No Snooze Button: Embracing the Life of a Working Mom

I revel in the memory of days when hitting the snooze button on the alarm clock was a casual indulgence instead of a far-fetched fantasy. Whether you are a working mom outside or inside the home, or a stay at home mom with a to-do list longer than your minivan, I think most of us can agree this about time management — the struggle is real.

One of my biggest challenges I am learning to embrace is letting things go. A previous perfectionist and overachiever (yeah, totally was that kid in school) I have had to learn quickly what doesn’t get done today will still be there the next (like the laundry you forgot to take out of the washing machine to be dried for what seems like the 127th time, am I right?!)

While juggling a full-time working schedule and mothering twin two-year-old tornadoes (not to mention all of the other positions life has blessed me with) I dove head first into the chaos. I do not pretend to be an expert by any definition on the subject, however I do feel that (thanks to my Type A personality and training in marathon daycare-to-home relays) I can offer some time management tips that have at least helped me to get to where I am today. Let’s face it fellow mamas, we are always on. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is. So here we go:

1. Lists Are Your New Best Friend. I love lists. I list everything from meal planning to work tasks. Take advantage of your Smartphone alarms, and set those dates of important appointments. Heck, even use the old school Post-It note method when you know you need to remember something for the next day and slap it on your car steering wheel as an in-your-face-reminder the next day.
2. Organization Is More Than Cute Totes. I try my best to keep items I need, easiest to be accessed in a hurry and packed on a daily basis. Whether it be my work bag, my boys’ daycare bag, or something as simple as a bill to go out in the mail the next day, everything has its place. Be sure to prep the weekend before to cover your week to include lunch items, outfits for everyone, snacks, etc.
3. Be Smart With Rare Freedom. As often as you can, take advantage of those kid-free moments while at work during your lunch break times to get those pesky errands out of the way. I will pick and choose which lunch break days are best given my work schedule to run out and conquer the tasks still not completed.
4. Think Outside the Crock Pot. I do often think it is all about the crock pot ideas and not enough new choices for those sick of everything piled together in one bowl night after night. My favorite go-to is being creative with the pre-cooked rotisserie chickens — cutting off the skin and shredding the pieces for chicken enchilada night — just one of many possibilities!  A fellow City Mom Blogger  Mama has some other ideas!
5. Just Say No. Fellow working Mamas, we’re on 24/7 with expectations from job to family. When faced with the choice of a cuddle session on the couch or vacuuming up that spilled bowl of goldfish, please cuddle. Be in the moment. That’s all we’ve got.
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