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4 Ways to Accomplish More in a Day

As moms, we know there is always something (or someone) that needs our attention. The car needs gas. The kids need baths. Dinnertime approaches faster than we can boil water. There’s so much to do that it’s easy for us to get focused on the jobs and lose the joy. I tried to get organized with everything I had to get done in a day by making a list of the three most important things and tackling them. It worked. I got those three done, but 20 little things loomed in the background.

So what do you do if you simply have to get more than three things done? And is it too much to ask to still enjoy our days while tackling our to-do lists? Instead of the “top three tasks” trick, there are 4 things you can do to accomplish more in a day and still enjoy your family.

1. Utilize the 30-minute rule.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything you have to get done and try to power through. But research has found that even short breaks lasting 10 minutes or less reduced mental fatigue and increased vigor. Set your timer for 30 minutes. Use those 30 minutes to get as much done on your to-do list as possible. When the timer goes off, stop working and take a timed break. Blast some music, close your eyes, scroll social media. Stop when this timer goes off. Then repeat the process! When you allow yourself a mental break, you’re likely to be more purposeful with your time. When you’re purposeful with your time, you’ll get more done.

When you allow yourself a mental break, you're likely to be more purposeful with your time. Click To Tweet

2. Delegate tasks.family chore chart

This is a tough one for moms. In general, we are the keepers of the house, and we’re used to being in control of kids, bills, cleaning, and errands—down to every last detail. Let’s face it. Sometimes, it’s easier to do it ourselves because we know the job will get done the way we like it. But I’m telling you: Let go. Assign tasks to each child, even the young ones. Don’t be tempted to go back and fix whatever hasn’t been done perfectly. The dishwasher police won’t arrest you if the glasses are on the bottom rack. Instead, be happy they’re clean, and know you’re free to do something else that matters. If you want to take this a step further, try creating specialists!

3. Plan ahead.

Meals are an easy place to start. I have two small children, so dinnertime is not the time for me to be checking my cabinets to see what I can make for dinner. If I did, we’d end up eating a can of beans, tuna fish, and Hershey’s Kisses. So I plan my meals and make my shopping list a week at a time. If I don’t have time one week, then I repeat the list from the week before. Also, one Sunday a month, I make a big batch of pasta sauce and a big batch of chili. Then I bag them up, lay them flat, and freeze them. That gives me at least six homemade meals per month. You can use this idea for broth-based soups, too.

4. Keep family time sacred.

Having scheduled family time each week will get you focused on what’s important: building relationships with your family. Carve out time in your schedule each week that’s devoted entirely to family time. Computers, TV, and cell phones are off—yes, they do have off buttons. If this scares you or you think it will intimidate your family, just start with 30 minutes. Try to have it at the same time each week. Mark it on everyone’s calendars so there is no room for excuses. This is a small step in creating boundaries for your life. Ultimately, when you say “yes” to your family, you’re saying “no” to something else. And do you really need “something else” to do?

 What else can moms do to accomplish more?

ASK YOUR CHILD...

Do you feel proud when you finish something like homework, a book, or a race? Why or why not?

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