Staying on top of all of the responsibilities you have as a working parent can be a lot at times. Keeping track of all the play dates, doctor’s appointments, and homework can be exhausting and confusing, and it’s just a tiny part of the daily grind.
If you’re a busy parent and know the struggle all too well, this handy guide can help you make sense of things. The key is to be organized, which doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. Read on to learn more.
1. Make plans in advance
Planning ahead is the name of the game. You may be more of a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment type of person, but this won’t get you far as an overworked parent. If you keep making wrong decisions on the spot and things get hectic pretty fast, it may be time to start making plans and sticking to them.
You can make a simple to-do list for your monthly, weekly, and daily errands. It doesn’t take a lot of time and it saves you energy in the long run.
2. Do things on a schedule
Your daily routine will unfold more smoothly if you always know what comes next and you’re ready for your next move. Many hiccups and delays can be prevented this way. For example, if you buy groceries as you’re coming home from another errand, you’ll have all the ingredients ready in time to make lunch, which will spare you the trouble of dealing with hungry, cranky kids.
Don’t forget to schedule in some fun as well. You need time to unwind and the same goes for the whole family. You could try taking your little ones to a nice indoor playground. This will give you time to relax and they’ll blow off steam while jumping around.
3. Encourage everyone to chip in
No matter how organized you are, sometimes there’s simply not enough time in the day. This is where you’ll benefit from enlisting the help of the whole family. Even if your kids are small, there’s something every family member can do. Teach them to put things back where they belong and clean after themselves from an early age. You can even have cleaning parties, play some music, and work on the chores together. As they grow, they’ll be able to do more and more.
It’s also important to encourage your children to take their responsibilities seriously so they can be independent as soon as possible. The more they can do on their own, the more confidence they’ll have in themselves. And you’ll also get more time for other errands.
4. Accept help when it’s offered
If you have a friend, neighbor, or family member offering help with babysitting, chores, or another item on your to-do list, feel free to take it. Nobody can do everything on their own, so let your loved ones do something nice for you. Don’t shy away from asking for help when you need it either. This can be especially crucial if you’re trying to juggle work and taking care of an infant. Make sure you also do the same for them when they’re spread thin.
5. Have some time to yourself
A big part of being a successful parent and raising happy children is being content yourself. You need to get some rest in between all the responsibilities you have on your plate. While you’ll likely have to schedule your time off, don’t let this lack of spontaneity ruin the fun for you. Take a break and do what you love doing so you can rechange and face your responsibilities with extra energy.
