Now, I know what you are thinking: As a busy stay-at-home mom, you hardly have time to read a lengthy blog post on time management hacks.
My advice for you? Make time. These hacks might just be the salvation your sanity has been looking for.
Let’s be real: Mornings and evenings as a stay-at-home mom feel like running a marathon you didn’t sign up for.
Just imagine it: You are wearing slippers with gnarly bed head and your kids are screaming about mismatched socks or demanding pancakes. Just when you think you’ve made it to the finish line (a.k.a. bedtime), someone drops the inevitable “I forgot to tell you I need a diorama for school tomorrow!”
Welcome to the chaos.
What if I told you that chaotic frenzy didn’t have to be so overwhelming? What if I told you there was a way to turn it into something… A little more manageable.
Yes, you can, and no, you don’t have to sacrifice your sanity (or your caffeine stash) to do it.
Anyway, I’ll stop teasing you now. Here are some time-saving hacks for busy moms that have worked in my household and may work in yours.
The Power of the Prep: Conquer the Night Before
If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this:
The night before is your best friend.
Seriously, she’s more reliable than that mom at PTA who swears she’s always on time but isn’t. Set aside just ten minutes in the evening to lay out everyone’s clothes for the next day, including your own. You may not be walking a runway, but nothing says “I’ve got it together” like having clean leggings and a matching shirt ready to go. This seemingly small step saves you from the early morning scavenger hunt for that one clean sock.
While you’re at it, knock out another morning task by packing backpacks, signing permission slips, and leaving shoes by the door the night before. There’s nothing worse than realizing a single shoe has gone missing five minutes before you need to leave.
Don’t even get me started on breakfast.
If you’re the type of mom who feels personally attacked by breakfast time, make life easier by prepping simple grab-and-go meals. Think overnight oats, breakfast burritos you can freeze, or even setting out cereal the night before. If your kids are old enough to work a toaster, congratulations, they’re old enough to handle breakfast. It’s called delegation, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Morning Routine: Streamline, Simplify, & Survive
We’ve all seen those dream sequences in movies where moms wake up to birds chirping, coffee brewing, and the kids trotting downstairs with smiles for breakfast.
Yeah, that’s not real life.
But, with a few hacks, mornings can at least feel a little less like you’re trapped in a reality game show where you’re always on the losing team.
Setting the mood is key. One simple trick is using music to keep everyone on track. Upbeat tunes can work wonders, turning your morning rush into a dance party rather than a mad dash out the door. You’d be surprised how fast kids move when they’re grooving to their favorite Disney song.
Another hack is setting a timer fifteen minutes before you actually need to leave the house. The moment it goes off, it’s your cue to round up the troops for final bathroom breaks, shoe checks, and hunting down the mysteriously vanishing jacket or library book.
Forget about that snooze button, momma.
As tempting as it may be, avoid the snooze button at all costs. Getting up just fifteen minutes earlier can make a world of difference. That small window of extra time allows you to enjoy your coffee while it’s still hot (what a luxury) or simply gather your thoughts before the chaos begins. Consider it a mini investment in your sanity.
Kids Are Tiny Humans, Not Circus Performers—Assign Tasks Accordingly
One of the biggest traps stay-at-home moms fall into is thinking they have to do it all.
Spoiler alert: You don’t.
Kids may be tiny humans, but they’re capable of doing more than we often give them credit for. Don’t hesitate to assign them small tasks that can take a load off your plate. The key to effective time management is sharing the workload, and yes, your preschooler can help out more than just making messes.
Depending on their age, kids can handle morning responsibilities like feeding the pets, setting the breakfast table, or getting their own backpacks organized. These little tasks may seem insignificant, but they add up.
Every task your kids do means one less thing on your already-packed to-do list. For added fun, turn clean-up time into a game. A quick “two-minute tidy-up” before bed or leaving the house is a great way to keep things under control. Everyone picks up as much as they can in two minutes, and the best part? It feels like a game, so they’re less likely to complain (at least most of the time).
Time Management: Setting the Stage for Bedtime Bliss
Now, I’d love to tell you that bedtime can be a smooth, serene process. But let’s be real, “bedtime bliss” is about as real as unicorns. Still, with a little planning, you can at least reduce the chaos. The key is in the prep, and it starts with dinner.
After a long day, the last thing you want to do is play the dreaded “What’s for dinner?” game. If you can manage it, meal prep is your friend.
Dedicating one day (Sunday, I’m looking at you) to planning meals or prepping ingredients can save you from that 5 p.m. panic. You don’t need to go full-on chef mode—simple freezer meals or pre-chopped veggies work wonders when the kids are ravenous and time is short.
Bedtime Routines: Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)
Bedtime routines are another area where keeping it simple is key. The longer and more elaborate the routine, the greater the chance it spirals into chaos. Aim for a consistent 30-minute wind-down, starting with a set bedtime (yes, even on weekends).
A quick bath or shower, followed by a short story, is all it takes to signal to your little ones that it’s time to sleep. Avoid the trap of “just one more story”—we all know where that road leads, and it’s not to a peaceful bedtime.
Stick to what works for you and your family, even if it doesn’t align with what parenting books say. If that means skipping bath time on an especially rough night, don’t sweat it. Your mental health is more important than meeting some picture-perfect bedtime routine.
Time Management Means to Prepare for the Unexpected (Spoiler: It’s Always Coming)
No matter how perfectly you’ve planned your stay-at-home mom routine, something will inevitably come along to throw a wrench in it—a surprise school project, a forgotten dentist appointment, or the sudden realization that your kid’s shoes don’t fit anymore.
The key to staying sane is building flexibility into your day. Plan for the unexpected by allowing for buffer time. If your schedule is packed too tightly, even a small hiccup can snowball into a stressful situation. Giving yourself a 10-15 minute cushion during the busiest times of the day can make all the difference.
Running late? That buffer time is your safety net.
It also helps to keep a stash of “emergency” supplies for those unexpected curveballs. Having a bin in the kitchen filled with quick snacks, extra school supplies, or basic craft materials can save you when you’re blindsided by a last-minute school project or forgotten snack duty.
You’ll thank yourself later when future-you needs a diorama, and past-you remembered to stock up on construction paper and glue sticks.
Chaos Tamed: Mornings & Evenings, Mastered
Mornings and evenings are often the most chaotic parts of the day for stay-at-home moms, but with a little planning, some strategic delegation, and a healthy dose of caffeine, they don’t have to feel overwhelming.
Remember, you’re tougher than any morning meltdown or bedtime battle. Embrace these time management hacks, hold onto your sense of humor, and know that you’ve totally got this, even on the wildest days.
Do you have any time management tricks or tips to make busy mornings and evenings go smoother? Tell us about them in the comments.
