Becoming a Time Efficient Stay-at-Home Mum
Tips for Full-time Mothers to Save and Manage Time
Aug 20, 2009
Stay-at-home mums are undoubtedly among the busiest people in the world. They look after the kids, cook, clean, vacuum, dust, tend to the garden, etc. The list goes on. Not surprisingly, many of these full-time mums hardly have any time left for themselves.
Want to be a time efficient stay-at-home mum? Well, some time management skills will be very handy. Here are some useful tips for mothers to save and manage their time.
Parents Should Prioritize Household Chores
Some household chores are more urgent than others. That’s why it’s a good idea to identify main domestic duties and devote more time to do them and do them first. For instance, meal preparation is more important than say, mopping the floor. Feeding the baby comes before doing the laundry.
Mums who need reminders can outline the tasks on a piece of paper and stick it somewhere visible – the fridge is an ideal spot. Then use a highlighter or a marker pen to number the tasks accordingly.
It’s Alright for Mums to Say No
It’s a known fact that many stay-at-home mothers are burdened with extra chores from friends and relatives who erroneously believe that these mums can do more things because they don’t go out to work. Well, full-time mums don’t have to be at the mercy of these thoughtless people. They are busy enough with their own chores!
To be a time efficient stay-at-home mum, learn to say no when necessary. There’s no need to be apologetic or offer an explanation. Mothers who are already overwhelmed with their own busy schedules should just politely say no when approached for help. Yes, it takes practice, especially for those who have been very accommodating to others’ requests for help. But keep this up and the others will eventually get the message.
A Family Calendar Helps Mothers to Manage Time
A huge month-to-month family calendar stuck on the wall can double up as a household organizer. Some retailers give these out free at the end of the year. They can also be bought at newsagents, bookshops or downloaded from the Internet. Mark days where there are significant events, activities or appointments. Put quick notes on the space available. Through this family calendar approach, the family will never miss anything important again.
A Good Filing System is a Time Saver
People with good time management skills tend to be organized. That’s why having a good filing system can help mums to be time efficient too. Paper folders, ring binders and lever arch files can all be used to organize household bills, school fees, transport expenses, mortgage or rental payments, credit car bills, bank statements, etc. Be sure that every file is labeled clearly to make filing accurate and easy.
Time management is a useful skill for busy stay-at-home mums. To save and manage time effectively, these mothers should prioritize their household chores, learn to say no when necessary, use a large family calendar to mark significant dates and develop a good filing system.
Found this article useful? Read also Time Management Tips for Stay-at-home Mums, Organizing Time Effectively for Full-time Mums and Tips to Reduce Household Chores.
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