5 Time-Saving Hacks Every Working Mom Needs
Being a solo mom for the better part of two decades and achieving anything in life, not to mention trying to start a business, is no small task. Between kids, work, and household responsibilities, it can feel like there are never enough hours in the day. The good news? A few innovative strategies can save you time, reduce stress, and help you focus on what matters most.
Do I claim to have it all together? Not most days, but some people will tell me they’re unsure how I’ve achieved what I have. To give some context, I raised both my children from the ages of two and four by myself. I became an RN, worked my way through leadership positions, and went back to school for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, eventually becoming a nurse practitioner. Throughout all the years, I have had to change, adapt, and evolve just to stay afloat.
I know firsthand what it’s like to juggle deadlines while folding laundry, to study late into the night after tucking kids into bed, and to hold it together when everything feels like it’s about to fall apart. And because of that, I’ve learned the power of creating systems and habits that protect my time.
I wanted to share five time-saving hacks every single mom should try, no matter which phase of life you are in. These aren’t just tips I pulled from a productivity book, they’re strategies I’ve lived, tested, and returned to again and again when life gets busy.
Create a Morning Power Routine
How you start your day sets the tone for everything else. Even 20–30 minutes of focused time in the morning can make a huge difference.
For me, mornings became sacred when my kids were little. I loved that window of peace when the house was still quiet, when the only sound was the coffee brewing. That time became my reset button, the moment I could check in with myself before pouring into everyone else.
If you’re new to creating a morning routine, here are a few things that can help:
Wake up before your household. Even 15 minutes of quiet reflection or planning can set you up for a better day.
Choose an anchor habit. For some, it’s journaling. For others, it’s movement or prayer. The key is doing something grounding.
Plan the top 3 priorities of your day. Instead of writing a mile-long to-do list, narrow down what must get done.
The beauty of a morning power routine is that it doesn’t have to be fancy. Sometimes, it’s just sitting with coffee and gratitude before the chaos starts. Other times, it’s reviewing my planner and mentally preparing for back-to-back patients. Even now that my kids are older, I still guard this time fiercely, it reminds me that I’m more than just someone else’s support system.
Batch Your Tasks Instead of Multitasking
For years, I wore multitasking like a badge of honor. I could fold laundry while answering emails, help my kids with homework while cooking dinner, and schedule appointments between patient notes. At least, that’s what I thought I was doing. In reality, I was scattered, drained, and not fully present anywhere.
Multitasking feels productive, but the research is clear: it doesn’t actually save time. It splits your focus, increases mistakes, and leaves you mentally exhausted.
Batching, on the other hand, is a game-changer. Instead of jumping between tasks, you group similar activities together and complete them in focused blocks of time. Here’s how it looks in real life:
Emails: Instead of checking your inbox 20 times a day, set aside two dedicated windows, maybe 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.to respond.
Errands: Make one big trip instead of five small ones. Plan your route to save gas and time.
Content or paperwork: If you’re creating social media posts, charting, or writing, dedicate a solid hour to cranking through as much as possible.
And here’s the funny part: perimenopause has reminded me at every chance that multitasking isn’t even an option anymore, even if I wanted it to be. My brain now thrives on focused effort, and I’ve stopped apologizing for it. If you’ve been frustrated with brain fog, this approach may be exactly what you need.
Streamline Meals & Grocery Shopping
If there’s one area of life that can eat up your time (pun intended), it’s food. Deciding what’s for dinner every night, running to the store multiple times a week, and defaulting to takeout when you’re too tired can be a huge drain on both your schedule and your wallet.
Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s what has worked for me:
Write a weekly menu. It doesn’t need to be gourmet, just a list of what you’ll cook and eat for the week.
Batch cook when possible. Double your recipe and freeze half, or prep ingredients so dinners come together quickly.
Take advantage of grocery pickup/delivery. Most stores now offer this for free or at a minimal cost. It keeps you out of the aisles (and away from impulse junk food).
Over the years, this system has saved me countless hours and dollars. When my kids were younger, I used to dread dragging them through the grocery store after work. Switching to pickup changed everything. I could plan meals in 20 minutes, order online, and pick up after a shift. It wasn’t just convenient, it reduced the daily stress of wondering what to feed everyone.
And don’t underestimate the mental load that comes with food decisions. Having meals planned ahead clears that space so you can focus on bigger things.
Delegate Whenever Possible
This one can be tough, especially for moms who are used to carrying it all. I’ll admit it, I’ve been guilty of trying to do too much for too many people. For years, I believed being strong meant never asking for help.
But here’s the truth: you can’t do it all and expect to thrive. Delegation isn’t weakness; it’s wisdom.
Delegation looks different depending on your season of life:
With kids: Assign age-appropriate chores. Teaching them responsibility benefits you and them.
With friends/family: Swap tasks. Maybe you cook while they handle school pickup.
With work/business: Outsource when it makes sense, whether it’s hiring a house cleaner once a month, using a virtual assistant, or automating bills.
At work, I also had to learn delegation as a leadership skill. Running many departments in the hospital and public health, I learned quickly that if I didn’t delegate, I’d drown. The same lesson applies at home. Delegation isn’t about being lazy, it’s about creating space for what only you can do.
Use a Weekly Planner & Stick to It
If time is money, then planning is how you spend it wisely. A planner isn’t just about jotting down appointments, it’s about creating a roadmap for your week so you don’t waste time spinning your wheels.
Over the years, I’ve tried more planners than I can count. Daily, weekly, digital, paper, you name it. The truth is, different planners work for different seasons of life. When my kids were little, I needed something simple and portable. Now, I use a weekly planner that lets me group tasks by category:
Work in urgent care
Tasks for my private practice
Home/chores
Personal/self-care
This way, I can glance at my week and know exactly what’s ahead. The key isn’t just having a planner, it’s using it consistently.
One hack that’s helped me is Sunday planning. Every Sunday evening, I spend 20–30 minutes reviewing the week ahead, writing down commitments, and blocking out time. That one habit saves me hours of stress during the week.
Why These Hacks Matter
You might be thinking, “These sound great, but will they really change my life?” My answer: Absolutely, if you use them.
Time is one of your most valuable resources. As a solo mom, I didn’t have extra hours to waste. By streamlining routines, batching tasks, delegating, and leaning on tools that supported my lifestyle, I created breathing room where there was none.
And the bigger lesson? You don’t have to be perfect to make progress. I still have days when the laundry piles up, when I grab takeout, or when my planner sits unopened. That’s real life. But having these systems in place means I can bounce back faster.
Final Thoughts
If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed, please hear me: you’re not failing. You’re doing the work of ten people, often without a partner or safety net. Of course, it feels heavy sometimes. But it’s also possible to create a rhythm that feels lighter.
These five hacks aren’t about squeezing more productivity out of you, they’re about giving you permission to protect your time, energy, and sanity.
So, start small. Pick one strategy to try this week. Maybe it’s meal planning. Maybe it’s waking up 15 minutes earlier. Maybe it’s finally asking your kids to step up with chores. Whatever it is, honor it as a step toward reclaiming your time.
Because here’s the thing: when you learn to manage your time intentionally, you create space not just for survival, but for growth. You create room for dreams, for businesses, for self-care, for laughter.
And as someone who’s walked this road, I can tell you, it’s worth it.
