Stressed Out? These 4 Tips for Moms Help You Crush Chaos
Inside: Stressed out and feel like the more you work, the farther behind you get? Read this post to learn 4 tips for moms to help you crush the chaos.
Hey friend, I’m going to guess you’re here because you’re overwhelmed, you’re stressed out and you’re tired of all the chaos.
Sometimes it feels like you can’t take a break, for fear of falling behind.
Sometimes it feels like the more you do, the further behind you get. I get it.
I spent much of my life feeling overwhelmed and constantly behind. The good news is that there are some simple things you can do to get a much needed breath of fresh air.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 4 tips for moms that will help you decrease chaos and get some order in your day.
The 4 Best Tips for Moms to Get Rid of Overwhelm
1) Stop Multitasking
Controversial, I know. But if you want tips for moms that will help you become a more productive and happy mom, you have to stop multitasking.
Researchers have found that we’re not actually doing more than one task when we’re multitasking. Our brains can only focus on one task at a time.
Instead of “multi-tasking”, we’re actually switching between single tasks. And every time we switch between tasks, time is lost in the transition.
In other words, while multitasking makes you feel like you’re getting things done quicker, you’re actually taking longer to do the tasks than if you focused on one at a time.
I’m sure some of you would argue with me that you love to listen to podcasts while folding laundry. It makes mundane tasks so much more enjoyable.
I get that.
But here’s the thing. If you spend 5 minutes browsing for a podcast to listen to, that’s 5 minutes of lost work time.
Here’s Your Challenge:
If you still insist that multitasking is making your life better because you can get things done quicker or enjoy them more in the moment…I have a challenge for you.
Next time you go to do something, say fold the laundry or empty the dishwasher, set the stop watch on your phone.
Track the time it takes both when you single task and when you multitask.
Here’s the deal: most tasks don’t take as long as we think they do.
When I started timing my chores, I was so surprised by how quick they were. I would put off emptying the dishwasher for days, but when I timed it, I realized it only takes 6 minutes.
Folding the laundry? 15 minutes (regular load) or 30 minutes (massive load because I forgot to do laundry until we ran out of clean undies 😂).
Making the bed in the morning? 2 minutes.
The idea is that when you realize how little time something takes, it’s much easier to jump in instead of wasting time to find the perfect show or podcast to keep you company.
I don’t know about you, but I’d much rather get chores done quicker and get on with my day. And that is enough motivation for me to stop multitasking.
Do I slip back into that slump? You bet. And every time I do, I feel overwhelmed. I spend the whole day cleaning the house…and yet the house is messier.
Focusing on one task at a time is one of the best tips for moms that I can give you…yet nobody is talking about it.
Learn more: How time management for moms can help you create a life you love.
2) Time Blocking
Time blocking is a time management technique where you block out time to work on a specific activity. It can greatly increase your productivity and overall happiness, while decreasing stress.
It’s awesome.
If you’ve learned about time blocking before, you’ve might’ve seen it taught like this:
- 7 am: Get up and get ready for work
- 9-11 am: Work on your most important project
“Wait, did that just say 2 hours to work on 1 project? I’m lucky if I get 15 minutes of uninterrupted work time!”
I get it, mama. The way time blocking is traditionally taught is not realistic for busy moms with multiple obligations to juggle.
Think of Time Blocking as Wearing Different Hats
Instead, I like to think of time blocking as wearing multiple hats. Think of all the different roles you fulfill in your life: mom, wife, friend, volunteer, employee, etc.
When you set up your schedule, you want to set up blocks of time so you only wear one hat during each block.
If I’m in my household chores block, I’m wearing my mom hat, and I only do things that are related to being a mom. When I’m wearing my mom hat, I’m not working on my blog, or zoning out on Instagram.
And the same is true in reverse. When the kids go down for nap, I’m wearing my blogger hat. When I’m wearing my blogger hat, I’m focused on creating content that helps overwhelmed moms get some sanity and control in the chaos so they can pursue their dreams.
During this time, I’m not worried about folding the laundry, emptying the dishwasher or picking up the 1000 toys scattered across the floor.
Segmenting your schedule this way allows you to focus on one task at a time. (Remember how multitasking slows down your productivity?)
Learn more: Here’s why time blocking for moms is the best way to cut the chaos
3) Create a Daily Routine
Once you’ve figured out the hats you’ll wear, it helps to set up a daily routine.
To be clear, we’re not talking about a militant minute-by-minute schedule. You can go to other blogs to find that.
What I teach here is having a general flow to your day, which is a much more realistic tip for moms to maintain.
A daily routine means to do the same things in the same order every day.
A schedule means to do the same things in the same order at a specific time every day.
Let’s be honest, kids don’t really go on a schedule. You can send them to get their shoes on and an hour later, find them building a rocket ship out of blankets while running around in their underwear.
Instead, what works better is to create a daily routine. A daily routine allows you to implement some order into your day while also allowing for spontaneity.
A schedule looks like this:
- 7 a.m. Wake up
- 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
- 8:30 a.m. Get ready for the day:
- Potty
- Wash hands
- Brush teeth
- Take off pajamas
- Pick out and put on clothes
- 9:00 a.m. Chores interspersed with playtime (Read this post to learn more about my stay-at-home mom cleaning schedule.)
- 10:30 a.m. Special activity
- 11 a.m. Lunch
You see how the morning is scheduled down to the minute?
A daily routine, on the other hand, looks something like this:
- 7 a.m. Morning block: Wake up, breakfast, get ready, chores, playtime, errands or special activities.
- 11 a.m. Lunch
Instead of micromanaging each minute, you have a general idea of how each block in your day will flow. But there’s flexibility in a routine.
Learn more: How to create a stay at home mom schedule that works
4) Give yourself grace
If there is one theme I see over and over again, it’s that as women, we’re way too hard on ourselves.
We feel guilty for not participating in the school bake sale this year. We feel guilty asking a friend for a favor when we’re sick.
We berate ourselves for having the only kids wearing green in a sea of red on Valentine’s Day. 🙋♀️
And yet, we miss all of the things we’re doing right. We skim past all the kisses we gave or how much we cheered at our kid’s soccer game.
Mama, let me tell you something: You’re doing a great job!
The fact that you’re here on the internet looking for a way to be better means you’re a good mom. It means that you’re constantly in pursuit of a better life for you and your family.
And that’s not an easy thing to do. Honestly, most people sit there and complain, but you’re here doing something about it.
And for that, I applaud you.
Give yourself some stinkin’ grace.
How to Give Yourself Grace
At the end of each day, think through a couple of things you’re grateful for that happened that day. Cultivating gratitude can dramatically improve your life by training your brain to focus on the good things.
The more you focus on the good things, the more you’ll find them.
And remember, you’re doing a great job. Give yourself grace. You deserve it! 🥰
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