Looking for some help getting more things done around your house? These Simple Time-Saving Tips for Busy Moms include helpful hacks and clever shortcuts to help you get more done around the house.
Running a household is time-consuming. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, and organizing all seek our attention. As moms, we're always looking for ways to make life simpler and easier to get ALL these things done and not lose our minds in the process.
We've put together a list of our favorite Tips for Busy Moms so you can do more in less time.
Over the years, we've come across some smart strategies and clever shortcuts to help moms, whether they work outside the home or not, have more time to spend with their families.
We're sharing these time-saving hacks with you so you can feel more relaxed and on top of your game.
You'll also want these incredibly helpful Organization Tips for Moms!
Read on for some simple changes you can make to be more efficient around the house.
1. Get ready for the morning the night before
Breakfast, lunch, backpacks, homework, etc., can all be organized and laid out for the next day. Mornings will go so much smoother if you have this system in place and follow it regularly.
Here are our best tips for stress-free lunch prep, as well as ideas for school lunches.
2. Autopay your bills
Once you get reoccurring payments set up for your bills, this will save you tons of time every month. Opt for email statements when possible; this eliminates more paper coming into the house and the need to sort it.
If you don't have a Family Budget, now is the time to start!
3. Shop Online
Spending time going to many stores looking for what you need or want (especially if you have littles with you) is inefficient. Join Amazon Prime if you haven't already and have your purchases delivered to your doorstep.
We like to use our Alexa to reorder items with ease and keep our shopping list up to date.
4. Keep your house in a clean state
It sounds impossible, but it really isn’t. When we get busy, cleaning is one of the things that slip by the wayside. Don't let that happen.
Staying on top of cleaning your house will make it less overwhelming regularly and is more efficient. Read this article on How to Clean Your House in 15 Minutes or Less.
5. Place a mat at each doorway
To make sure less dirt is coming into the house to clean up, keep it out! By placing a doormat at each entrance, you’ll cut down the need to sweep or vacuum as often.
6. Sort Your Silverware
As you fill your dishwasher, place each type of utensil in its own slot. Spoons with spoons, forks with forks, etc. This process saves a ton of time when unloading. The kids can certainly get on board with this one.
Here are several more ways moms can organize in the kitchen.
7. Have kids help with chores and cleanup
There is no way you can do it all. Kids are capable of helping around the house, starting at a young age. Create a chore chart and have them pitch in.
Research suggests that kids tend to have higher self-esteem if given responsibilities around the house.
More Organization Tips for Moms
Back-To-School Organization - your ultimate guide to getting ready to go back to school.
How to Stock Your Pantry - if you have these items on hand, you can whip up meals in no time.
Office Organization - what to keep and what to throw out of your home office.
8 Best Tips for a Clean House - tips that help your house get and stay clean.
How to Save for Christmas - tips to help you save throughout the year for Christmas expenses.
8. Designate a spot for “in-use” cups
We know this sounds simple, but it makes a big difference over time. Don’t fill the dishwasher with cups that get one use.
Designate a spot on the counter or window sill for cups that are in use, and you’ll only have to wash them once a day instead of several times.
If you organize your kitchen right, it will stay cleaner overall.
9. Watch Your Screentime
We say it to the kids, but we also need to watch our screen time.
Binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through social media can be a time-suck if you're not careful. Keep your eye on your screen time on your phone and set a limit so you stay on track each week.
Have you tried a Social Media Detox? It may help free up some valuable time.
10. Avoid clothes that need ironing or dry cleaning
Nowadays, there are so many great clothing options that don’t need to be ironed or dry-cleaned. Read the tag before you buy it, and make sure it’s machine washable. You’ll save time and money!
11. Presort laundry (lights/darks)
Have a laundry bin in your room and kids' rooms so dirty clothes are sorted as they are put in. Lights clothes in one. Darks in another. This method saves a ton of time when it’s laundry day. Also, make sure your loads are full to save on water and utilities.
12. Wash clothes less often
Not all clothes need washing every time you wear them.
If you have an undershirt on, you can wear the top layer multiple times before it needs washing. Jeans don’t need washing very often, either. Some people don’t wash them at all, but that might be taking it a little too far!
Keep a lookout for items in your wardrobe that can be re-worn before putting them in the wash.
13. Make time for yourself
How is this a time-saver, you ask? Well, the more you invest in yourself and don’t get caught up in the “I’m Too Busy” trap, the more at peace you’ll be with life and the responsibilities that come with it. You won’t feel as overwhelmed, and you’ll ultimately be more productive.
Try making yourself a homemade sugar scrub or bath salt recipe for an inexpensive pampering treat.
More Tips for Busy Moms
Check out this video for hacks you can do to make laundry easier.
If you’re looking for more tips, take a look at these Simple Organizational Tips for Busy Families.
This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure Policy here.
This post was originally published on May 21, 2016. We updated it with enhanced information on December 30, 2020.
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Sage
Love your tip about making time for yourself. I recently decided to have my carpet cleaned by a local carpet cleaning business, and it saved me so much time. I'm trying to learn that okay to ask for help and not do everything yourself.
neha
Loved your article! Great tips. We love to travel, and every time before and after the travel there is so much more to do. Packing, unpacking, cleaning, laundry etc. Do you have any tips on how to save time here?
Erin
Thanks for reading, Neha. Some of these tips can be used for travel too. I make lists for everything, even travel. I write out everything the kids need as well as what I need. That way we don't forget anything. Another tip is to do all your laundry that's not packed before you go. This way, you only have your dirty laundry from the trip to do when you get home.
Emily
I bought a few laundry totes from thirty-one a few years ago and had them labeled for darks and lights - great idea! It saves me so much time doing laundry!Thanks for sharing your tips with Merry Monday!
Erin
Yes, it totally saves time! I just grab the full load and head down to the laundry room. No sorting involved. I'm teaching my kids the system now. I love the tip in the video about having a little bag on the laundry bin for socks...that way the never get lost! Brilliant!
Holly
I love #2! That really does save so much time for me.
Erin
Totally! I feel like life keeps getting busier, so the more I can do to simplify and save time the better.
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
I love tips like these, simple and practical. We can use almost every single one of these. It seems like things get so busy I just keep doing them, but I don't think about ways to make things easier!
I love the tip about buying clothes that don't need ironed or dry cleaned, about 90% of our clothes fit this rule. I hate to iron clothes! And I like soft material, this one definitely saves us a ton of time!
Erin
I agree, sometimes we just get into a habit and we don't even realize we could be doing something more efficiently. I hope these tips inspire moms to do things differently so they have more time for themselves.
Nicole
Great tips thank you! On most days I try to get our stuff ready the night before but I always seem to forget something! Sharing on Facebook.
Erin
Thanks for stopping by, Nicole. These tips help us do things as efficiently as possible. I forget things all the time...we just do the best we can 🙂
Hannah
These are awesome tips! I need to come up with a designated spot for in-use cups. My husband is the problem, not my kids! I can't imagine how bad things will get when my boys get older.
Thanks for linking up with Share the Wealth Sunday!
Lindsey
I love these tips! Laundry is a constant battle in our house. And that video is literally the greatest thing since sliced bread. So many ideas!!!
Erin
There's such great tips in the video! Glad you found them useful! Laundry is always on my to-do list! ugh. Hope the tips help you! Thanks for coming by.
Cathy Lawdanski
Great suggestions! Setting all my bills up on auto-pay was one of the best things I ever did!