Have you ever heard a mum say she has too much time on her hands? Aussie mums never have enough time to finish everything these days.
In fact this trend is occurring all around the world. A study has shown that being a mum is a full-time job that takes almost 100 hours weekly! With such a hectic lifestyle, mums can feel exhausted and even get seriously ill.
Luckily, there are a few tactics that can help you as a mum to have more time.
1. Your kids can do simple house chores
Today’s kids are experts when it comes to using technology, so why shouldn’t they be able to use the vacuum cleaner or the washing machine? Show them how to clean, tidy up their room, pack their school lunch, brush their teeth, change their clothes, or cook simple meals like boil pasta or make scrambled eggs. This way you won’t have to do everything and your little ones will become more independent.
2. Avoid television
Research has shown that an average person in Australia spends almost 3 hours a day watching TV. That’s more than twenty hours per week! Imagine what you could do with an extra 20 hours. If you find it impossible to give up watching TV for good, you can at least try to reduce it. For instance, watch only your favourite show or schedule a family movie night once a week.
3. Use delivery services
Instead of visiting the shops and supermarkets with your kids, start relying on delivery services. These services deliver virtually everything, from groceries to home appliances. In addition, you can save hours by shopping online. Here’s a fun infographic showing how much time you could save by using a dry-cleaning pick up and delivery service.
4. Outsource
Outsourcing isn’t just for business these days. Make a list of all your weekly tasks and select those that you don’t have to do yourself. Think about getting a house cleaner or a gardener. They’ll finish the job quickly and efficiently and are often inexpensive. If money is an issue, you could use the extra time you save to do some overtime hours. If your overtime rate per hour is greater than that which you pay those you outsource to, you are in front and can buy back more of your time.
5. Eat smart
Make a meal plan of quick and healthy meals for your family and shop accordance to the plan. Knowing what you’re going to eat beforehand saves time and streamlines the shopping process (don’t forget about delivery services like Uber Eats!). Cook in larger batches so your family can eat for two days and freeze some meals for the future. When you come home late from work, you can simply reheat it.
6. Determine your style and wear a ‘uniform’
You don’t need to look and feel ‘thrown together’ as a mum. It may feel like everyone else comes first but it’s worth spending a little time on yourself too. Consult a personal stylist to define what looks best on you and what you feel comfortable in. Then buy clothes based around that and plan the outfits the night before. Although it sounds boring, wearing similar clothes daily for work can save you time because they’re easier to combine with each other and create multiple outfits.
7. Have some ‘me’ time
No matter how busy you are, you need to have some time for yourself. Otherwise, you will burn out and won’t be able to help anyone. Try starting your day 30 minutes earlier to have some time to meditate, take a shower, and get ready for the day at your own pace before the hectic day begins. You are important to many people as a mum, so look after yourself!
Article from J Scott
