Simplifying the Chaos - Mom Home Hacks to Make Life Easier
As moms, it can feel like there’s never enough hours in the day. Life with kids can be chaotic, joyful and exhausting all at the same time. Whether you are a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, or a first-time mom, managing everything as a mom is hard. From managing your laundry mountains to dropping your kids off at school or attending a work meeting, most days can feel never ending. That’s why I rounded up some of my favorite mom life hacks that have made my life easier and hopefully will do the same for you!
It’s the little things that can take the edge off any daily chaos and lighten the mental load. I’ve been there when my mom tank is running on empty, I have a million tasks to complete before the end of the day, and I feel like I’m just going in circles trying to accomplish everything on my to-do list while keeping the kids entertained. Motherhood is the biggest blessing but it’s one of the hardest jobs. At the end of the day, my priority is to show up with as much presence and intention as possible for my kids. As moms, we are constantly juggling a ton of roles, but these parent hacks have been great for allowing me to slow down, make the most of my time with Blake and Blaire, all while managing my day-to-day life.
#1 - Don’t neglect your evening routine
While every parent is exhausted by the end of the day, resetting the kitchen and going to bed with a picked-up home is so important. There’s nothing I hate more than waking up to yesterday’s mess. It starts my day off on the wrong foot and I feel like it sets me behind during my morning routine. I’m always amazed how it only takes a few minutes to load the dishwasher, but in my head the task is way harder and bigger than it really is. The simple habit of running the dishwasher every evening has been so helpful and saves me time in the morning. Plus, I get to walk out to a clean kitchen! Lastly, minimize the amount of time you are on social media, especially right before bed. This was hard for me at first because I love to sit on my phone and endlessly scroll after getting the kids down, but ever since I minimized my screen time before bed, I’ve had extra time to really unwind and have noticed better sleeping habits. As we all know, creating healthy habits is easier said than done but they do pay off in the long run.
#2 - Outfit plan the night before
I can’t tell you the number of times Blake has started the day negotiating with me about what shirt he wants to wear. There’s truly nothing worse than scrambling in the morning for shoes, shirts or that pair of pants you washed but can’t remember where you put. Picking outfits the night before helps everything run smoother the next day. Trust me, it’s saved several meltdowns and has shaved off 15-20 minutes of pure chaos before heading out the door. If your child likes to be involved when it comes to picking out their outfits, involve them in the choosing the night before. So simple yet can make your life so much easier!
#3- Switch to online shopping for your grocery shopping
As a mom of two toddlers, I made the switch after having Blake and it has been one of my biggest time saving hacks. This has also been the biggest sanity saving hack as grocery shopping with little kids isn’t for the faint of heart. Don’t get me wrong, I still will go to the grocery store every now and then, but it’s something that saves me so much time. A quick five minutes on my phone, saves me about an hour and a half. I highly suggest signing up for Instacart+ if you haven’t already!
#4- Have a daily laundry schedule and use mesh bags
I don’t know a single mom who loves laundry. I’ve tried to make my laundry room look more appealing in hopes that I’ll enjoy it more, but I hate to say I still dread it every week. The piles of endless laundry can feel so overwhelming as well as the hunt for that one missing sock. I can’t tell you the number of socks I wash that go missing. Seriously, where the heck do they go?! Luckily, I’ve found a solution - mesh bags! Buy mesh bags for each person in your home and wash their socks individually to keep them together, which then also makes folding and putting them away a thousand times easier. I usually will try and do a load of laundry at the beginning of the day to help eliminate huge pile ups. You’ll be amazed at how a simple mesh bag can truly be life changing!
#5 - Find an at-home exercise routine or program you love
If you know me, you know I love my Peloton. I ride my bike Monday thru Friday, and it has helped not only my physical but mental health so much. I’ve found that a simple 20–30-minute workout can truly shift my mindset for the day and start it off on the right foot. Everything counts, even if it’s a 10-minute walk on a treadmill or lifting weights. Even if you don’t have the Peloton bike, you can download the app and pay a small fee every month to do some strength training, bootcamps, and yoga classes right from your phone. Flexibility is everything as a mom.
#6- Prepare a car essentials kit for backup
The number of times I’ve forgotten a change of outfit, wipes, snacks, you name it is endless. Having certain necessities for both my kids as backup in my car has been a game changer. It doesn’t need to be a long list of things, but I always carry a change of clothes for both kids, diapers for Blaire, wipes, and a million snacks. You’ll be surprised at how many times you leave the house thinking you have everything, but you get to your destination and forgot the one thing you needed to pack. I also always stash a small pouch with things like sunscreen, band aids, and medicine, especially children’s Benadryl. You can never be over-prepared as a mom. Flashback to the time when Blake had two blowouts back-to-back as a baby, and I only had one diaper. That was a memory I’ll never forget to say the least!
#7 - Meal plan
Is meal planning and food prepping an annoying task? Yes, but it can save you so much time and effort when you’re in a pinch during the week. It isn’t a secret, but meal planning and prepping allows me to get healthy nutritious meals on the table in minutes verses hours each week. I also don’t have to worry what I’m cooking for dinner every night. I hate the dreaded question of “what are we eating tonight?” I also have found that investing in a meal delivery service can be helpful, especially after running your kids to and from all their activities. I’ve been loving Factor meals, and they have several options you can choose from based on your diet preferences! I also am a huge fan of the crock pot. Every week I usually have at least one slow cooker dinner, so it takes less effort along with making my house smell amazing.
#8 - Have a Sunday reset routine
This has quickly become my favorite “must do” weekly tasks. Getting prepared for the week ahead by completing several specific tasks, can set your week up for success. I also love to sit down with my husband and chat about our highs and lows of the week and get on the same page for what’s on deck for the upcoming week. We usually will write out our schedules on our family calendar along with syncing our schedules to each of our phones using our Skylight calendar so that we can visually see what each other has planned. It keeps communication clear and makes us start the week feeling like a team.
#9 - Carve out time for yourself
I used to have so much mom guilt whenever I made time to do something for myself. I can 100% say, let go of that guilt because it’s important, especially as moms, to take care of ourselves too. Whether that be a girl’s night out, taking up an old or new hobby, or simply going for a solo walk while your partner watches the kids, it all matters.
#10 - Life happens so prepare for the unexpected
Life as a mom usually doesn’t go as planned most days, but it’s how we react that can make all the difference. Plans will change. Your kids will have tantrums and make you late. Someone will get sick, you’ll have your moments, and life will go off script. That’s the beauty of life, it’s unpredictable. The sooner you can make peace that it’s just reality, the smoother your life will be. I used to get so hung up and feel embarrassed when my kid’s had tantrums in public, but now I know sometimes there’s truly nothing you can do and if people want to judge you for it, they probably aren’t a parent or just let them. Chances are, you probably will never see them again anyways. Just remember to take deep breaths, don’t sweat the small stuff and tap into your village.
Being a mom is no easy feat, and I truly feel mom life has become easier with these hacks. Let me know if you try any!
Just like American writer Donna Ball once said, "Motherhood is a choice you make every day to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is, … and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong."
