The Busy Mom’s Guide You Need to Get Organized

Hey mama, I don’t know about you, but I’m busy! With kids running around, errands to run, a house to clean, and a million other things that fill up my day, I have to make sure I’m staying organized so that I can keep up with everything.

Here are some of my personal organizational strategies that every busy mom should implement to help her stay on top of her game.

Why it helps to be organized

Getting organized has many benefits! When you have a plan and system in place, you can save time, energy, and money – all of which are invaluable resources for busy moms.

PLUS, I always seem to be in a better mood when I have all my ducks in a row. It eliminates stress and makes me feel in control of my day. The moment I try to wing it is when I start to feel overwhelmed and frustrated.

Add in some babies with fragile emotions and no self-control, and you can guarantee a meltdown is just around the corner. So, it’s important to have an organizational system in place for a happy home.

Is it possible to be organized with little kids in the house?

Put simply: YES! However, it will require you to think outside the box a bit and get creative. Here are some of my top tips:

1. Purge your junk

Have you been putting off tackling that mountain of clutter in your home? Mama, now is the time to purge your junk!

Decluttering means freeing up mental and physical space from things that don’t have a purpose in your life. Start by going through those junk drawers and old mail piles. If it’s important, keep it. If it’s something you might possibly use 5 years from now if x, y, and z happen… get rid of it!

2. Label everything

I never realized how important labels were until I became a mom and had a little one running around my house. Add a cute label to all your bins and drawers. Then, when you have a few moments, teach your little one the importance of putting things back where they belong.

3. Have a designated space for everything

When something has its own place, it’s easier to make sure it gets put awat. It’s also helpful for teaching your children where their things belong. If you don’t want to buy extra bins or drawers, try using baskets or boxes to organize items in different areas of your home.

4. Create a routine

I’m a firm believer in routines, and creating one for your family is a great way to stay organized. Having a routine helps keep everyone on track and gives you an idea of what needs to be done each day. It also takes off some of the pressure that comes with feeling like you have to do everything in one day.

Here’s what works best for me:

• At least 1 load of laundry a day
• daily dishes
• mop once a week
• vacuum twice a week

You figure out a routine that works best for your family and STICK TO IT.

5. Make a list

Making lists can be a lifesaver for busy moms! Whether it’s a grocery list, a to-do list, or even a list of bills that are coming out of this check, lists can help you stay organized and keep the chaos at bay.

Lists are my love language. I don’t know what I would do without my lists. I make a list for everything and they definitely help me stay sane.

6. Get the family involved

Assign chores to each member of the family and make sure everyone follows through with their responsibilities. This will take some of the load off of you, help you stay organized, and teach your children valuable life skills!

If you have young kids, you can make the chores fun by turning them into a game. It doesn’t have to be tedious and boring if you get creative. You can also try turning on some music during chore time. “Walking On Sunshine” is my go-to.

7. Take advantage of technology

There are so many great apps and tools out there to help moms stay organized. There are budgeting apps, meal planning apps, grocery list apps, and more!

Take advantage of these tools to keep your life in order. You can also use them to make sure everyone is on the same page. The more structured you are, the less stress and overwhelm there is.

One of my personal favorites that has saved me a TON of time, money, and brain cells is the Walmart app. Through the app, you can plan Walmart pick-ups. Mama, I cannot put into words how grateful I am for pick-ups. AND it doesn’t even cost extra!

Now, instead of spending precious time strolling through the aisles being tempted by food that isn’t on my list and fighting an angry toddler, I can plan my order, pick a time to do the pick-up, and get it done in no time.

8. Use a Budget Book

If you don’t budget, do yourself a favor and start budgeting. Before my husband and I started tracking our expenses, I was wasting a lot of time and energy wondering where our money was going.

By using an old-fashioned budget book, we can track our expenses and know exactly how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and what we’re saving. This simple action has relieved me of so much stress and has also helped us to be wiser with our money.

I also recommend using a budget book to track your bills and make sure you’re never late on payments. This will help you stay organized and in control of your finances.

9. Clean up the toy room

The toy room can quickly become the epicenter of chaos. To keep it clean and in order, try to have a designated area for each type of toy and have a bin for each child.

You can also have organizing days where the entire family works together to put away toys and clean up the toy room. This will help teach your kids how to stay organized and make the task of managing their own toys much easier for them.

If you want more help with tips on decluttering toys, I have a great article that explains how to declutter toys step-by-step that I think you’ll love. You can find that article here.

10. Implement a nighttime routine

This is one my family has only recently implemented, and it’s working wonders! Having a nighttime routine helps everyone in the family feel more organized and relaxed.

It also helps eliminate stress during the day because everyone knows what to expect. Our routine includes things like showering, brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, and reading stories before bed. This helps make the transition from day to night much smoother and calmer.

I get the majority of my writing done after “bedtime.” However, before implementing this routine, we didn’t actually have a bedtime.

I spent a lot of evenings frustrated because I felt like I couldn’t get any of my work done. Now that we have our nighttime routine, I’m getting a lot more done!

You got this, Mama!

Staying organized takes a little bit of effort, but it’s SO worth it in the end. The key is to be consistent. If you can keep up with a routine and use the tools available to you, you’ll be well on your way to conquering chaos and becoming the organized mama you want to be!

Do you have any tips that could help us mamas? Please share them in the comments below!