Create a Busy Mom Daily Schedule in 6 Steps

Step One: Start With a Morning Routine

As a busy mama myself, one major game changer for my family was creating a morning and evening routine. I was so stressed out, running around, repeating to my kids 100 times each morning what they were supposed to do. The kids were frustrated and confused. My husband and I were also pretty frustrated.

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That’s when I created my morning and evening routine checklists to add to my mom daily schedule. You can easily create your own checklist on an app like Canva (that’s where designed mine), and/or you can check out the one I created to give you an idea of how it can look (pictured below). As you can see it’s super simple. There is no right or wrong way to do it. It really comes down to doing what works for you and your family. Recent studies have also shown a link between family routines and children’s social skills and success.

Check out our morning and evening routine charts for kids below:

Check out our sample morning and evening routines for working moms / stay-at-home mom daily schedule templates below:

Before I became a mom, I never really planned anything. I considered myself a habitual non-planner. But then I had one kid, followed by another kid. I quickly realized that winging it each day wasn’t gonna cut it anymore. Not if I wanted to keep my sanity. The good news is that it’s super easy to create a morning routine checklist. You can even do something as fast and simple as using a scratch piece of paper and hanging it up. For me personally, I like having a colorful, pretty checklist and a centralized planning system. It makes me feel more organized and put together.

Here’s another tip: you can put your checklist inside a laminated sleeve so that you can write your routines down with dry erase markers and easily edit anytime you need to make changes. I keep my laminated morning and evening routine checklists hung up on our refrigerator so the kids and I can always see them.

Step Two: Prioritize Your Tasks

I also keep a daily to do list on my desk. I prioritize my to do list by writing down everything that needs to get done for the day, both for my business and also personal stuff. Next, I underline or put a star next to the items that are a priority and that I need to get done that day. Everything else that is not starred can be done the next day or when there is time.

You can see from my Daily To Do List pictured below (which, along with our Morning & Evening Routine Checklists, is included in our Ultimate Mom Planner) there is also a place to write down appointments, goals, as well as a daily highlight and brain dump.

I love having something in front of me that I can see and touch and modify as needed. I also use a laminated sleeve to keep my Daily To Do List in so that every day I can wipe it clean and start over.

Step Three: Block Time

Time blocking has been a game-changer for me. I have ADHD and I find it very challenging to stay focused for long periods of time. Therefore, I also use my Daily To Do List to block chunks of time for various work and personal tasks.

Here is an example of a block schedule for stay-at-home moms:

As you can see from the example image above, time blocking involves dedicating specific blocks of time to different activities or tasks throughout the day. For instance, you might block off 7-9 AM for getting the kids ready and off to school, 9-11 AM for work-related tasks, and so on. You can choose to include school drop-offs and pickups. I choose to keep those activities off my list since I do them every day.

Step Four: Set Boundaries

Establish clear boundaries around your time, especially if you’re working from home. Let your family know when you’re not to be disturbed unless it’s an emergency. Use visual cues, if necessary, like a closed door or a large neon “do not disturb” sign. I’m kidding about the neon, but a large sign is a good idea. It might seem unnecessary, but trust me, if you don’t spell things out for your family members boldly and directly, you will get interrupted constantly.

Step Five: Incorporate Self-care

Self-care isn’t selfish. I want you to repeat that to yourself when you are doubting if you should practice self-care. For moms, self-care is not a luxury. It’s essential. Ensure your schedule includes at least a small block of time each day for activities that replenish your energy and bring you joy. Whether it’s a 15-minute reading break, a short walk, or a relaxing bath, taking time for yourself improves mental health and overall well-being and will make you more pleasant to be around!

Step Six: Be Flexible

While having a set schedule can be helpful, so is flexibility. As I’m sure you are well aware, unexpected things happen, especially with kids (calls from the nurse’s office, anyone?!) Be prepared to adjust your schedule as needed and try not to beat yourself up. If you don’t get something done that you had planned prior to the unexpected event, try to stay flexible and set aside time the following day or whenever your schedule allows. Having buffer times between tasks can help absorb the shock of unforeseen events without throwing your whole day off balance.

Because I work from home and my husband does not, it is me who picks the kids up from school if they are sick or injured. It comes with the territory of working from home. It’s frustrating at times for sure. However, I wouldn’t trade in my flexible schedule for anything.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, utilizing checklists and to-do lists can be a game-changer for busy moms. These simple tools can provide structure and organization to your day, helping you tackle tasks with ease and minimize overwhelm. So why not give it a try? Download our Ultimate Mom Planner today and start streamlining your schedule like a pro!

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