When you’re a mom, you might think there’s no such thing as getting it together. After all, no one plans diaper changes, tears at preschool, or even “last minute” bake sales, even if you have ALL the Organized Mom Tips under your belt.
And while it’s great to be organized, sometimes all the extra planning in the world just won’t fix it.
So what then? Don’t you wish you could finally feel organized and like you have room to breathe???
The key to feeling more organized is a little planning (and these things you can do to get organized).
Make a Plan
The first step to getting organized is to set your expectations for what you want to accomplish.
What’s the absolute minimum that you need to do to keep your home running smoothly?
Write it down (with due dates).
Do you want to have a clean house? Decide when (and what) you’ll clean. You can make a list of everything you need to clean in each room or make an overall list for your entire home. (For a done-for-you to-do list of everything you need to clean in your home, grab my Organized Motherhood Cleaning Planner here.)
Want to have a great night out? Make a list of everything your babysitter will need to keep your kids alive and happy.
Ready to declutter? Decide where you’ll start and create your action plan (or get the Conquer Your Chaos Decluttering Bundle).
Do Things Once
Once you make a list, save it. Why reinvent the wheel? Reuse lists like your grocery list, meal plans, and
When doing things around the house, use a “touch it once” principle. Once you do something, reuse it. This also applies to getting things out or even putting things away.
- The monthly meal plan that you made during baseball season? Save it for the next busy season.
- The addresses that you saved for Christmas cards? Save the contacts to send each year.
- Opening mail? Open it over the garbage and immediately toss the envelopes, junk mail, and extra papers before filing the important info.
Create a Daily Routine (and write it down)
After always being late, forgetting appointments, and feeling like I was losing my mind on a daily basis, I created the Organized Motherhood Planner to keep track of my day.
But then I noticed something funny. Yes, I had my kids on a routine, but I also had myself on a routine (even if it wasn’t the routine that I wanted to be on).
By taking charge of your time (and your routine), you’ll be able to spend your time wisely.
Make your ideal schedule and write it down. Whether your routine changes every day or stays the same, write it down – it’s ok to have several different routines, like a daily routine for days when you work outside the home, a daily routine for days when you’re home with the kids, etc.
I write my general routine in my planner using time blocks so that I know whether or not I have enough time to finish everything. This also helps prevent me from double booking myself, like that time that I accidentally took my son for his haircut while my daughter was supposed to be in swim class.
It may seem redundant to write your routine every day, but at least make sure that you’re blocking out enough time to get everything done.
Creating a personalized daily routine can be a game-changer for your productivity and overall well-being. It’s all about finding what works best for you and sticking to it.
Start by time blocking your day – assign specific time slots for different tasks, whether it’s responding to emails, working on a big project, or taking a lunch break. This helps you stay focused and avoid getting sidetracked.
Next, think about the good habits you want to build into your routine. Things like exercising, journaling, or practicing mindfulness can have a huge impact on your mental health. Don’t try to overhaul everything at once – pick one or two new habits to work on first.
The key is to make your routine flexible enough to accommodate changes, but structured enough to provide a sense of stability. Experiment until you land on a daily flow that energizes and motivates you.
Set Goals
Every day, set three “must do” goals. Even if it’s just taking out the garbage, doing the dinner dishes, and folding a load of laundry instead of letting it wrinkle in the basket, set goals.
But set larger goals, too. In addition to your daily goals, think about your bigger goals, like taking a family vacation next year or decluttering your basement.
Once you have your large goals written down, create a plan with manageable steps to reach them. Think about how much you’ll need to save each month in order to pay for your family trip to Disney next year. Decide when you’ll go and where you’ll stay.
Declutter Your Physical Spaces for a Calm Mind
Feeling overwhelmed by all the stuff in your life? You’re not alone! Let’s dive into some easy ways to tidy up and find your zen.
First off, start small. Don’t try to tackle your whole house in one go – that’s a recipe for burnout. Pick one drawer or shelf and go from there. Ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” If the answer’s no, it’s time to say goodbye.
Pro tip: Get yourself some cute storage boxes. They’re great for corralling all those little bits and bobs that don’t have a home. Plus, they look way better than a jumble of random stuff.
Remember, it’s not about having a perfect Instagram-worthy home. It’s about creating a space that makes you feel good at the end of the day. So, keep what sparks joy (thanks, Marie Kondo!) and ditch the rest.
Schedule Regular Decluttering Sessions
Unfortunately, decluttering is not a “one-and-done” type of thing. Just like maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, scheduling regular decluttering sessions is the key to maintaining a tidy, minimalist space.
Set aside a couple hours each month to go through one room or area of your home. Focus on getting rid of anything you don’t use, need, or absolutely love. It’s amazing how quickly the clutter can pile up without you even realizing it.
Put on some upbeat music, pour a cup of coffee, and get to work. You’ll be surprised at how therapeutic and satisfying a little decluttering can be. Plus, you’ll feel so much lighter and more at peace in your freshly tidied home.
Don’t stress about perfection – just do what you can in the time you have. Consistent, bite-sized decluttering sessions are the way to go. Before you know it, you’ll be living that minimalist dream.
Prioritize Your Tasks with the 80/20 Rule
Alright, let’s talk about one of my favorite productivity tricks – the 80/20 rule. Also known as the Pareto principle, this little gem can seriously transform how you approach your to-do list.
The idea is simple – 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. So, instead of trying to tackle everything, you focus on the vital few tasks that pack the biggest punch. Sounds good, right?
Put this into practice by taking a close look at your daily tasks. Which ones have the biggest impact on your goals? Those are your 20%. Prioritize those suckers and watch your productivity skyrocket. The rest? You can probably let those slide or delegate them.
Trust me, once you start working smarter (not harder) using the 80/20 rule, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it. Give it a shot and see for yourself!
Use the Two-Minute Rule to Tackle Small Tasks
Feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? Try the Two-Minute Rule – it’s a super simple productivity hack that can help you tackle those small tasks in no time.
The idea is simple – if a task will take you less than two minutes to complete, just do it right away instead of adding it to your list. Sending that email, making that quick call, jotting down that note – these little things can really add up, so why not just get them done?
It’s all about building momentum and avoiding that feeling of dread when you look at your list. Plus, crossing off those tiny wins will give you a sense of progress and motivation to keep going. So next time you’re tempted to put something off, ask yourself “Can I do this in two minutes?” If the answer is yes, what are you waiting for? Just do it!
Invest in Helpful Organizational Tools
Alright, let’s talk about getting organized! We all know how important it is to have our stuff together, but sometimes it can feel like a never-ending battle. That’s where some handy organizational tools come in to save the day.
Whether it’s a sleek desk organizer to keep your workspace tidy or a productivity app to help you stay on top of your to-do list, there are so many great options out there. And the best part? They don’t have to break the bank.
From simple storage solutions to high-tech gadgets, investing in the right organizational tools can seriously up your productivity game. Plus, it just feels good to have a place for everything and everything in its place, am I right?
So why not take a little time to evaluate what areas of your life could use an organizational boost? Your future self will thank you for it!
Make a (Movable) Command Center
Maybe you have visions of creating a room in your home that’s all yours but you don’t have the space. Maybe you have the room but you’re overwhelmed with the Pinterest-perfect choices. Regardless, you need a way to keep everything together.
Make a binder that’s filled with everything you need. A place to save important receipts, babysitter notes, chore charts, etc.
Put your brain in a binder and then breathe a sigh of relief!
Overwhelmed with the thought of making a binder? I just put the finishing touches on the Organized Motherhood Home Binder! It’s everything you need to finally get your home (and your life) organized.
Invest in a Daily Planner
Whether you use a paper planner, a digital calendar, a project management tool, or some combination of all of these planning tools, using the right kind of tools can save you a ton of time – and help you stay in your area of focus every time you need to start a new task.
Investing in a daily planner can be one of the best decisions you make for your productivity and overall organization. While digital calendars and project management tools have their benefits, there is something irreplaceable about the tactile experience of putting pen to paper and mapping out your day.
A quality paper planner allows you to visualize your schedule, set clear priorities, and make thoughtful notes that can get lost in the shuffle of online tools. The act of physically writing down tasks and deadlines helps cement them in your memory, making you more likely to follow through.
A daily planner provides a sense of control and intentionality that can be difficult to achieve with digital alternatives. The focused nature of planning on paper minimizes distractions and encourages deep work.
Invest in a planner that aligns with your specific needs and lifestyle – you’ll be amazed at how it transforms your time management skills and provides clarity of mind.
Make a Habit of Meal Prepping
Meal prepping can be a total game-changer. It’ll save you so much time and hassle during the week. No more stressing about what to make for dinner every night or wasting money on takeout. Just grab one of your pre-made meals and you’re good to go!
Even doing simple things like batch cooking chicken or ground beef for your upcoming recipes can save a lot of time.
The key is to set aside a little time on the weekend to plan out your meals and do some batch cooking. It might seem like a pain at first, but trust me, it’s worth it. You can make a bunch of healthy, delicious meals in advance and then just reheat them whenever you need them.
There are endless meal prep ideas out there – everything from breakfast burritos to veggie-packed pasta dishes. The great thing is you can totally customize it to your own tastes and dietary needs. So get creative and have some fun with it! Your future self will thank you.
Another great way to save time cooking is to double your recipes as you cook them. I love freezer cooking – doubling the recipe and freezing half, and MyFreezeEasy has completely changed the way I cook and prepare my meals in daily life.
Start Your Day the Night Before
Getting ready for the next day the night before can make a huge difference in how smoothly your mornings go. Spend a few minutes before bed setting yourself up for success the next day.
Pick out your outfit, pack your bag (and set it by the door), and make a to-do list.
This simple evening routine will help reduce morning stress and make you feel like an organized person with less stress. Who doesn’t want that? Give it a try – your future self will thank you!
Don’t Forget About Digital Organization
In this fast-paced digital world, it’s easy for our files, emails, and online presence to become a total mess. But trust me, taking the time to get organized can seriously boost your productivity and reduce stress.
- First up, file management. Do you have documents, photos, and other files scattered across your computer, cloud storage, and external drives? Time to get that under control! Set up a simple folder structure that makes sense for how you work, and get in the habit of saving everything in its rightful place.
- And email – oh email! Drowning in an overflowing inbox? Unsubscribe from those annoying newsletters, create some handy folders, and make a plan to tackle your emails in batches. Your future self will thank you.
- Finally, don’t forget about organizing your online life. Bookmark the sites you use regularly, clear out your browser history and cookies, and be selective about the apps and tools you use. Streamlining your digital footprint can seriously upgrade your productivity.
Trust me, a little digital decluttering goes a long way.
Taking the time to plan and organize your daily tasks can greatly improve your sense of control and productivity in all aspects of your life. By implementing simple strategies such as creating to-do lists, setting priorities, and decluttering your space, you can streamline your workflow and reduce feelings of overwhelm.
Organization is a skill that can be developed over time with practice and consistency. So start small, stay committed to your routine, and watch as your efficiency and peace of mind soar. Take the first step today towards a more organized life! So what are you waiting for? Let’s get organized, my friends!