Chatter: Practical Tips for Working Mothers
The juggle is real. Here’s what actually works.
Freepik.com | photo by @drazenzigic
The vast majority of moms need to balance work and parenting. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, 74% of women are trying to work while raising kids under the age of 18. So, we asked local moms to share their sanity-saving strategies.
What are your best "working mom tips and tricks" that get you through the week?
“Meal prep really helps. There are a few strategies, but my favorite is “batch cooking.” I double or triple the recipe and the extra food goes into containers for the freezer. On busy days, we still have healthy, ready-to-go meals.”
“My house gets out of control quickly unless I do one task or room per day. I go through it fast. On top of that, I do one load of laundry per day. I throw it in right after work and fold it while my kids are getting ready for bed.”
“Grocery pickup! I have a list of essentials and I just click “reorder” every week. I stop at the curbside pickup on my way home from work. It’s a huge timesaver. I’ve found Walmart and Aldi to be the least expensive options.”
“Sometimes I take a half day of vacation time to get stuff done. It’s nice to have a little quiet time.”
“Deep clean one room every weekend!”
“My husband and I split tasks. I cook, he does the dishes. On weekends, I clean the house while he goes to the grocery store. We take turns bringing the kids to activities. It’s not perfect, but we both make sure to contribute as best we can.”
“We set boundaries around activities and events. Our kids are allowed to have two extracurriculars and we keep Sundays clear ofany obligations.”
“Our family shares a Google calendar on our phones, but I felt like I was missing things, so I use a physical one, too. Every night, I go through the appointments and make sure everything is written down for the next day. It helps me streamline the most important tasks.”
“Lean on your mom friends. I have a pretty eclectic circle of friends, and we have a group chat to support each other. One always reminds us about school events. Another has older kids, and she’s always giving us advice and keeping things in perspective.”
“I make daily goals to achieve like laundry, organizing a closet, getting to the gym, etc.”