6 Ways to Take Control of Your Day as a Stay-at-Home Mom

Do you ever feel like you wake up with your day already getting away from you? Do you feel like you try to catch up, but never can quite get ahead? Those days when you look at the clock and it’s already noon, you are still in your pajamas and realize you haven’t done anything at all that day. Your house is a mess. You don’t feel like you’ve spent any time with your kids. You probably haven’t even brushed your teeth. Well, let me be the first to tell you that I’ve been there. 

These are the days that I feel like my day is out of control. I know that there are a million and one things I should be doing, but I’m so far behind and so overwhelmed by what I should be doing that I don’t know where to begin. Can you relate? 

Well, I have been trying to implement 6 habits that have slowly been helping me to take control of my day. When I follow these habits (which is not every day by any stretch of the imagination!), I feel more productive, spend more time with my children, and my stress is greatly reduced. 

If you struggle with feeling like you day is out of control, maybe these 6 simple habits will help you take back your days as a stay-at-home mom!

1. Make a to-do list the night before

By making a to-do list the night before, you can hit the ground running so to speak the next day. You will already know what you need to do the next day without having to think about making a list the next morning when your trying to get yourself ready, feed everyone breakfast, and possibly get out the door for school, work, or errands. 

I suggest making a top 5 list and then making a try to do list. Your top 5 list should include the 5 most important things that need to get done the next day. These might include things like doctor appointments, important phone calls, or a household chore you really need to get done. These are the tasks you will try to accomplish first if possible. Your try to do list will be all the extras you would like to do if you have time. However, try not to make it a mile long. I’ve been there and done that. The list can become so overwhelming that you just set it aside and don’t do anything at all. Keep this list to 5-7 tasks so that you don’t feel stressed by your list. 

2. Get up before your kids

I know, I know. You are probably rolling your eyes at the computer right now. I’m right there with you. I’m not a morning person and my babies wake up with the sun. Which right now happens to be around 5:45 am. But waking up just 10 minutes before your kids can make such a huge difference in how your day starts and, therefore, how your day continues.

If you can get up 30 minutes to an hour or more before your kids, more power to you! I’m in a season of 15-20 minutes before my kids to just get myself ready for the day! Whatever you can do will make a difference.

3. Get dressed and ready to conquer your day

As soon as I get dressed, I instantly become more productive. And vice versa, when I stay in my pajamas too long, my day seems to drag and I get nothing accomplished. By getting dressed and completely ready for the day, I’m ready to conquer my day. 

Even if it’s just jeans and a t-shirt (which is my wardrobe 5 out of 7 days a week!), your productivity  will still be better. There is just something about getting your shoes on, putting on a little makeup, and fixing your hair that gives you an instant boost of energy. Give it a try for a week and see if your productivity increases! 🙂

4. Spend quiet time with God

As a Christian woman, I believe in the importance of spending quiet time with God each day. Many days I need to remind myself of this. I know my days always go much better when I spend time reading God’s word and praying. Whether it be 5 minutes or an hour, everything can make a difference in the way your day plays out. 

Quick Tip: If you are short on time one morning, turn on an audio version of the Bible to listen to while your getting yourself ready for the day!

5. Eat a good breakfast

Yes, there are days that I don’t eat breakfast until 10am! Busy mamas of the world, I’m right there with you! 🙂 I do know that getting a good breakfast can make a huge difference in your day! Fueling your body for the day will give you the energy you need to make it through. It’s not always easy, but setting aside 15-20 minutes to each your breakfast is so important! 

6. Say No to Technology 

I know it’s tempting because it’s my first instinct, too. But try not to reach for your phone, laptop, tablet, or any other device when you first wake up! We live in a culture that is so attached to technology. It’s like a vortex. Once we take a peak, we can easily get sucked in. We may plan to spend 5 minutes browsing social media and end up wasting an hour surfing the web. For me, this is the quickest and easiest way to not only waste time, but lose control of my day.

Put your phone in another room, turn it off, or put a post-it note on it with a reminder so you won’t be tempted to pick it up. It really amazes me how much more I get done, how much more time I have to spend with my kids, and how much more relaxed I am on the days that I leave my phone alone! 

As busy moms, our days can quickly get away from us if we aren’t careful. Seconds turn into minutes, minutes into hours, hours into days, days into weeks, and weeks into years! If we aren’t careful our years will get away from us and we won’t even remember how we spent our time.

Was on it on the things that were really important? Did you spend your time with your family? Your children? Your friends? Did you do things you enjoy? Or did you spend it lost in technology? Did you find yourself frustrated at your spouse or children? Were you constantly overwhelmed by your house?

Did you live joyfully? 

If you are stressed out, overwhelmed by everything you have going on, and just generally tired all of the time, then you may need to rethink your strategies and makeover your mornings! Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom has a wonderful online course that is thorough, yet to the point that will help you transform your mornings and change your life. Just click on the link below to get your first day in the 14 day course for free! Psst…Crystal also has a new Make Over Your Evenings course that you can find here!

How do you take control of your day?