How to Set Priorities as a Mom (Tips for Stay-at-Home Moms)

A stay at home mom is a very busy woman. She is always trying to balance the many demands of her home from cleaning the house to meet the needs of her children and maintaining the lives of each family member, including her own. This leaves many tasks not completed on time and very little time for mom to have me-time which leads to a lot of stress.

For things to get done properly, a stay-at-home mom must set her priorities right. By making a to-do list then placing the tasks in order of importance, she will be able to get all tasks completed efficiently and in a timely manner. If you are a stay-at-home mom, being able to set priorities is a crucial factor. If you fail to prioritize you will always feel exhausted and no tasks would have been completed by the end of the day.

Create a To-Do List

When you think about all the work that you must accomplish in a day, it may seem a lot and can be overpowering. However, when you list down those tasks you will be surprised that there are fewer tasks to accomplish than you thought. Creating a to-do list will help you focus and give you a feeling of achievement as you complete each task.  Using planners will make this task easy & fun so we made a list of best planners you can use. It is recommended you make a to-do list for each day separately. Ensure every night, you make a to-do list for the following day.

Arrange Tasks in Order

After you have listed all the tasks that you need to accomplish, it is imperative to arrange the tasks in order of urgency. Most individuals have written a to-do list, yet many of them still haven’t learned to use these lists to the best advantage. The primary aim of making an effective to-do list is to place tasks from the one that has the greatest importance to the one with the least importance. In order to get your priorities right ask yourself these questions “What is essential?” What must I do first?”

Identify which things you must handle first, this allows getting them done on time. It also helps you not to get stressed out over less important tasks if they don’t get done immediately.

Rely On a Calendar

When setting priorities, it is always wise to rely on a calendar to stay organized and not miss out on important things. Whether you prefer a calendar on the wall or an online calendar, it will definitely help you control your day as you mark deadlines, put reminders of our children’s varied activities, and keep track of appointments, even time for yourself.

With an online calendar, it is easy to add more tasks to your daily list, and you can even print out a day or week at a time and keep it with you. What’s more, some online calendars will let you access it from any computer or phone as long as there is an internet connection, so you can check it from anywhere.

Wake Up Early

Get up 30 minutes earlier than you had planned. This is the best time to catch up on the day’s projects. It is also a calm relaxed time when you can take care of some things without too many interruptions. You will also discover that during the 30- duration your body is energized and you perform tasks more efficiently before the kids wake up.

Maximize on Nap Times

If your children still take daytime naps, take advantage of those napping times. Whether you need to prepare some soup or stew before dinner time or make calls that won’t be interrupted, use nap time to get something done.

Insert Breaks

If you want to efficiently take good care of your household, it is vital to take breaks. With all the work that needs to be completed, it might seem impossible to insert breaks into your daily routine. But you need to take simple five-minute breaks to quiet down your mind and relax your body. Set five minutes to relax in a discreet place and don’t think of anything. Later, you will feel re-energized. Small breaks will also help you work with no pressure. Insert breaks periodically, either frequent very short breaks or a few longer ones, but stick to the time allowed.

Determine Which Tasks Can Be Delegated or Automated

Since you are a stay-at-home mom, it doesn’t mean that you need to take care of every house chore. Identify if there are tasks that someone else can handle so that you get to spend your energy and time on tasks that are of greatest importance, like bathing your baby or taking care of yourself. If you can have some clothes from the dry cleaner delivered to your house or hire someone to get the laundry done then do delegate those chores as you concentrate on other tasks on your schedule that need your attention.

Learn To Say No

When more important tasks are on your list, make a habit of politely saying no to less important activities and low priority work. Saying no frees up time for things that are most important.

Don’t Try To Be Perfect

Nobody is perfect. Trying to be a perfectionist sets you up for failure. If a task is difficult, ask for help, otherwise, you may end up procrastinating and when you attempt to do it, it will take most of your time and leave it unfinished. You should plan to do things you can accomplish. If a task is difficult for you, ask for help from your spouse, friends or an expert.

Combine Several Activities

Individuals who are extremely successful at setting priorities are used to combining several activities into a one-time slot. This means you will complete those tasks together. For instance, if you have to go to pick up the kids from school and you need to go to the food mart, you can stop by the food mart as you head home. Or listen to tape-recorded notes while commuting the kids to and from school. Combining several tasks together saves you a lot of time.  Just be creative and know what tasks combine well.

By making use of these tips, a stay-at-home mom will maximize time and be more organized by knowing how to set priorities right. This will reduce your stress levels, feel a sense of achievement and overall, be a happier mom.

Thank you for reading with us today! Let us know in the comments below how you set your daily or weekly to-do list to accomplish your goals. Be sure to also check out “6 Money Saving Challenges To Improve Your Finances” and find ways to save more money today!

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