Being a mom can be exhausting. Do you feel like you are always running in circles? If somebody could only come and rescue you from all these different emotions and sleepless nights, buy you some time as well as sleep so you can sit and reflect on yourself and your wants and needs? I felt this way. My only prayer to Allah was to either allow me to sleep more or make me “sleep proof”. The list below helped me simplify my day and allowed me some time for myself as a new mom.
- Remember and Thank God First Thing in the Morning and Wake a Little Earlier
This always sets my mood for the day. Remembering God, saying dua, and waking up even 15-20 minutes before everyone is up, saves my entire day. If I get the beginning of my day right; I know I am good to go.
2. Have Yearly Calendar Sorted Out Before the New Year Arrives
Having a whole year planned out has been a game-changer for me. There are different categories I write in that yearly plan. Are taxes coming up? Birthdays? Zakat? Appointments?
3. To-Do List is a Must
“O believers! Be mindful of Allah and let every soul look to what ˹deeds˺ it has sent forth for tomorrow.1 And fear Allah, ˹for˺ certainly Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”
The Holy Qur’an 59:18
Writing down the to-do list I need to get done tomorrow makes my mind more prepared for what’s coming and makes me feel more in control. Study shows that writing a to-do list for the next day may help you fall asleep faster.
4. Laundry a Day
I found that washing and folding a laundary basket a day works just perfect for my family. There is no laundry day which makes that day a very boring day (for me), so this way I get to do little every day and it does not pile up for the weekend.
5. Separate Laundry Baskets
Everybody in the household tosses their dirty clothes into the right basket so I can just grab them and throw them into the washing machine.
6. The Dishwasher Shifts
Loading the dishwasher before bedtime and unloading it before using the kitchen in the morning keep the kitchen items organized and easy to access when needed. The dishwasher works the night shift while everyone is asleep.
7. Plan Your Meals in Advance
My meal plan is almost the same every single month. I make sure that I make healthy and balanced meals considering all the nutrition needed for a healthy life. I have a schedule of meals written down for a month. If I happen to see a recipe or want to try something new, I replace it with an already planned meal. Having this plan keeps me away from ordering and overspending.
8. Meal Prep
9. Cook in More Quantities
…so you have more time to do something else if cooking is not something you are obsessed with. I find that cooking every Monday, Tue, and Sun works best for me. We eat the leftovers from Monday and Tuesday on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is a fish day. We mostly eat out on Saturdays.
10. Get Everybody Involved in Chores
Chores are not only moms’ responsibility. Get everyone involved in the process and try to make it as fun as possible. These mundane tasks help us bond with each other without us even realizing it.
11. Find a Place for all the Items in Your House
Having a place for each item saves a lot of time as well as nerves. I no longer look for the stuff because I know where it is. No more losing time on finding things we need. Unless somebody behaved rebelliously that day…
12. Have Nonsense Baskets for Everyone in the House
When I happen to find something in the place where it does not belong, I put it into the nonsense basket. At the end of the day, everybody takes their basket and put away the things where they belong to.
13. Track Your Finances Daily
My budget plan is pretty simple and easy to follow. After budgeting, I make sure I keep track of my expenses daily and act accordingly. I set an alarm at 9 pm to remind me to enter all our expenses in the app called Money Mgr. (free app).
14. Never Walk Empty-Handed
Clean and tidy as you go. Do you see something on the counter that does not belong there? Get it right away and put it where it belongs to.
15. Good Morning and Good Night My Lovely Home
Cleaning and tidying my house before heading to bed has been of significant importance for the following day’s attitude and mood. Waking up to a clean tidied-up space gives me a feeling of freshness and readiness for the day.
16. 5-10 Min Rule of Decluttering a Day
It just takes a little of your time to declutter and organize a drawer. By doing that, we get to keep only the things we love and use and have more free space from meaningless clutter in our house as well as in our minds.
17. Keep the Groceries List Near the Fridge
I have a board inside of my closet door where I keep track of all the things I need to buy.
18. Order Groceries Online Weekly
Since I started ordering online weekly instead of making my husband or myself do the groceries and carrying all that weight, I found I have more time to do something I like. Well, sometimes shopping can be therapy but when it is something I know I have to do it becomes a burden.
19. Don’t Worry
If you mess up with these habits once in a while and happen to be out of the track, do not worry. Being a woman is a hard job on its own let alone being a mom…
“Put your trust in Allah.” The Holy Qur’an 3:159
Do you have any other advice regarding simplifying our lives? Please, write them in the comment section below. Thank you for stopping by!