Time Management Tips for Working Moms
Are you wasting time?
So many women today are among the work force. Women are working because they have to due to financial security and more and more because they want to! Many women today are working and climbing the corporate ladder, working in high position jobs and starting their own businesses. Why? Because they are multi talented, have natural gifts and enjoy bringing their unique gifts out into the world. Recent statistics say there are over 350,000 women are working full time jobs in Bucks County PA alone.
But… many working moms still want to hold on to their “Supermom” capes! Review these tips and see if you can create better time management skills, and give yourself a much needed break! Or a massage of course.
Here’s a list of working mom time wasters you don’t want to miss!
Grocery shopping more than once a week:
I have said this at least a hundred times before! You need to meal plan every week… Even if you are buying precooked meals, without a plan you won’t know who’s home and at what time each night of the week. Once your meal plan is completed, put together an inclusive list that will last the whole week. Shop only once a week, and if at all possible, avoid evening hours between 5-7 and if you must go on a weekend, get in early.
Lack of planning:
Staying 2 steps ahead of the game is a necessity. I’ll give you two quick examples. When you wait to book a flight, are you buying a higher rate or a cheaper rate? The birthday party your child was invited to. You never bought a gift and end up picking up something along the way. You’re likely paying more for it, not to mention the stressful morning on the way to the party. That stress costs you more than money.
Daily distractions:
Ok. I’m gonna say it! Facebook! Not to mention the world of the internet. You log in to look or review one thing and the next thing you know, it’s 2 hours later and you went from looking at movie times to reviewing migration patterns for some bird you’ve never heard of. That’s the power of the internet baby! The great technological abyss. Save yourself the pain and suffering and set a timer for yourself. Promise yourself “I’ll only spend 15 minutes on this.”
Email:
The best way to help this situation is to actually schedule “email reading time”. I schedule myself two 15 minute segments every day. I know this doesn’t seem like a lot of time, but trust me, you can make it work. While you’re reading the emails it’s important to also “process” them as you go along. I know people who have thousands of emails in there inboxes on a daily basis. That would drive me insane not to mention the hours and hours of lost time if you don’t action them right away. Another tip: When working at your desk, be sure to turn off the email alert. That sound might just push you off the edge.
Lack of delegation:
Many working moms make the mistake of trying to do everything themselves. This unnecessary pressure is something that can be fixed easily. As you are doing tasks, especially those that you down right hate to do, list them. Once that list has been created, hand it off to someone else. You should always be asking yourself “Does this thing I am doing right now require my expertise?” If not, find a way to delegate it.
Remind yourself that you should be working on things that only you can do. Trust me; you still deserve your Supermom cape even if you are sending someone else to pick up the cupcake ingredients.
Lost time is never found again –
Benjamin Franklin
Lisa Dempsey
9:13 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Excellent advice Kelly, as always. I follow your time management skills. I'm trying to rehabilitate. Especially on the internet wasted time.
Inspiring!
Kellyann Schaefer
9:18 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Oh the internet an angel and a devil all rolled into one!
Francine Graglia
9:16 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Guilty as charged!
Hard to admit it but, yes, we just can't do it all...especially not all well.
Delegate to the pro's, they do it faster and better.
Kellyann Schaefer
9:19 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Yep, so right Francine! Something will "fall". For me, it's cleaning the house! So I have had a house keeper come twice a month for 5 years now. Love having her help me conquer the never ending quest to destroy the dust bunny!
Dawn
9:24 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I'm definitely guilty of the FB and email. If I don't have a plan or goals for the day I end up floundering - lack of planning can easily trip me up. I also agree wholeheartedly with the fact that we can't do it all, and finding the right person/expert to help in key areas is a life saver! Thanks for the list Kelly!
Kellyann Schaefer
9:35 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Thanks for the response Dawn! That darn FB!
Sue Guiher
9:29 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Ah- the Grocery Shopping trap and if you go with kids- forget it- twice the time and much LARGER grocery bills. Planning out meals ahead of time and only going once a week (hey it can even be a peaceful time away without the kids ;-)) is a TREMENDOUS time saver. Thanks for this reminder and all the other great tips Kelly!
Kellyann Schaefer
9:37 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Thanks Sue!! And if you work from home and can be home for a delivery, try s delivery service! People hire my services when they can't be at home to accept the groceries. Then they get to come home to a stocked fridge like the grocery fairies came!
Circle Speech Services,LLC
9:31 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
I tend to tackle things as they come up rather than plan ahead. It is a lot more stressful that way! Trying to change my ways!!!
Kellyann Schaefer
9:37 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
That's tip #1 on my training session on Weds! Planning is the root to all success my friend! ; )
Carol McKenna Steinke
9:42 pm on Monday, February 25, 2013
Great advice Kelly! You know your stuff! I got rid of my SuperMom cape a few months ago and my life is much less stressful. As soon as I share this on FB I will be off the computer for the night, because I definately get lost on FB and waste so much time on the internet. Thanks for the reminders! Sharing now! :)
Beth Allen
8:19 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I 've started telling my kids (who are old enough to handle this) that "if the office door is shut don't bother me unless you, your brohter, the dog or the house is engulfed in flames". Exaggerated, I know but they get the point! They respect my time better and then I can focus on them completely when I am done
Jane
8:37 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The words "Father" or "Dad" (or "Other Mom") don't even appear in this article, how ... retro! You recommend Moms give up or limit social interaction with others, i.e. through FB or email, but not to sit down with a co-parent and make a plan for getting stuff done that works for everyone?
And if we all asked ourselves whether “this thing I am doing right now require[s] my expertise” then no one would change a diaper, take out the trash or load the dishwasher. To each his own I guess, but this seems like life advice for sitcom characters more than it applies to my life.
Wilma Fingerdoo
9:09 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Neither did the kids! Isn't the point of parenting to work yourself out of a job? Start giving you children responsibilities and chores and it's amazing how the they can share the load. Teach your children to cook a meal, tend a garden, shop the internet for that birthday gift and where to find it at the best price.
Our children are capable of so much if we show them what they can do independently. It's a great way to spend time with them-and there's nothing better than the sound of a 9 yo emptying the dishwasher when she notices no clean dishes. THAT makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
Jane
9:31 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Good point, Wilma!
Paula G
8:44 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Great article KellyAnn,
I am always working with business owners to get away from all that distraction. In other words don't stay "busy" and think you should call it "business building". So important to be conscious about what you're doing and why. Offloading things you don't love doing (or maybe even like but can free you up) is a great way to "clone" yourself and I know you can help people do that.
Kellyann Schaefer
10:48 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Jane you bring up a very good point! Delegation wether to in house parties ie: mom, dad, partner and kids or outside resources is a fundamental position to take to save your time and your own personal sanity. In regards to "expertise" that was more of a business owner driven comment. In business people tend to want to try to do it all but sometimes hiring a bookkeeper or VA or other resource allows you to focus on your true gift. Thank you for your comment!
Kellyann Schaefer
10:58 am on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Wilma! Kids! I loooove the sound of the dishwasher emptying "itself" too! That is something we try to implement with all our of lifestyle management clients as well as in my own home. Enlisting the help of all available! The skills our children learn by doing goes far beyond the task itself but encourages a sense of accomplishment and responsibility as well. Last night our 1st grader tested the third grader on Spelling words, while I was cooking dinner. I love watching them learn together like that.