Is It Possible to Balance Life, Work and Family?

As a mom of two young children (both currently under the age of 3), I’ve been asked frequently, “how do you do it?” It's a great topic idea. So that's why I reached out to a community of moms I know and asked them to send me some helpful tips on juggling daily life and kids. Below I've summarized those tips for my Hot Mama readers:

Plan Ahead

More moms shared this advice with me, saying this is the best way to lessen the burden of each day. Most told me to find out what needs to get done each day and each week. “Write down important things on your calendar, such as bills or appointments and keep it where you can see it,” a mom of two young children told me. She continued, “when the weekend rolls around, sit down and talk with your hubby or your partner about what needs to be accomplished that coming week.” In fact, a weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic.

Get Organized

This goes hand-in-hand with the first tip. Be sure to set priorities and organize your tasks efficiently. I am sure you’ve heard the saying, "work smarter, not harder.” You are wasting a lot of time if you are working and not getting anything done. It can also cause you a lot of stress. Also, be sure to delegate what you can to others. Don’t take on every last task yourself. Be sure to let go of some tasks. There are many easy tasks around the house that your child can help you with. My toddler loves to help with the laundry.

Do a Little Bit Each Day

If you can do a little bit of housework each day, then there isn’t a whole lot to do. If you try to do it all at once, you may begin to feel overwhelmed. You can divide your housework into groups -- such as upstairs and downstairs. You can even divide the week up by cleaning all the bathrooms on Monday, dusting on Tuesday (a great chore for kids!), and collecting all the trash from every room the night before the trash man comes. Doing one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off is another great tip. And, running errands in batches based on location.

Automatic Feeders for Pets

A mom who has three pets told me that she uses an automatic feeder for her pets and saves herself 40 minutes a day. That's a lot of time. To find out how much time you’d save with an automatic feeder, figure out how much time it takes you to feed and water your pets each day and how many times you do it. Could an automatic feeder save you time?

Using Crock Pots

I had several moms tell me that they cook with crock pots. My mother used a crock pot when I was growing up. I think I've taken my crock pot out once in the last 12 months. But, the use of a crock pot for dinner is quite effortless, so I'll be pulling mine out of storage for sure. Crock pots allow you to make a yummy home cooked meal that’s ready for the table when you get home after a busy day. Plus, you'll probably have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Enforcing Quiet Time for Older Children

One mom was full of great tips. She said that if you have a child who’s too old for naps and one who does take naps, enforcing quiet time teaches older kids respect when others are sleeping. It also allows you to get some things done without interference. Quiet time rules can be anything you need for your family, but consider having your older children stay in their rooms to read, color, do their homework, play quietly, etc.

These tips were great, and I appreciate all the moms who participated and shared their wisdom with me.

I have to admit that at my home, some days are better than others, that’s for sure. Most of what I do, I do alone with my two little stinkers, so meltdowns are especially tough to handle. What I've learned is to go about each day on a regular schedule and always remember that, with kids, things can change at a moment’s notice.

If you have any informative tips that you use each day to balance your housework, personal life, business and children, please send them along.
Posted by DarC