Sneak Peek 35 Tips To Be Organised Working Mum

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Sneak peek 35 Tips to be organised working mum

Ohhh, girl, I’m not going to waste any time, let’s get into it.

Imposter syndrome, be gone.
Fake it till you make it be gone.
Pretending everything is alright, when clearly it isn’t, be gone.

Let’s be honest and accept our imperfections because there isn’t a mother on the planet that has it together all the time.

No one is perfect but we can strive to do better and be better. My word for the year 2022 is Progress. to keep moving forward and as much as possible don’t look back.

You are working, I am working, we are all working in some capacity.

But dinner still needs to be cooked, homework still needs to be done, clothes need to be washed, ironed (errr not me, I don’t do ironing) and put away.

It can all seem overwhelming, especially when you look at others, not for inspiration but as a comparative guide.

It can make your life come up short. I know that has been the case for me. So instead of looking outwardly, look at yourself.

What you can accomplish in a day, maybe 10 times more than those you compare yourselves to. Or it might even be 10 times less, that’s ok.

Girl, don’t stress.

Don’t over analyse, let Mama T give you a few tips and tricks I have picked up along the way to be a better organised working mum.

Please don’t let me fool you… I said better, I didn’t say perfect.

So if you happen to see me in my car putting on make-up, eating my breakfast and helping my daughter with her reading, just know, that day isn’t the day to remind me of this post!

Personal

1. Change your Mindset

As I said above, don’t fake it till you make it. That is what can lead to imposter syndrome because you are not living honestly.

Accept your flaws, imperfections and work to your strengths. You are capable of more than you realise. How about you find out your own capabilities?

2. Positive Thinking

Henry Ford — ‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.’

It’s worth saying again, just accept yourself for who you are and do the best you can. The power of your thoughts is life-changing, keep it positive.

3. Say No Occasionally

No to mum guilt, no to coffee mornings with boring people, no to baking cakes for the school fete… Do I look like Delia Smith to you…. Err no!

Sometimes you have to just say no because you don’t feel like it and feel no shame. Cause that person felt no shame in adding to your list as long as your arm.

4. Daily To-Do List

Keep a notebook or magnet list on the fridge, add everything that needs to be done to it. Then create a “Get Done List,” daily pick a few things from the “To Do List” and actually do it.

5. You Are Number 1

Yes, I know it’s hard to believe as you are organised working mum to (God knows how many humans) your children.

If possible wake up earlier, have some “me time,” have a facial, smell nice, get your head right to start the day, feel gorgeous… damn it feels sexy!

Watch if you don’t walk like Naomi Campbell everywhere you go today.

6. Cover Your Clothes

I learnt the hard way! After you get dressed in the morning… immediately, I meant the split second you consider yourself ready for the day, cover your clothes with a massive dressing gown.

Cause those sticky fingers come in hard and fast especially when you have an appointment in your beautiful silk shirt!

7. Done is Better Than Perfection

Ohhh this one hits hard, you want things to go a certain way. In your mind the outcome is Instagramable… the actual result is hmmm.

Go with it. Dinner didn’t come out as the recipe, the ponytail is wonky, the school project is… you get my drift. Tomorrow is another day girl, keep it moving!

8. Prioritise, Delegate, Next Task

You are not Wonder Woman, Superwoman, She-Ra or Elastigirl.

When you analyse your “To Do List” ask yourself, how often does this have to be done? How important is it? Do I free up time for something more important if someone else does it?

If you determined someone else can do it, delegate and move on to the next task.

Household

8. Declutter and Organise

Keeping on top of the household with regards to your “stuff” will ensure you can find something when needed.

And you don’t keep unnecessary things in the house to be used at a date that will never… ever come. Worse offending areas are garage shed, loft, inside and above cupboards.

9. Buy In Bulk Birthdays!

Like death and taxes, there will always be a birthday. If your children are young then you know during the course of the school year there are going to be school parties for kids of the same age.

So buy in bulk generic birthday cards, toys, wrapping paper, bows and other birthday paraphernalia… Save yourself time and effort!

10. Laundry.

Some of you wash clothes daily, as you have a large family. So be it. If you trust your machine, I would load the clothes and wash them at night.

Hang them out in the morning outside if a nice day or inside, then off to work. When you return home, fold and put them. Designate an ironing day a week.

11. Wash Up and Put Away

This may be unpopular with some. But wash up and put away everything after using them such as pots, cutlery, plates etc.

I hate using the dishwasher, as it holds all my dishes and cutlery and I still end up washing some as I don’t have an endless supply of kitchenware.

Washing up and putting away saves me more time than spending 30 minutes once every few days emptying the dishwasher.

12. 20-minute Spruce Up.

Make it a game for your kids, set your timer for 15-20 minutes just before bed, and put everything back where it’s supposed to go.

Give the house a tidy feel, light a candle, spray from fresh air spray and feel accomplished.

Food

13. Meal Plan

Plan for a week or two weeks maximum. This takes away the “mum what’s for dinner?” question that every organised working mum hates to hear!

This time you can point to the list and say “read it.” This list will help with shopping and using up any left over’s in the freezer.

14. Food Inventory

This has been an absolute game changer for me. Make a list of everything consumable in your fridge, freezer, larder or kitchen cupboards. You might want to think you are the next Delia Smith and you don’t buy the same thing every week. Let me burst your bubble, babe you eat the same thing probably every week or fortnight. When something is finished in my kitchen, I circle the item on my inventory list to I know to buy it next time… EPIC!

15. Inventory Shopping List

My inventory list then becomes my shopping list. As my taste changes or I try new recipes I add items or remove items. But this cuts down time, like nobody’s business.

16. Portion Out Food.

Hands up who shops at Costco? Or bulk buys? Well, we do, so it helps to have on hand sealable plastic bags of various sizes.

For example, if I bulk buy chicken breasts, I put enough in the bag to make a meal for 2 days and put them in the freezer. So when it comes time to cook, I take it out the night before.

Ready to cook the next day.

17. Easy Access Good Snacks

During school holidays or when you are on the phone, these kids like to act like they haven’t eaten a day in their life!

So prepare snacks that they can grab, so you can have an easy life. I say good snacks like fruit. But who am I kidding crips, Haribos, yogurts blah blah blah

18. Batch Cook Meals

Right, you brilliant mum you. Pick a day, ideally after the food shop and cook a few dinners. Wait for them to cool, portion them out for your family, and then freeze! Voila, dinner a la mama.

19. Get Cooking Aid.

Can you be honest with me, who doesn’t love a cooking aid? Air fryer, slow cooker, pressure cooker, George Foreman, rice cooker, vegetable steamer, NutriBullet etc.

These items cut down on time, make you efficient and deliver tasty, warm, finger-licking dinners. Can I get an aaaamen? Don’t delay getting one, anyone, just get one.

20. Shop Online

Are you the parent that is blessed to have a child that throws themselves on the floor screaming, in the middle of aisle 2 in the supermarket?

Do you step over them and get your products and pretend they are not your kid… no? Just me then. Save yourself the trauma and do online shopping.

I can’t say I am a huge fan, but it helps and also makes you stick to your shopping list, therefore saving you money. Cha-ching.

Family

22. Family Monthly Calendar

Get one of those calendars where everyone has their own column. So you can enter each person in the families activities, school events, birthday parties etc.

So everyone in the house is on the same page…literally. It also helps when you have “friends” visit and they wonder why they haven’t seen you in 6 months lol.

21. School Calendar

Each school has different holiday start and end periods, inset days, baking days, parent’s evenings, etc.

Make sure you have a printout for each of your children’s schools and distribute this printout to your village (grandparents, friends, Godparents) so your village is aware that they will be roped in.

22. Plan Childcare

There are some events that you know are happening weeks in advance. Plan your childcare in advance, and arrange with your free or paid village.

Have a backup for your childcare also. Just in case the person whom you have chosen isn’t available on the day or night needed.

23. Prebook HealthCare and Extra Curricular Activities.

In the UK up to the age of 18, dentist and eye tests are free. So pre-book them for your family annually, they need it why wait?

Add it to the family calendar. Do you want your children to swim? Play an instrument? Learn a language? Sign them up in advance. This enables you to plan out your time.

24. Batch tasks

For the tasks that you haven’t delegated to someone else. Assess if you can batch the task and do them at the same time.

For example, paying bills and replying to emails, require time at the computer so do those tasks together. You get my drift!

25. Set Bedtime

Have a set time for your children to go to bed. This helps with their routine, childcare, me-time and potential date nights!

Children flourish in routines they know what comes next and when. So give them what they want! Night night baby.

26. Fun Time

Due to currently working part-time, side hustles, family duties and working with clients, I flourish when I have something to look forward to and that works for my daughter too.

Saturday is our fun day. I hate wasting that day on household chores. We have play dates, do things at home, go out and discover new things.

We plan during the week to make it feel a little spontaneous. Try it and watch your kid’s face light up when you tell them “it’s a fun Saturday today”

27. Homework Box

No more excuses, make, create, buy a box, however you get this box just get one.

Fill it with pencils, pens, coloured pens, highlights, paper, ruler, calculator, glue, rubber, pencil sharpener anything else you know your kid needs to do their homework.

Oh yes organised working mum, your kid is going to have no reason whatsoever to get up from the table to get anything!

Routines

28. Morning Routine

Usually starts from the night before, but we will come to that. If you are able, only if you are able.

Wake up a little earlier than your bambinos and get yourself ready uninterrupted, prepare and perhaps eat your breakfast in peace.

The morning routine is whatever you need to do to be organised and one step ahead.

29. After school Routine

For me, this entails eating a snack on the drive home, changing out of school clothes when we get home and tackling homework.

My daughter has free time to play while I prepare dinner or watch grandma prepare dinner (don’t judge me, she’s a good cook). This usually happens between 4 pm – 8 pm.

30. Night Routine

For the rest of the night – wash for bed, read a bedtime story to my daughter, and put her to bed. Then prepare lunch for the next day, lay out clothes for both of us for the next day.

I then start my night shift with the side hustle and client work before I go to bed. This to me is a productive Monday – Friday routine. Not much thought needed.

31. Plan Clothes For Week Ahead

I know this works for many organised working mums, this means one less thing to think about.

It also means you only iron for the clothes you are going to wear, which saves time and efficiency, which is the ultimate definition of an organised working mum.

32. Pomodoro Everything

This is the use of a timer for a set period of time and then a short break in between. I absolutely love this.

My timer is usually set to 25 minutes, with a 5 minute break and then 25 minutes if there is something I need to give my undivided attention to.

Try it, turn off all other distractions and concentrate on that thing that you need to do.

Car / Travel

33. Travel Bag

By travel bag, I mean what you keep in your car or handbag. I practically live in my car. Even more so when I was an estate agent.

Every mum needs wet wipes, tissue, body cream, hand sanitiser, lip seal, snack in a bag, water, ketchup (wait, this might be just my child) and in my car a change of shoes, clothes and sanitary products.

34. Catch up

Use your travel time either on public transport or driving to catch up on phone calls, reading or listening, learning or absorbing.

Travel takes up so much of our time, might as well make it productive.

BONUS

35. Work + Life =Equilibrium

Let me clear this up for you, so there’s no further disillusion. There is no such thing as work-life balance.

Only work and life, how you manage to juggle both is your sweet spot. Just know, that the sweet spot fluctuates depending on the minute, day, week or month.

This is a loooooooooooooong list and let’s be honest there are probably 100’s more that could be added to it, these are the small things that make a big impact in helping you to be an organised working mum.

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Do you have any beneficial hacks to make being a mum easier? I would love to hear your thoughts and any additional tips you may have.

Until next time live life to the fullest.

Mama T🧑🏾‍🍼

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