Time Management Tips For Busy Parents
I can’t believe that just three years ago, I thought I was a busy person. I seriously thought my days were jam-packed and that I had no time for extra stuff. To be clear, I was 29 years old at the time, with a full-time job and a fiancé. I was on a weight loss journey (which included time in the gym and meal planning), and we had a dog and a cat at the time. As a childless pet mom, I thought my schedule was full to the brim. Little did I know that was nothing compared to the fast-paced days of being a parent, where the whole day seems to disappear within seconds. To be clear, being a parent is wonderful and worth it for so many reasons, but if you’re looking for “spare time,” you’re pretty much never going to find it if you’re a full-time, involved parent.
As I’m typing this, I am working remotely at my dining room table, with laundry in the washer and dryer, keeping an eye on my work emails, dinner that I should be preparing, floors that should be cleaned, and a litter box that should be scooped. I had a long laundry list of tasks I wanted to complete, and I’m not too surprised to say that I will not even be able to get to half of them. It doesn’t help that I often start one task, remember another that I’m supposed to be doing, and then get distracted from the task I’m currently working on. It’s an ongoing, vicious cycle.
Pre-Bebe, I thought my time management skills were okay, but now I am finding that I need to work a little harder to manage and prioritize important tasks, including making decisions on which items to work on now and which items can wait. It’s not always easy, and I’m not always good at it. For example, this morning, I found myself cleaning out my refrigerator again instead of doing the right thing and cleaning my bathroom. My refrigerator was mostly clean and didn’t have anything expired in it. But that’s what I wanted to do at that moment, so that’s what I did.
Nonetheless, I’ve come a long way in this regard and wanted to share a few time management tips that can possibly be helpful:
Prioritize tasks. One of the best skills to aid in time management is knowing what to prioritize. As a busy parent, it’s important to identify which tasks need immediate attention and which ones can wait. Making a list of tasks each day and then prioritizing them according to urgency and importance will help you feel a lot less overwhelmed.
The Eisenhower Matrix. This is a powerful tool for prioritization. It helps you categorize tasks into 4 quadrants based on urgency and importance:
Urgent and Important: Tasks that require immediate attention (e.g., picking up a sick child from school).
Important but Not Urgent: Tasks that are important but don’t require immediate attention (e.g., scheduling doctor appointments or planning family vacations).
Urgent but Not Important: Tasks that are urgent but not significant in the grand scheme of things (e.g., answering non-urgent work emails).
Not Urgent and Not Important: Tasks that can often be delegated or eliminated (e.g., watching TV or excessive social media browsing).
Create a daily schedule. Although each day is a little different and being able to adapt and improvize is important, a well-organized daily schedule is very helpful for busy parents. Knowing what to expect throughout the day and having a set routine can reduce stress and improve productivity. Start by planning the key events and tasks for the day, such as work, meals, errands, school runs, and extracurricular activities.
Here are some tips for creating a daily schedule:
Block Time for Specific Tasks: Allocate specific blocks of time for essential activities such as work, cooking, and laundry. Knowing exactly when you’ll tackle each task will help keep you focused and prevent procrastination.
Use a Family Calendar: Keeping a shared calendar, either digital or physical, can help everyone in the household stay on the same page. Make sure all events, such as doctor’s appointments, sports practices, and family events, are marked.
Learn to say no. For me, this one has been one of the hardest skills to learn. It’s not easy saying no to family, friends, and friendly coworkers all the time when all they want to do is spend time with you. Further, it’s not always easy for people without kids to understand why you’re tied up all the time. This is one of the many reasons why some friendships dissolve after kids arrive.
Nonetheless, this is an essential time management skill that can’t be overlooked. It’s simply impossible for someone to do everything they want to do, and saying yes to every request often results in feeling stretched too thin (which is a feeling I am all too familiar with).
It’s crucial to evaluate what’s really important to you and your immediate family and focus on those activities. If an invitation or task doesn’t align with your priorities, it’s perfectly okay to politely decline it, even if the inviters protest. Saying no doesn’t make you a bad parent or person; it just means you’re protecting your time for the things that matter most.
Delegate and share responsibilities. It’s not uncommon for one person in a family to feel like they need to handle everything on their own. I sometimes feel this way myself, even though my husband is always willing to help out (but isn’t always sure how to). But it’s unproductive to think you can do it all on your own because we simply do not have enough time in a day. Parenting is a team effort, and effective time management often requires delegating tasks and sharing responsibilities. It’s essential to share responsibilities with your partner and to ask others for help when needed, such as your family members.
Here’s how you can delegate effectively:
Talk to your partner. Sit down with your spouse or partner and discuss how you can divide tasks more evenly. Assign specific duties such as grocery shopping, cooking, or picking up the kids from school.
Involve the kids. It’s important to have the kids help out in an age-appropriate way. Right now, our 2-year-old can handle picking up her toys and putting them back in her toy bin, and that’s enough to save us a few minutes of tidying every day.
Outsource when necessary. If your budget allows, consider outsourcing certain tasks, such as hiring a professional cleaner or using meal delivery services. This can free up time to focus on your family or personal well-being.
Batch similar tasks together. Instead of jumping from task to task throughout the day, try batching similar tasks together. Batching involves grouping similar activities into one larger block of time.
For example:
Meal prep. Instead of cooking every day, set aside one or two days each week to prepare meals in bulk. You can chop vegetables, cook grains, and even make full meals in advance, making it easier to put together quick and healthy dinners during the week.
Errands. If you need to run multiple errands, try to schedule them all for the same time. This minimizes the back-and-forth and reduces the time spent driving between locations.
Maximize your morning routine. The morning sets the tone for the entire day, so it’s important to start it off on the right foot. Creating a smooth and efficient morning routine can help you hit the ground running.
Here are some strategies for making mornings more manageable:
Prepare the night before. On the nights before I know I need to go to the gym, I lay out my gym clothes for the morning, pack my gym bag, and make sure my sneakers and socks are by the door. I probably wouldn’t make it to the gym if I didn’t prepare ahead of time. Similarly, it’s important to lay out your work or school clothes, prepare breakfast, or prepare lunch, depending on what you need for the day.
Wake up early if you’re willing. My husband and I wake up between 5:45 - 6:00 a.m. each morning and it absolutely sucks, but it helps us to wake up ahead of the baby and get ready for work without interruptions.
Have a consistent routine. Knowing more or less what to expect each day helps everyone in the family. Of course, there will always be days that are out of the ordinary, but on the whole, it’s good to keep a predictable routine.
Take advantage of technology. Technology can be a huge time-saver when used effectively. Countless apps and tools can help busy parents stay organized and save time. For me, using Google Calendar and keeping track of important tasks via my Notes app helps me tremendously. Additionally, if I know I’m moving slowly and need to pick up the pace, I’ll set a timer on my phone. For example, taking a shower in the morning (I could stay under the hot water all day if I let myself).
Take breaks once in a while. Talking about the importance of “self-care” feels like beating a dead horse, but it’s still very important. Parents often put their own needs last, but taking care of yourself helps you stay focused, energized, and productive.
Here are a few ways to take better care of yourself:
Set boundaries. Set aside time for yourself each day, and protect that time. Those moments can include reading a good book, taking a walk, or just lying in bed and staring at the ceiling. It’s your me-time, and no one can take it from you.
Get as much sleep as you can. Not everyone can easily get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, but making sleep a priority every night is going to help you tackle the important stuff the next day.
Exercise regularly. Take a walk during lunch or hit the gym before or after work. It might take some time out of your day, but dedicating 3-4 hours each week to your physical and mental health is worth it. After all, without our health, we don’t really have anything. You, your spouse, and your children need you to be happy and healthy.
Embrace flexibility. Even the best-laid plans can go awry, especially when parenting young children. It’s important to remain flexible and adaptable when things don’t go the way you expected them to. If a child gets sick, if an event runs late, or if something unexpected arises, try not to stress. Adopting a flexible mindset helps reduce frustration when life inevitably throws curveballs. Remember that it’s okay to adjust your schedule as needed and that not everything has to be perfect. If some tasks end up going undone, forgive yourself quickly and handle them the next day (or the next).
Seek support from other parents. Sometimes, the best time management tip is to lean on other parents. Connecting with other parents—whether through playgroups, online communities, or family friends—can provide valuable support and advice.
Carpooling. If your kids are school-age and you’re struggling with school runs, consider carpooling with other parents to share the load.
Parenting networks. Reach out to friends or neighbors who can offer advice on time management or share tips on balancing family life. You can also exchange tips on handling parenting challenges or trade off responsibilities like babysitting.
XOXO, Alexis.