Before I was a mother I used to love playing the video game the Sims. I enjoyed being able to micro-manage my little Sims lives and careers, gleefully watching both soar and rise to new heights, and then I became a mother, well in the game at least. With my pretend Sims family, I saw how hard it was to micro-manage your life and another person’s life! True story, but one of my Sims shortly after becoming a mother passed out in a puddle of her own urine after she hadn’t eaten for the whole day. Sounds about right huh?
Now that I really am a mother and sadly have exactly zero time to play the Sims, I realize all too well that it is next to impossible to find enough time in the day to get everything done I need or want to. I have however found, that there definitely are a few tips I utilize to save more minutes each day and that also help to save my sanity.
Be Realistic
You know your limits better than anyone, so stop saying yes all of the time! Like right now!
Don’t say yes if you just can’t do something. Even if it means telling your best friend no to going to the park on a day that you know you can’t fit that visit in.
Being realistic of your time is one of the best sanity savers a mom can implement in their life. Because it is important to remember that every time you say yes, you are committing your whole family to something. I remind my kids that the same rule applies to their commitments, and so they need to be respectful of not only my time and resources, but the rest of the family.
Plan Ahead
Not planning ahead is a sure fire way of setting yourself up for failure. Even if you are not a big list maker, which I am not, you can easily plan a week’s worth of meals and supplies that will make your life run more smoothly.Or take a look at your schedule for upcoming activities and busy days so that you know what is coming your way. Sometimes life is overwhelming enough without us making it harder on ourselves by not looking ahead and planning just a little.
Sometimes plans fall through and even fall completely apart, and that is when you need what I am going to mention for the next tip.
Enlist Your Team
I have 4 children in the house and a wonderful husband. We are all busy people, but we are here to support one another. I regularly enlist my children in household chores and duties. They help with dishes, cleaning, laundry and yard work. My husband and I in turn help them with what they need. By doing this it creates a real sense of teamwork and shows the value that all of our contributions make to our family.
Make Time For Down Time
It is so important to make time to recharge and refresh both mentally and physically. Taking care of ourselves is important, and it really is not a bad thing to do something that makes you feel both happy and fulfilled so that you can continue to help others.
Don’t Waste Time Waiting Places
Waiting places with kids is not fun. Even with modern technology options, waiting with my kids in a doctors office or a restaurant lobby or pretty much anywhere, can be a recipe for disaster. So as much as possible I try to call ahead in order to limit our time waiting.
Now get this, we start school in 15 days!!
It’s like a knife to my heart, because now I have to worry about all of the back- to -school getting ready stuff. Including getting 4 kids hair cut. Luckily Great Clips has a great time saving way to do this!
It is super easy to save #MoreMinutes with the Great Clips online check-in system. You can download the free app for your phone or visit the website to check in and automatically see how long your wait time will be!
This week I was able to try out the online check in for my daughter Rebekah who was in serious need of a haircut! Her mermaid like ways this summer have left her locks needing a little bit of a trim and spruce up before she starts 2nd grade this year! How did that happen?
So, on this particular morning in between loads of laundry and some blogging work, I logged into the online check in system for Great Clips and saw that our wait time for a haircut was a whopping zero! I checked Rebekah in and herded everyone into the car and off we went!
The salon is always so neat and clean and Robbie did a great job on Rebekah’s hair cut!
Of course after she was done she had to take advantage of the selfie spot! Since she is 7, selfies require a little help.
Obviously, the lollipops after the hair cut were also a pretty great score for everybody!
With Rebekah’s hair cut successfully off the to do list, we were able to have #moreminutes at our favorite summer hangout!
So what would you do with a few #MoreMinutes in your day?
Stay Happy! Stay Informed!
Love,
Jen
Comments
Thank you for the great advice here and loved the new haircuts, too!! :)
Janine Huldie recently posted…The More Things Change – Happy 6th Birthday Emma
Thanks Janine, glad you like these! As a former and still aspiring time waster, these tips have been my life savers!
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
And don’t forget the sleep. You need to put more sleep in the mix. I so remember.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Comedy Plus recently posted…Password Reset
Yes, that is an important one! Although my children are loathe to cede that point over to me any time soon :)
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
I saved so much time with this app, lol. I was able to get both of my kids’ haircuts at the same time!
Echo recently posted…Summer Adventure Series: Heading to the Beach
I know, it was brilliant! No waiting and you are in and out! Glad you liked it too!
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
We all need more time don’t we? But we all get the same 24 hours so we better use it wisely! Love the selfie stop and her adorbs haircut!
Kristen recently posted…Today The Kids Are Assholes
True enough! Her haircut really does look cute and she is so excited to start school again and show off her new hair and some of new clothes we bought her over the summer! That makes my Mom heart happy!
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
She looks so cute!! I feel like things go so much better when I have a planned schedule, but I haven’t been making them lately. Right now I’d use some extra time to make a few lists!
Rabia @TheLiebers recently posted…Five Minute Friday: Free
Thanks Rabia! She was so happy with her cute new hair cut! I also find it’s hard in the summer to keep the schedule going when things are a little different.
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
What a cutie pie, Jen! I love your tips, and I’m always trying to find ways to be more efficient in my day. Unfortunately I still have my game on my phone that I can’t stop playing every night (The Simpsons) but at least I just do that once a day lol. A great way I’ve saved time is by doing errands and tasks with the kids around. For instance, I’ll vacuum or cook or go on an errand even when they’re awake so that when they ARE asleep, I can focus on things I want or need to do alone.
Nina recently posted…Teach Your Child the Value of a Job Well Done
The Simpsons? Oh that is great! Hey downtime is important and if that helps you relax do it! I use that same time saver too :)
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
That app is great – I hate having to wait at the hairdresser, even without kids. Great tips though! Thanks. :)
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Author Jill Daugherty: Courage and Other Demons
I do not like waiting anywhere! It kills a bit of my soul!
I hope you can try out the online check-in next time, because it was really great!
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
I had no idea about Great Clips. I will have to check and see if there is one near us. I do agree, planning is instrumental in having a less stressful day. Planning meals, schedules and even down time really helps. I can’t believe you guys start school in 15-days. We just ended a month ago…but don’t start until Sept.
Caryn recently posted…Five Sweet Substitutions for the Birthday Girl
I hope there is one! It is my go to place for haircuts for my kiddos!
It was nice to get out early, but now that we are back-to-schooling it, well that is not so nice!
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
I’ve never seen a salon with a selfie spot, but it makes so much sense! Looks like they were having a lot of fun in the pool :)
Akaleistar recently posted…Summer Reading Challenge: Beautiful Girl
It does doesn’t it?! Oh my kids are regular merpeople!
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
“I will keep brainstorming ideas, but that’s all I got for now.” Adorable! Good tips. I planned to fail today,and I really did crash. I was like a cat in the swimming pool without my to do list.
April recently posted…A California Summer is THE BEST kind of summer!
I have days like that too, it’s good for the soul, well all except for the crashing part. I guess it helps us focus on planning more for the next time :)
Jen recently posted…5 Ways To Save #MoreMinutes Each Day
That certainly is convenient! I hate waiting so much. For anything really.
And your Sims passing out in her own urine cracked me up.
Ok, 15 days?? We still have six weeks of summer. It’s so different up here. We didn’t get out of school until June 27th so it hasn’t even been a month of summer yet.
Tamara recently posted…Summer Vacation: Being Ready For Anything.
Gotta love the Sims! I introduced the oldest to it this summer and she has been having a grand time with that game.
I wish we had another 6 weeks, but we lived up the time we did have. That counts for something right?
Jen recently posted…Dear Family and Friends, It’s Not You. It’s Me.
Oh goodness, couldn’t we all use another 24 hours in a day? I can’t believe your kids go back to school in 15 days! That’s just crazy! I’m still anxiously awaiting room assignments and the back-to-school list. That’s awesome that you have the ability to check in online to get back a few minutes. Our kids love to go to the local ‘kids’ salon; which of course is walk in only. Looks like you used your extra minutes well, too!
Leslie recently posted…What if the We Let the Kids Named the Baby?
For sure! Time is really one thing we all wish we had more of!
I really am bummed about starting school, we start early here in Southern Arizona. My kids start a week before everyone else, but then get 2 weeks off in the fall :)
Jen recently posted…Dear Family and Friends, It’s Not You. It’s Me.
Very cute haircut! If I had more time, I would enjoy a cup of coffee by myself!!
Kerri recently posted…Gain More Minutes in Your Day with Great Clips
Yes, the keyword being by yourself. There is a whole list of things I would like to be able to do alone these days. An entourage is sometimes too highly overrated I say :)
Jen recently posted…Dear Family and Friends, It’s Not You. It’s Me.
I can’t believe school starts so soon for you all! Our starts Aug 12 and I need to think about getting their back-to-school haircuts. I totally forgot Great Clips lets you check in ahead of time. That’s always the most annoying part of getting their hair cut, so I may have to go there this time.
Celeste | Leapfrog and Lipgloss recently posted…Try the World Review July 2015- Japan + COUPON CODE
It really seems wrong, I guess that I will have to look forward to that 2 week break in October to keep us going.
Yes, for sure try Great Clips this time, it was a breeze to get in and get moving on with the rest of life!
Jen recently posted…Dear Family and Friends, It’s Not You. It’s Me.
I used to have a farm on Farmville. I can’t even imagine doing that now. I would seriously be the worst farmer EVER. Marissa may enjoy it though.
Great tips lady all of those are spot on and great reminders.
Thanks Beth! I have never played Farmville, but I get all kinds of Facebook requests to join. If I did, I think my animals would be dead and my farm would be brown.
Jen recently posted…Dear Family and Friends, It’s Not You. It’s Me.
I am dying over here thinking about your Sims!
Jenny @ Unremarkable Files recently posted…7 Quick Takes about Looking Awesome, Highbrow Entertainment, and a New Addition to the Family
I know that poor Sim. Although since motherhood, there have been plenty of days where I kind of felt like I could do the same thing!
Jen recently posted…Like A Rhinestone Cowgirl