50+ Life-Saving Everyday Tips Every Busy Working Mother Needs to Know

This article is about tips for busy working mothers.

Being a working mother is a constant juggling act.

As a mother you carry a constant invisible mental load which never seems to turn off. You are constantly balancing school emails, work deadlines, relationships, birthday parties, after school activities, family events and so much more.

Amongst all of this you are trying to remember who you are, whilst also fitting in your own needs.

Prior to becoming a mother, you did not realise how mentally taxing this would be.

And yes, there are many parenting books or podcasts out there, but most mothers must survive on something more practical. Everyday habits, systems and shortcuts can help life as a working mother run a little bit smoother.

Motherhood is not about perfection, but in this article, we want to help make your life easier. We hope that this article helps to make your life a little easier, helps to reduce decision fatigue and hopefully helps you to get back a little bit of time and energy.

Below is the article 50+ Life-Saving Everyday Tips Every Busy Working Mother Needs to Know.

Reduce Your Mental Load First

1. Set alarms for everything.

If it is important, then set an alarm. This could mean setting alarms for waking up in the morning, for leaving the house on time for school or even upcoming appointments in the week ahead.

2. Write everything down.

Write down lists, brain dumps, dates in diaries, write in your calendar, write on wall planners or even keep notes on your phone. You can only hold so much information in your brain as a working mother, therefore, writing it down helps to relieve information overload.

3. Reply to school emails quickly.

If it takes less than a few minutes to reply, then respond to the email straight away. This means that you don’t add more tasks to your ever-expanding mental load.

4. Check school and work emails the night before.

Even the most organised of working mothers can miss an important email. By checking emails the night before, you can avoid missing out on any essential schools events or work meetings.

5. Plan the night before.

Work, nursery or school mornings can be hectic. Planning the night before will allow these mornings to run smoother. Pre-planning will prevent you rushing around last minute looking for that missing glove. Simple things like putting uniforms out the night before could potentially save the morning the next day. Plus, a bonus for choosing your own clothes the night before too!

6. Create a morning routine with timings.

Another way to make your morning run more efficiently is by having a timed morning routine. Knowing what time your children should be awake, what time breakfast should start, when they should start brushing their teeth or even when to leave the house. Having this background structure in your mind allows to reduce the strain in the mornings.

7. Keep breakfast simple.

Simple breakfasts help to keep mornings calm.

You will no longer have to think up weird and wonderful recipe ideas at the crack of dawn. Keep your breakfasts straightforward, and as they grow your children will be able to re-create these breakfasts too.

The weekends can be where you get creative with the morning meal.

8. Use blackout blinds if you have early risers.

These blinds are great for busy working mothers.

If you have a sleeper sensitive to light, then use these to hopefully get back a few more hours of sleep in the morning.

Home Organisation That Actually Works

9. Declutter like your life depends on it.

There are endless benefits to decluttering. You will spend less time organising, less time cleaning and less time worrying about all the extra things in your home. There are only upsides to decluttering non-essential objects in the home.

10. Make childrren’s rooms easy to clean.

Fewer toys, simple storage and faster tidy-ups will free up your time as a busy working mother. Getting on top of your child’s bedroom not only benefits you, but your child too.

11. Get clever with storage.

Good storage allows your home to flow better.

Storage allows all your belongings to have a home. Some ideas of where to add storage include under the bed storage, garages or lofts. Also, don’t forget to label everything!

12. Buy a shredder.

If you struggle with managing letters and you find yourself with paper clutter, then consider buying a shredder. Once paper clutter piles up, it can quickly get out of hand. A shredder will help to keep this under control.

Kitchen, Food & Shopping Survival

13. Have five go-to meals you can cook without thinking.

Have at least five easy meals you can cook without thinking too much. Repeat these guilt-free during busy weeks.

14. Always carry snacks.

Snacks are essential for mothers.

For extra points, also carry snacks for your children’s friends too. Hunger can leave children on the brink of meltdowns. Having food at the ready can prevent potential volatile situations from escalating.

15. Have wipes available at all times.

A non-negotiable. Your children live their lives with sticky fingers, snotty noses and are always placing their hands where they shouldn’t be. Wipes are as much for your safety as there’s.

16. Kitchen towels are a must.

Kitchen towels are essential. There will be multiple spillages in your home throughout any given day. Have kitchen towels stocked and accessible.

17. Tissues everywhere.

Similarly to wipes, tissues are also an essential part of motherhood. Have them available in your bags, cars or on your person, as you will need them on a daily basis.

18. Check your fridge before doing the weekly shop.

This simple tip allows you to see what you have before going shopping. It will save you money and prevent waste.

19. Make shopping lists.

This could be a paper list you keep on the fridge, a list in your diary, or one that you keep on your phone. Add to your shopping list when you notice that certain items are running in low supply.

20. Leave shopping bags in your car boot or by the door.

One less thing to remember! You will always have shopping bags when needed.

Laundry, Cleaning & Household Systems.

21. Put the dishwasher on at night/clean dishes before bedtime.

We understand that a life with children can be hectic, therefore, it won’t always be possible to complete simple tasks. However, if you have the opportunity, then wash dishes/put the dishwasher on before bedtime, and wake up to a calm kitchen.

22. Wash school uniforms on Fridays.

Make this the priority load of the week. You will thank yourself Sunday when all the uniform is dry and waiting to be ironed.

23. Own five days of uniform if possible.

Eliminates midweek panic. This is not always possible, however, if you have five days of uniform and are organised enough to iron a week’s supply in one day, your mornings will run a lot smoother!

24. Do at least one load of washing a day.

Consistency beats overwhelm. Managing laundry in the home is extremely challenging. By doing little and often daily, it will allow you to keep on top of it all.

25. Outsource if you can.

Cleaning, ironing, or deep cleans buy back time. If you have the financial ability to do this regularly, sporadically, or when you feel overwhelmed, then this will help to lighten your load and relieve some pressure.

School Life & Parenting Logistics

26. Label absolutely everything.

Shoes, coats, jumpers—it saves money. You will not regret labelling school items! Pay careful attention to school uniforms with logos, as they can be costly to replace when lost.

27. Join the mums’ WhatsApp group.

Parent WhatsApp groups are there to fill in the gaps if you have ever missed an email or message from school.

28. Reply to birthday party invites immediately.

If you respond quickly, and then add them to your calendar straight away, then this prevents this will help to reduce your mental load. Don’t forget to share the dates/calendar with your partner too!

29. Keep party invites on the fridge.

Visual reminders will remind you about upcoming events.

30. Bulk buy birthday cards.

Future-you will be grateful. This will reduce last minute panic the morning of your child’s friend’s birthday party!

31. Do homework as soon as it’s given.

This may not be always possible, but if it is started and completed as early as possible, it will help to reduce anxiety for you and your child. In addition, it might help to prevent any last minute late night cramming sessions too!

Money, Clothes & Growing Children

32. Be mindful of how much you spend on clothes and shoes.

They outgrow everything fast. Of course, quality is a must, however, they may not need designer clothes for everyday life, as costs can quickly pile up.

33. Keep baby clothes for the next child if space allows.

It may not be that you save everything, but any extra clothes saved for a newborn will save you money in the longrun!

Hobbies, Play & Social Life

34. Ask other parents where they send their children for activities.

Word of mouth is gold. Some of the best resources come from other parents who have walked the journey before you. Where the best swimming schools are, the best tennis coaches or even music teachers. Some things you can’t find from a google search.

35. Make time for playdates if you can.

Friendships outside school matter. Playdates don’t always need to be elaborate, they could be meeting at the park, or a short visit to your home or even booking an activity together with your child’s friends. Your child will have the best memories and form special bonds with their friends.

36. Reward instrument practice if needed.

Motivation doesn’t always come naturally. Some activities and hobbies can take years to improve. When your child is younger, you may have to reward them to help encourage them to keep going.

Memories Over Perfection

37. Make a fuss over their birthdays.

They don’t have to be extravagant—just meaningful. You could throw birthday parties or have a special day out or buy presents they love. Making them feel special on their big day will stay with them for the rest of their lives!

38. Create simple family traditions.

These could include simple things like Sunday evening dinner together, decorating Christmas trees together or weekly movie nights. Keep them simple so that you are able to maintain them.

39. Take a yearly Santa photo.

Turn it into a magnet or bauble. A beautiful piece of magic captured in a photo.

40. Keep Christmas decorations simple.

This will allow you to enjoy Christmas without feeling too overwhelmed by it.

41. Don’t overbuy Easter chocolate.

You will end up with lots of chocolate, and unfortunately (or fortunately), they may not be able to eat it all.

42. Take lots of photos.

You’ll never regret taking too many photos! Time is so fleeting. Also, print as many photos as you can and put them into albums so that you can look back at these memories with your children.

43. Take lots of videos.

We live in an age where we can record everything. Make sure you record your children. Record their baby years, toddler years, pre-school years and school years. Record milestones, birthday parties, hobbies and family gatherings. You will not regret having too much footage! And your children will love seeing their younger selves on camera.

Health, Sleep & Reality Checks

44. Don’t miss important appointments.

These appointments should be attended by all family members. Dentists, optician’s, Doctor’s appointments, health screening etc.

45. Keep medical supplies stocked.

Replenish even when not needed. Your children will get sick with coughs, colds, fevers, they will injure themselves, therefore, keep your medical supplies stocked up so that you are prepared for all scenarios.

46. Accept that sickness and work will clash.

Sometimes you’ll need time off work to care for sick children. You children, especially if they attend nursery or school will catch multiple bugs. Sometimes this will clash with work. This can be challenging to manage when it happens.

47. Know that sleep deprivation will catch up with you.

Be kind to yourself. During these years your sleep will be hit. If you have the opportunity to sleep longer, or lie in, or have a few days off, then take it. You need to prioritise your health too.

Support & Relationships

48. Keep your partner informed of all events.

Remind them constantly—teamwork matters. This also makes it less likely that key events will be forgotten or missed.

49. Ask grandparents for help when possible.

Whether they can offer some childcare, or help with cooking meals, any support is beneficial.

50. Keep your garden simple while children are young.

Low maintenance wins and will free up some time.

51. Buy pets when you are ready

Pets add more responsibility to the home, and more work. Only get a pet when you feel ready and not when children are ready. If you are already feeling stretched, don’t add more responsibilities to your workload.

Final Thoughts

You won’t be able to achieve everything on this list, but we hope that some of these tips will help working motherhood feel a little bit lighter. Choose systems that make your day feel smoother. Perfection is not goal, gaining a more peaceful and less stressful life is.

You’re doing better than you think.

Thank you for reading. We would love to hear your thoughts below.

Team Mamo & Mono

Picture credit: LuxSocialVault

The content in this article is for informational purposes only. We do not provide professional advice/medical advice. Please see the full disclaimer.

This article is about tips for busy working mothers.