Motherhood might be universal but each of us have a unique set of circumstances, a particular environment in which we live out our vocation. From the home schooling mum, to the stay at home mum, to the full or part-time working mum.
Sometimes it feels like we’re juggling too many balls all at once and instead of being able to bounce back, they’re going to shatter irrevocably.
The truth is, they’re not. Even though it feels that way.
Whether we are working, volunteering or just in the busy phase of being a mother, time is a precious commodity. Here are a few ways in which you can streamline your housework load in order to help settle the juggling balls to a less frenzied pace:
Pray – yes, life is busy but prayer time is a non-negotiable. If nothing is impossible for God, then this busyness of motherhood is simpler if you trust in Him. Setting aside time every day for personal prayer and family prayer can prove tricky with conflicting schedules, but you will get there. We often use our travel time in the car as additional prayer time, and immediately after dinner before the mad dash for bed (it helps calm the kids down ready for sleep!)
Clear the clutter – I know, you’ve heard this before and maybe you’ve been wanting to tackle the clutter for ages but you just haven’t had the time. You don’t have to tackle the clutter all at once, but believe me, you do need to tackle it. Less clutter means less mess, better organisation and a quicker tidy up at the end of the day.
Meal plan– Meal planning is a time saver for both grocery shopping and meal preparation. Leftovers from a simple roast with veggies on Sunday evening can become a Shepherd’s pie on Monday evening and lunch meat for sandwiches. Streamlining your approach means you can organise your week to reheat leftovers on a night we’re you get home late, and cook more involved dinners when you have the time.
Cooking in bulk – this is one of my favourite time savers. If you’re making bolognese sauce for dinner why not double, or triple, the amount? It adds only an extra minute or two to your prep, but then you can freeze them as is or make a couple of trays of lasagne and freeze them too. I like to do this for soups and homemade goodies like muffins. Then, when you’re in a pinch for time you can just defrost!
Streamline – for most processes there is a way to make it more efficient. Maybe rushing out to hang clothes on the line before you head to work, or off on the school run, is causing more stress than anything else. Why not hang it out of an evening (especially in summer) or later in the morning if you’re home. And the laundry? I have a few different baskets in my laundry now so I can separate into work and school uniforms and everyday clothes. If I get behind on washing I just wash what has to be washed first and gradually make my way through the rest. It’s pre-sorted from the beginning!
Share the load – yes, you might be the primary homemaker but if you and hubby are both working full-time, or you feel overwhelmed, you need to share the housework. If it’s still overwhelming consider stretching the budget to include a regular cleaner or babysitter so you can get stuck into it.
Me time – is important and it may take many shapes. The introverted among us might prefer to read a book uninterrupted and the extroverted might want to run out the door to have a coffee with a friend. Either way, if you need a break to recharge – take it!
Spend time with hubby – in the frenzied pace of modern living spending one on one time with our spouse seems impossible but it’s incredibly important. Schedule some time with hubby for a couple of hours at least once a month. It might only be takeaway at home after the kids go to bed, or a coffee at a café while your mum watches the kids. Whatever shape it may take, insist on putting time and effort into your marriage.
Ask for help – maybe you’re afraid of being judged for asking for help but, honestly, it’s better to ask for help than be bogged down and frazzled.
Lower expectations – you’re not perfect and you don’t have to be. Cut corners if you need to and accept that you are not superwoman.
Scroll through our Homemaking section for resources on de-cluttering, meal planning, organisation, maximising time and quick cleaning tips.
Originally posted 2017-02-13 00:05:23.
Streamlining is probably the part I need to work on. So true that reconfiguring the routine can streamline tasks and make everything actually work.