Time-Blocking Tips for Busy Moms
Here are some time-blocking tips that can help moms manage their time and protect their mental energy so they can focus on what truly matters.
If you’ve never tried time-blocking tasks and projects, you may be in for a time-saving treat today.
1. What Is Time-Blocking?
Time-blocking is a method of scheduling your day by assigning specific time blocks for tasks or categories (like work, home, self-care). It helps manage distractions and ensures important tasks get done by dedicating focused time. The more we’re interrupted or try to multi-task, the less productive we are.
2. Why It Works for Busy Moms
Time-blocking is a powerful tool for busy moms because it helps you get more done in less time. You only need to prepare one time for a long stretch of work.
For example, if you are meal prepping, you prepare your kitchen once for a whole day of prep that will last a week. This saves time for getting everything out every day, setting up things every day, and then cleaning it up everyday to prep for dinner. Doing it once instead of 5-6 times saves time and mental sanity.
Getting your mind into the mode of work you’re doing for longer stretches of time not only minimizes the mind-mess, it also helps you dig a little deeper into what you’re doing, how you can make it better, and your quality of work actually improves.
Knowing that you’ll take care of a chunk of cleaning or household admin tasks helps to free up wondering when you’ll find the time. You’ll know “I’ve set aside Monday to take care of that”. Once you’ve done it, you don’t need to think about it again for another week.
3. How to Create Your Own Time Blocks
Decide on what plagues your mind the most when it comes to your home and start there. Decide when will be the best time to block out time to work on those things.
You can group similar tasks (e.g., meal plan, grocery list, pay bills—all admin work ) into one block to save time and mental energy. By grouping similar tasks together, it reduces the mental switching between different types of work, which can be exhausting.
Be sure to create flexible blocks. Life as a mom can be unpredictable. Include buffer time to accommodate last-minute changes.
4. Examples of Time Blocks and Batch Work You Could Include
How you schedule your batches depends on what fits your needs. But here are some ideas for activities you could batch together into time blocks.
- Bible reading, prayer, gratitude journaling, look over the day’s schedule
- Clearing surfaces and picking up the floor, putting items away
- Deep cleaning that requires having a bucket of cleaning supplies
- Meal prep for the week, clean out fridge, tidy/clean kitchen
- All types of admin work that requires the mental capacity to sit down and focus (i.e. meal planning, paying bills, planning out the week, reading emails/mail, writing notes to friends/family
- Errands, appointments and chauffeuring children/teens to activities
Having only to pull out supplies once or drive around once and to fully focus on similar activities saves time and mental mess.
Time blocking and batch work can save a busy mom so much time and mental energy. It’s worth giving it a try. Start with your mornings. They can be a powerhouse for productivity.
For His Glory,
Christin Slade
ChristinSlade.com
