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Are you a working mom feeling like there are never enough hours in the day? Between work deadlines, school pickups, and family responsibilities, effective time management for working moms can feel impossible. I get it. As a college instructor, wellness coach, and mom of two, I’ve struggled with this exact challenge.

Here’s what I’ve learned through my own journey and coaching working mothers: the secret isn’t finding more time. It’s using the time you have more strategically. These time management strategies for working moms aren’t theoretical productivity hacks from people without children. These are proven approaches that work with the beautiful chaos of balancing career and family demands.

Let me share the time management secrets that have been game-changers for me and countless other working mothers.

The Morning Power Hour: Time Management That Sets Working Moms Up for Success

The key to successful time management for working moms often depends on how the day begins. Many working mothers swear by the “Power Hour” -which is waking up 60 minutes before the kids to create a foundation for productive, less stressful days. This working mom productivity strategy includes:

1. Practice self-care (15 minutes)
   • Quick meditation or journaling
   • Light stretching or brief exercise
   • Enjoying a quiet cup of coffee with a book
2. Plan and prepare (15 minutes)
   • Review your day’s schedule
   • Check for any school events or special requirements
   • Prep lunches or lay out clothes if not done the night before
3. Tackle priority tasks (30 minutes)
   • Handle urgent emails
   • Do focused work without interruptions
   • Complete personal tasks requiring concentration

Pro Tip: This time management strategy works best when you prep the night before. Lay out clothes, make coffee, and get work items ready to streamline your morning routine.

Also if you want to up your morning routine game check out “15-Minute Morning Routine for Busy Moms: Science-Backed Ways to Transform Your Day”

The Working Mom’s Evening Reset

Another key to success for working moms is how you capitalize on your evenings. A few things I have found super helpful are:

1. Prep for Tomorrow (20 minutes)
   • Review tomorrow’s schedule
   • Prepare outfits and bags
   • Quick house tidy-up ( I fee a lot less anxious when I do this!)
2. Quality Family Time (1 hour)
   • Device-free dinner
   • Homework help or playtime/hangtime
   • Bedtime routines
3. Personal Recharge (30 minutes to 1 hour)
   • Self-care activities
     • Check out an earlier blog post “Evidence-Based Self-Care for Busy Moms: 6 Strategies That Actually Work”
     • You can also download my FREE 30-Days of Self-Care Calendar to help with ideas.
   • Planning or reflection
   • Connecting with your partner

Essential Technology Tools for Working Mom Time Management

The right technology tools can transform time management for working moms. After testing numerous apps and talking with other busy mothers, these stand out as essential:

1. Family Calendar Apps for Working Mom Organization
   • Cozi Family Organizer App. You can track all schedules, share shopping and to-do lists, keep chore lists, and store recipes. Named a “must have” app by the Today Show.
   • Google Calendar: Use shared calendars for family coordination and work scheduling
2. Meal Planning App
   • Plan to Eat. Online recipe organizer with meal planning calendar and automated shopping lists. Offers a 14-day free trial.

These tools support working mom productivity by centralizing family management and reducing mental load.

Batch Working: Time Management Strategy That Saves Working Moms Hours

One of the most effective time management strategies for working moms is “batch working” – grouping similar tasks together. This approach reduces context switching and increases efficiency for busy working mothers.

1. Email batching: Check emails 3 specific times daily instead of constantly
2. Meeting batching: Schedule meetings back-to-back to preserve focus and work time
3. Household batching: Group chores by type (all laundry tasks, all kitchen tasks)

his time management approach helps working moms maintain focus and accomplish more in less time.

Setting Boundaries: Time Management Through Clear Expectations

Something that often gets ignored is the importance of open communication with your family and at work. Communicating what you need, what the expectations are and overall just being transparent can make a big difference. Some things to consider trying are:

1. Communicate clearly with:
   • Your employer about your schedule and things you know are coming up. Setting the tone of open communication goes a long way. Hopefully they are supportive….
   • Your family about work commitments. If you know you have a busy day, week, or month, let your family know. This will allow you to adjust your family schedule. It ensures nothing falls through the cracks.
   • Yourself about realistic expectations. Don’t try to do too much, do it all, or do it perfectly!! If you try you will always feel like you are failing. Whatever you are doing is enough as long as you are trying your best. 🙂
2. Create visual cues for family:
   • If you have younger children a “Mom is working” door sign can be really helpful. If you have older kids you can just communicate to them times when you need to not be interrupted unless it’s an emergency
   • For younger and older children, a visual schedule can be very beneficial. It helps them stay on track with the things they need to do on their own each day. By creating this, you will have less on your plate and reduce the amount of micromanaging.

If you need more in depth support on boundary setting check out “Boundary Setting for Busy Moms: How to Say No Without Mom Guilt”

Emergency Time Management: Backup Plans for Working Moms

1. Have backup plans for common scenarios:
   • Sick child contingency plan
   • Work emergency family coverage
   • School closure arrangements
2. Practice flexibility
   • Build buffer time into your schedule. I tend to do this in my mornings and at work. I have noticed when I don’t, something unexpected always comes up 🙂
   • Have emergency contacts ready just in case!
   • Keep a “rescue bag” with activities for for younger kids on days when they need to be home from school.

How to Implement These Time Management Strategies

1. Start with one new strategy this week. Taking small steps each week will lead to BIG change over time.
2. Track your time for 3 days to identify time-wasters. Many of us don’t realize how much of our time we waste. If you are interested in digging into this more, check out my Time Audit!
3. Create a family meeting to discuss new routines. As soon as everyone is on the same page and knows what the expectations are the better!
4. Review and adjust your approach monthly.

Remember, effective time management for working moms isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about finding sustainable systems that work for your unique situation. The goal is creating a rhythm that supports both your career success and family well-being.

These time management strategies for working moms have helped thousands of busy mothers reclaim their time and reduce overwhelm. Start with one strategy this week, and gradually build your personalized time management system.

What time management challenges are you facing as a working mom? Share your experiences in the comments below and let’s support each other in creating more balanced, manageable days!

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About the Author: Jaime is a senior college instructor with a M.S. in Family and Developmental Studies. She is a certified health, life and mastery coach. She is married with two teenage sons. Throughout her journey of balancing motherhood, career and life she has become an advocate for maternal health and well-being. She believes that when Moms thrive, families flourish.