6 Tips for Working Moms to Enjoy More by Doing Less

We all know that your life changes when you have a baby. What hadn’t occurred to me is how I could feel pulled in so many different ways, and it took me a while to get out of the swirl. Establishing a daily routine just to get out the door and make it to work plus breastfeeding, plus trying to maintain a social life plus volunteer, plus plus plus. This madness had to stop. Here are tips to be able to enjoy more while doing less.

Just say, “NO.”

Sure, maybe you used to plan trivia nights or happy hours for your department. And you loved it! These events are valuable; they create community and can lift people up. Maybe it’s time to let someone else plan them for a little while, and if you can attend, great! If you can’t, that’s great, too. You might be happier if you regain the time and energy spent on this social event by sitting and enjoying dinner with your family. Or going to bed an hour earlier. Or having a tickle party with your kids before bedtime. There will be another social event. It’s okay to skip, especially if you’ve just returned to work.

COMPLETE THREE TASKS EACH DAY. Period.

For you maybe it’s 2 and maybe it’s 5, but I found that if I tried to do more than three tasks any given day, I could never get to it all, and I would feel so frustrated. For example, today I set my 3 action items to complete outside of the work day:

• return an item to one store
• take a shower and dry my hair
• return an overdue phone call

There are easily 20 other things that I know need to get done, but they will wait another day. And that’s okay, because progress is more important than perfection. If you start to think, “Ugh, I only got these three things done today,” STOP. You completed those three tasks AND cared for and provided for your family. This is a success! Feel satisfaction in your progress.

Go on a digital diet.

Have you updated your phone settings lately? You can get a summary of the average amount of time per day that you spend on your phone. It can be frightening how connected we *think* we need to be to our best friend, our boss, our email, our social media, our world. You might be pleasantly surprised at how connected you feel to yourself if you actively go on a digital diet. It will give you the mental (and sometimes emotional) space you need to be able to enjoy more.

sleep. Anywhere. as often as possible.

You have 15 minutes of peace and quiet to yourself? Go lay down. Even if you don’t sleep, merely resting your body can recharge you. And all parents need to recharge. Meditation is all the rage, as it should be. It takes time to learn to meditate. Learn how if you can. In the mean time….REST.

OUTSOURCE and DELEGATE.

Guys, try to move some things off your plate. If you are a breastfeeding mom returning to work, do a quick check: Who usually prepares dinner for the family? Is that an equally shared responsibility or is it you? How about laundry? Bathtime? Coordinating with your childcare provider (oops, they’re out of wipes, sunscreen, etc…). Setting up doctors appointments. House maintenance. Groceries. How is this workload split within your family?

Outsource as much as you can afford to.

• Childcare. Schedule in date nights. Or day dates! Invest time in your partner. My husband and I don’t like the idea of outsourcing ALL POSSIBLE childcare. We love our kids; it took a long time to be blessed to have them in our lives and we love spending time with them. But we need a break sometimes, too!
• Delivery services. Meal delivery? CHECK. Grocery delivery? Check. Dog food? Automated. You can’t get that Food&Wine mag-worthy dinner on your table like that woman on Insta did? Who cares. Feed your family and yourself. Move on.
• Pet care. Find a neighborhood kid who can walk your dog. Or in our case, a dog boarder who loves our elderly dog and can take him to the vet around the corner in an emergency. Sometimes one day of doggie daycare on the weekend gives us breathing room at home and one fewer being to manage and care for.
• Housecleaning. You and your husband get grumpy when the bathroom isn’t clean, but neither of you are cleaning it. Hire occasional cleaners to give yourselves a break.
• Chores. Start training your two-year old to put his laundry away–even if it’s throwing his shirt like a basketball into the hamper), place his shoes in a row, and put his plate in the sink (carefully!). By 3, he can pour his own milk, start helping you cook. 3.5 and he loves to help wash dishes. He picks out his clothes and gets dressed, and you get to blow out your hair. Put in the time and effort to teach your kids independence, and eventually it will stick. Kids can learn to help around the house at a young age, and it contributes to their desire to be independent.
• Local moms’ group or parenting group. You may not have a lot of time to get involved, but you will appreciate having a group to turn to if you have questions related to parenting. And we all have questions.

Want to take outsourcing to the next level? Hire a personal assistant or a home helper. I have actually found someone sent straight from heaven above who can help with all of the tasks listed except housecleaning. But she preps the house for the house cleaners. And our house is now an organized dream. It is absolutely amazing and has brought sanity back to our lives.

PLAN AHEAD

On Saturdays I plan out our meals for the coming week. On Sundays, I shop or meal prep. I check my calendar for the week and share events with or discuss plans with my husband. I set aside my clothes for the next 2-3 days.

Your morning hustle will be easier if you have your day lined out in your head and your meals planned out. Notice I say YOUR meals….because sometimes I’ll plan for the kids and not myself. Pack a lunch or snack for yourself, and carve time out to enjoy it.

What about your workouts? Got those inked in? By caring for yourself, you can better care for others.

Want to add another perspective or add dramatic changes? I really enjoyed this podcast. Casey discusses how she transformed her life at home and work after becoming a mom, and now she is far more productive.

If you need help organizing and scheduling, Bullet Journaling is all the rage. My husband has kept bujo’s for about 8 years now and he lives by the practice. I am not so sold on it, though I do keep a gratitude journal, which really helps me stay more present. Find a method that works for you and try it out.

What are your favorite tips for working parents? Comment below!