped me stop chasing my tail all day. Then I began time-blocking certain tasks, batching things like laundry or emails, and prepping meals on Sundays or cooking 3 times a week instead of every day. And no, it doesn’t all go perfectly—but wow, it’s made a difference.

I also realized I don’t have to do everything myself. Asking for help or delegating isn’t a failure—it’s wisdom. I now put on a timer for 15 minutes in the evening, and the whole family helps clean up. It’s quick, it’s doable, and it’s honestly kind of fun.

One of my favorite quotes from Stretched Too Thin by Jessica N. Turner is: “You do not have to do it all. You are allowed to focus on what matters most to you—and let go of the rest.”

That hit me. These small changes won’t magically give you three extra hours in your day, but they will give you a little bit of breathing room, and that’s everything.

So if you're feeling overwhelmed, start small. One tiny tweak at a time, and you’ll feel more in control—without having to wake up at 4 a.m. or become a productivity robot.

And hey—if reading this made you feel like you suddenly need to change everything about how you're doing things right now, don’t. Don’t rush it. Take one little step at a time, one day at a time, and trust that the system will create itself. You’re not behind. You’re building something sustainable—and that takes time.

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