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Twin Cities Mom Collective

5 Ways I Manage My Time Differently Since Becoming a Mom {and GIVEAWAY!}

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I remember looking at my husband a few years into parenting and asking him what it was that we’d done with our time, specifically weekends, before we’d had kids.  The truth was that we probably went out to eat a lot, we loved going to movies and wandering the city, and exploring. Oh, and vacation – what is that again? I can hardly remember.

I have always wanted to be a mom and wouldn’t trade it for anything, and though I was a full-time nanny for many years before having my own children, nothing could have prepared me for the shift in priorities and how my time is spent from day to day.  The lack of sleep affects your energy level, which means some days you are just trying to make it through.  We kept up our active lifestyles, going here, there and everywhere until my oldest hit 7 months and knocked over, and broke, a glass of water at Ike’s downtown.  Reality check…children change things. Most of it is all for the best, but it still requires a big change in perspective.

My time is managed MUCH differently now than I’m a mom…here are a few examples:

1. Waking Up Early:  And I mean EARLY, as in 5am. If I want to have a good start to the day, it means I need to wake up before them to have some “me time” before they all wake. Often that me time simply means showering in peace and being ready to get them ready when they wake for the day.  I’ve found that when I do this, it feels impossible to initially climb out of bed, but I never regret it, and always feel much more prepared for the day ahead and with a better attitude, which is good for everyone in our home!

2. Preparation: I love spontaneity…I love sweeping the kids up and running off on some unexpected adventure (let’s be honest, that usually means an unplanned coffee or park date), but most days, that’s just not in the cards. In order to be on time for school drop-offs and pick-ups, planning ahead is required.  Whether that means packing lunches and setting out outfits at night, or packing the diaper bag every time we get home to save time as we run out the door the next time.

How I Manage Time Differently Now That I'm a Mom | Twin Cities Moms Blog

3. Eliminating Extras: Choosing children means that you choose them over other activities and extras in your life. That looks different for everyone – for us, it’s meant not taking vacations together, which we did frequently before kids.  Our first vacation in years is coming up and will be fantastic!

4. Learn to Say No: I hate to say no to people, activities, fun, etc. I love trying to do it all, but if I’ve learned anything as a mom it’s that you simply cannot. You can’t and neither can your kids. We’ve said no to most activities for our girls, at least for now, and as they get older we’ll let them lead what they want to be in. We’ve also said no to groups or things we want to be a part of so that we can have a less hectic schedule as a family.  We just want to live a life running here, there and everywhere so much that we spend most of our family time in the car or at separate activities.

5. Work Smarter Not Harder: This is much easier than it used to be and there are systems in place that allow you to do this easily. Grocery stores will gather your order and have it ready for pickup or delivery for a small fee (and I do think that fee is worth the valuable time gained!). School districts make it easy to order a package of school supplies all set to go for your child’s grade level, subscription services that bring things right to your door monthly.  I’m slowly learning which of these systems are right for our family and which save us the most time, leaving more time for the things we really want to spend our time on.

How I Manage Time Differently Now That I'm a Mom | Twin Cities Moms Blog

I think time management as a parent is something that continually evolves as your kids grow and age and their schedules and ours will change in each season of life.  As each season happens, I hope I can focus on what works better and how to adapt to those changes, rather than feel stressed and in a box. Flexibility as a parent is key, and that starts with my own expectations of what is important.  Time with the family?  I hope that always stays at the top of the list!


 

Twin Cities Moms Blog is thrilled be partnering with Dr. Smith’s for a fantastic giveaway!  You could win a Deluxe Dr. Smith’s prize basket valued over $200 stocked with must-have items for any new parent, including a year supply of Dr. Smith’s diaper rash Ointment and Spray, board books, and baby care essentials from some of our favorite brands.  Enter below to win!

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