Calendars for Busy Mothers

Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

Keep a master notebook for organization. This can either be a paper notebook or on the PC - whatever works for you. I keep mine on the PC so I can never lose it, but I print it out for day to day use. Once a week I update my master lists on the PC. During the week I write on my paper print out the things I need to do and then update it on the PC on Sunday night. Each Sunday evening I write in appointments, meetings, sports practices, plus things I need to do or buy for the coming week, and then make a new print out to use during the week.

Keep your notebook organized by files or categories. This will be different for each person depending on their personal projects. Some sample categories might be:

Set up a system for the things you need to do regularly. These can include things like:

• Buying birthday cards and gifts
  
  
• Getting the gutters cleaned out
  
  
• Cleaning the furnace filter
  
  
• Charging your cell phone
  
  
• Checking your children's grades online, if their teachers use an online grading system. Most of our kids' teachers use mygradebook.com, and it is great to make sure their grades on track.
  

On your master list keep a task list for daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks. Then each day be sure to check your list to fit in your scheduled tasks.

If you are a work at home mom, you can find a list of interesting articles here.

Resources:

1. Eisenberg, Ronnie, and Kate Kelly. Overwhelmed Person's Guide to Time Management. New York: Plume, 1997.

2. The Working Mother Book of Time : How to Take It, Make It, Save It, and Savor It. New York: Golden Guides from Saint Martin's P, 2000.