If you are a working mother, it’s easy for you to understand that once the workday is done, the work is not over. As a work-from-home nurse, I totally understand this. Ending my shift often means clocking into “mom-mode” and completing a whole different type of work to keep my kiddo on task, prepare a meal, and tidy what I can as energy and time allow. Oftentimes, it feels like housework, dinner, and homework all compete for a limited time space.
As a work-from-home nurse, being home during the day doesn’t mean I’m automatically free to get household tasks done during work hours. If I’m lucky, I get to start a load of laundry. The following tips have allowed me to focus my attention, plan for the next day, and keep a somewhat tidy, lived-in home.
Start with 3 priorities
Begin each evening after work by jotting down your top 3 priorities for each of the following categories: Home, Family and Prep for Tomorrow.
- Family: Often times the priority for my family is ensuring my daughter finishes her homework/studying for the day.
- Home: My usual home priority is a clean kitchen since this is where the majority of our time as a family is spent on dinner, homework, and after-dinner conversations. A quick wipe-down of counter space, putting a load of dishes in the dishwasher, and lighting a candle are my preferred ways to spend my time immediately after dinner.
- Prep for Tomorrow: Packing lunches are a simple way to save money, ensure a smoother morning routine and even allows me to sleep in a little more if I choose.
Make Dinner Easier on Yourself
Rather than cooking a 3-course-meal every night, I suggest choosing meals ahead of time at the beginning of each week. Nothing is worse than finishing a long day at work and then needing to fight decision fatigue by coming up with a meal on the spot.
Every evening does not need to have its own independently prepped meal. Leftovers are a simple way to make already-prepared meals stretch a little further. Preparing what meals you will eat for the week will also make creating a grocery list much simpler for weekend shopping. The goal is to optimize your time after work, make meal prep easy, and save time overall.
My Suggestions:
1- Keep a few quick dinners like tacos, lasagna, soups, etc. available in your home/freezer for quick and easy dinners (these can be adjusted to fit your family’s dietary restrictions at the beginning of each week).
2- Use leftovers! By eating leftovers, you save both time and money. One easy thing we like to do is have the main dishes as our leftovers and switch up the sides we eat. Add a different side to go with the main dish to make the meal feel a little less repeated. For example, Lasagna and salad the first night. For the second night, have lasagna as your main dish again, but add a side of roasted green beans.
3- Grocery shop on the weekend rather than the weeknight. By planning your meals ahead of time, it makes grocery shopping a breeze with less impulse buying. If you can afford to do grocery pickup, this often saves us more money in the long run due to less impulse buying and also saves time on the actual grocery shopping.
Create Predictable Homework and Family Time-Blocks
- Flexibility is key in this to allow for tired kids or unexpectedly busy days. Having a consistent time that homework can be completed creates predictability for kiddos who thrive on a routine.
I like to use this visual timer for 15-20 minutes of homework/studying at a time with my daughter:
Try a 10-Minute Family Reset
Working together towards a goal of a clean/organized home can be very rewarding. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Delegating each member of your family with an age-appropriate task can do wonders. Set a timer for 10 minutes (see the visual timer above) and have each family member complete a small task: tidy the living room, switch the laundry, clear the table, prepare backpacks for tomorrow, etc.
Not sure where to start with tidying/cleaning your home? See my previous article titled “A Realistic Cleaning Schedule for Busy Moms” for a free printable/download to help you prioritize!
End with Grace, Not Perfection
Make room for rest and time together with your family. If the laundry stays unfolded, the dinner was simple, or homework takes longer than expected, your evening isn’t a failure. Flexibility and grace are the goals here. Your routine should support your family, not make you feel like you’re falling behind. So choose simple, actionable goals that place your family’s priorities first.
Not sure where to start? Download this free printable checklist to get started!
Remember, Mama, this routine is for you and your family. Think of it more as a wish list than a set-in-stone schedule, and change your win criteria.
Be gracious to yourself and your family, and above all, enjoy this life we are all living together.