Whether you have a newborn or a teenager in your home, parenting is never a walk in the park. In most cases, it requires concerted efforts from both parents to ensure the kids get everything they need and stay on their best behavior. Considering the busy and chaotic world of today, parenting can be a nightmare if you play both the roles of a mom and a dad.
Salute to the single mothers out there because it takes a lot of effort to see your kids grow up to become successful members of society. But if there is one thing you need to be keen about as a single mom, time management is critical. For many sole provider moms, just one hour wasted could spell chaos for an entire week or month if not half a year or a lifetime. Single moms need to be great managers of time and everything else that concerns them and their kids. This is why in this piece, we shall highlight a few tips you can use on how to better manage your time as a single mother.

1. Pick the Right Baby Products 

If you have a newborn or an infant, you can attest to it that it can get really draining. You have to provide for the family but the little one will probably demand a mountain of attention from you. Sometimes you may not be at peace when a few distances away from your newest bundle of joy. This is why it pays to arm yourself with as much information on baby and toddler products as you can. It helps make it easier for you to take care of your baby while handling other important tasks. For instance, having quality diapers reduces the number of times you have to change the baby.
Also, having the right nursery supplies and toys can keep your baby busy while you attend to other household tasks nearby. A baby video monitor allows you to remotely keep watch of the cute little thing as he/she sleeps as you run your errands around the home or outside.

2. List Your Tasks According to Priorities

While it is a common habit to put off things that you really do not feel like doing, one thing is for sure. It is imperative to list out the unnecessary tasks from our to-do lists especially as a single mmm. That way, you can manage to complete the most important tasks of the day or week with much more satisfaction. So, as a single mom, always start your day or week with the most important tasks such as making breakfast and preparing your kid/kids for school, and so on.

3. Let Go of the Perfectionist Mentality

Whether you like it or not, there is no such thing as perfection in motherhood. Therefore, there isn’t any sense in pushing yourself super-hard for perfection or even trying to become a super single mom. Instead, you can get things done effectively by becoming more composed and practical with your time.

4. Consider Preparing Everything a Day in Advance

Preparing everything a day in advance is another tip that goes a long way in helping single mothers manage their time effectively. By doing that, you can’t even be late for work. For instance, in a scenario whereby your kids carry lunch to school, then it's more manageable to prepare those lunches the night before. Also, you may consider placing the prepared lunches by the door at night so that they can just grab when it’s time to leave for school or daycare.

5. Motivate Your Little Ones to Clean Up Their Mess

Motivating your kids to clean up their mess is another great tip that can help a single mother to save time for other important elements of motherhood. For instance, encourage your kids to clean their rooms, make it more fun by rewarding them for a job well done. By rewarding your little ones, they take pleasure in doing the tasks you assign them. Also, that will not only encourage them to be responsible adults in the future but also save a lot of your time as well.

6. Try to Work for a Parent-Friendly Company/ Job

In truth, it might seem challenging to find a company that is flexible enough to understand single motherhood, however that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s impossible. In fact, there are countless employers out there that understand single working moms and are willing to offer them more flexible working programs. Working for such a company enables you to save time for other important tasks as a single mom without any pressure.
Finally, consider having your groceries delivered. Food shopping takes a considerable amount of time and effort. As a single mother, grocery shopping after a long day at work can be overly draining. With this and the few previous tips, you can manage your time better as a single mother. All the best!

WRITTEN BY

Daria Brown