Whether we work full or part-time, at home or outside, or are full-time mothers, it always seems that there is so much to do and not enough time to do it.  When I left the corporate world to set up my own business working from home around my then two-year-old son’s schedule, I thought I’d have the best of both worlds.  The reality was not as ideal and smooth as I thought, and I quickly had to apply a few organising principles to make the juggling easier.  Here are 10 organisation tips that have proven to be the most valuable to me over the last 15 years.  I hope they can help all the busy moms out there keep their sanity and focus on what truly matters.

 

Organisation Tip #1: Plan your day the night before

Always end your day by checking what the next day is supposed to be made of.  You’ll avoid the pressure of the day coming down on you when it comes to streamlining your workload on those days when you have too much on your plate.

Anticipate anything that can be done in the evening: lay, or at least plan, your outfit, pack your exercise bag, sign your child’s school trip authorisation form, etc.  Even if they are small tasks, they end up adding up and you’ll be more efficient when a task is done without the pressure of the clock running, especially with sleepy and cranky children around.

 

Organisation Tip #2: Schedule time over the weekend to plan the week ahead

This is in the same vein as my previous organisation tip.  I personally have a one-hour timeslot in my schedule on Saturday morning to deal with what I call “personal admin stuff”.  It includes reading the school communications and updating my calendar with school meetings and events, scheduling doctors’ appointments and meetings with friends, paying bills, tracking my expenses, planning the meals for the week ahead, filing papers, etc.

 

Organisation Tip #3: Establish routines

We tend to do things with less resistance when we know what to expect when.  In families with children, morning and evening routines are critical for parents and children to start and finish the day on a positive note.  Otherwise, everyone will feel quickly deflated.

The key when it comes to routines is to be realistic in estimating a task duration.  For example, there’s no point indicating 5 minutes for breakfast if your child is a slow eater and needs 15 minutes.  That’s a recipe for disaster!

 

Organisation Tip #4: Establish a standard weekly schedule with a dedicated timeslot allocated to the important activities in your life

A time map is the ultimate solution to help you regain control over your schedule and go through your days unrushed and focused on what you have to do.

If you think it’s impossible to put predictability into your schedule, check out my one-on-one Time Management Coaching Programme.  It has helped plenty of other busy moms feel less stressed, happier, and more productive at home and at work.

 

Organisation Tip #5: Equip yourself with the right tools

Even if you have an excellent memory, you don’t want to clutter your brain with information that you can jolt down somewhere, forget about, and then refer to when you need it.

A planner is indispensable to manage your meetings and appointments, and ideally, your to-do’s so that all the information you need to manage your days is easily available at one glance.  Check this article if you’re unsure whether to opt for a paper or digital planner.

Alternatively, have a separate to-do list.  Consider using a note-taking app to manage and update on the go your to-do list and other checklists such as your grocery list, packing list, reading list, etc.  I’m personally a big fan of Evernote.

 

Organisation Tip #6: Cut the clutter

There’s no mystery here: the more things you own, the more time you’ll spend taking care of your things.  Studies have shown that by decluttering and getting organised, you can reduce housework time by 40%.  Cutting the clutter will also improve your mental well-being.

What to get rid of?  Basically what you don’t need, use, or love.  And what doesn’t fit into your storage space.

If you struggle to find the motivation to get started or are not sure where to start or how to do it, my three-hour taster organising session is for you.

 

Organisation Tip #7: Set up systems so your household doesn’t have to rely on you

Getting organised involves setting up processes, systems, and tools, based on your family’s needs, preferences, and habits.  If you haven’t been able to involve your family in the organising process, it’s important you take the time to teach them where the things they use belong so they can put them away in their proper home.  Even children as young as 3 years old can help put their toys away.  Be patient.  It takes time for new habits to sink in.  Tell them that if they aren’t sure where things belong, they should ask you instead of putting them in a random place.

As one of my past clients reported, “Our home is now free of a lot of clutter, it doesn’t take much time tidying.  I wake up with more energy to tackle the day ahead, ready to hit the ground running at my tidy desk.  I’ve found pockets of time I didn’t have before.  I go to bed more relaxed knowing my home is neat.  It has allowed me to teach my children important life skills.  It feels like a new beginning.”  Read more testimonials here on how getting organised can transform your life.

 

Organisation Tip #8: Complete any process you start

Take the habit to return things where they belong immediately after you use them so that you don’t have to go back to them.  Otherwise, it will feel like an extra and uninspiring task to complete at some stage.

If for any reason you’re not able to put things away immediately, save 10 minutes at the end of the day to go through your home and tidy up.  Starting the next day in a clutter-free space will lift up your spirits in the morning and will keep you motivated to keep your space organised.  For more tips to keep your home organised in the long run, check this article.

 

Organisation Tip #9: Streamline your wardrobe

There are plenty of benefits to having an uncluttered and organised wardrobe.  As a busy mom, you need – and deserve! – to have a wardrobe filled with clothes that you love, that fit you, that are in good condition, that you can coordinate with other pieces in your wardrobe etc. so you can easily put an outfit together.  You can’t afford to waste time locating the items of clothing you’d like to wear or ironing your outfit at the last minute.  You know how it ends, right?  You’ll be wearing the same clothes over and over again, clothes that don’t necessarily make you feel good.

So go ahead and let go of those clothes that don’t support your life at this point.  If you struggle to let go, consider Project 333, a minimalist fashion challenge that invites you to dress with 33 items or less for 3 months.

 

Organisation Tip #10: Implement a basic but robust system to stay on top of the paper

Paper accumulates extremely fast, and many people waste significant time finding the document they need when they need it.  I talked about the need for processes, systems, and tools above – see organisation tip #7, this is an area where you really can’t do without.

At the minimum, you’ll need a tray, or basket, for all incoming paper.  Your children should be instructed to put all school-related paperwork such as trip authorisation forms etc. in this tray.  Once a day, go through your tray and discard all the unnecessary paper you’ve received – 80% should go!  Sort the rest into a To-Do and To-File pile and action those piles during a specific timeslot you’ll have allocated for these tasks in your schedule.

If, like in most households, paper is the number one challenge for you, check my Tame Your Paper Clutter course.

 

I hope you’ll feel inclined to try at least one of these organisation tips.  Please comment below which one most appeals to you.