Don’t Spend Your Whole Day Cleaning

One of the most frustrating aspects of being a Mother is how much disorder children bring into our lives. The house is strewn with toys, streaks of grape jelly decorate the walls, and the floor is sticky with who-knows-what substance. Your youngest child seems to wake up sick on every holiday and your middle kid throws tantrums in the most unexpected places embarrassing you to the core. Kiss predictability goodbye until you ship your kids off to college. Don’t let disorder drive you nuts. Instead of chasing your kids around all day picking up every block they toss onto the floor, or wiping down every sticky fingerprinted window, just relax. Does the thought of relaxing while watching tiny saboteurs rip your house to shreds evoke shudders of anxiety? Don’t let it. Here’s why you should wait until the end of the day to clean and tidy. If you do it any earlier, your house is going to get destroyed again. And again. And again. The result? Frustration and resentment towards your kids and your role as a Mother. Do this instead. Have a designated area in your house for toys. Either have your children play ONLY in that room or allow each child to select three toys to bring into the common area of the house. Right before dinnertime, put on some peppy music and make a game of cleaning up the house. Have the children put the toys back where they belong. As for messes, only clean them up immediately if they are going to cause a permanent stain. Otherwise, wait until your pre-dinner clean-up time to give the house a quick wipe-up. Why do the same thing over and over and over again and drive yourself crazy? Put one big clean-up time on your daily schedule and let yourself have fun with your kids the remainder of the day!

Simplest BBQ dinner ever!

Things are crazy, you’re busy, the kids have afterschool activities…. Need a quick and really easy dinner idea? Try this slow-cooker BBQ recipe you can throw together in under 5 minutes in the morning.  You’ll need:

• Your slowcooker  (crockpot)
• A bag of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (you can find these individually frozen in a bag in the freezer section of the grocery store, and they’re quite economical).
• A bottle of honey or hickory BBQ sauce  (get a good one!)
• Optional:  a half cup of dark beer

Place as many of the chicken thighs as you need inside the slow cooker- (I use 1-2 per person, depending on age).  If you are using the beer, mix a 1/2 cup of so of the beer with the BBQ sauce beforehand.  Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs, making sure all pieces are covered.

Turn the slow cooker on low, for up to 8 hours.  Don’t add additional liquid, as the chicken will produce its own liquid as it cooks, and very little liquid escapes during slowcooking.  The meat will be tender and tasty.  Serve with a side of rice and a salad, and you have an easy, quick, and inexpensive dinner that even small kids will eat, especially since the meat is super tender and there is no skin and no bones!

Got Bored Kids?

There is nothing more frustrating than having a bored kid hovering around you asking, “what can I do?” It’s important to teach children that boredom is a natural part of life and that they need to learn how to entertain themselves. If they’ve run out of ideas, resist plopping them down in front of the television to keep them occupied. Instead, sit down with your children and write out as many enjoyable activities that you can on index cards. Place the cards in a large fishbowl and have the children pull one out when they’re bored. If they aren’t in the mood to do that particular activity, give them one more chance to pick out a different card. If they’re still uninspired? Give them a chore to do. Have a different fishbowl with chores written on index cards. Chances are your kid will change his or her mind and go for the activity instead. Search the web for kid-friendly sites that list numerous children’s activities for ideas to write on your index cards. If you do need a break from your nagging children, allow a small amount of TV doled out in 30 minute increments. Don’t allow more than two hours of viewing per day.

Save Time On Doing The Dishes

Doing the dishes is drudgery at its best. It’s time-consuming, gross, and frustrating. If you have to wash your dishes by hand, it can take forever. Even if you have a dishwasher, you have to take time to rinse, and sometimes scrub the dishes before running them through to ensure they’ll get clean. Don’t miss a load or you’ll see a mountain of dirty dishes grow in your sink. Strange small flies may appear! Take control of this daily headache with a few simple tips. As mentioned, don’t miss a load. Getting behind on the dishes can throw your schedule into a tailspin and nothing is worse than realizing there are no clean spoons after you’ve already poured the milk into your cereal. Try to have an empty dishwasher each morning that you can add dirty dishes to as you go along. Once it’s full, run it immediately so you don’t forget. Paper plates are always great though not environmentally conscientious, but you don’t always need to use plates for everything. If you make a peanut butter sandwich for your child for lunch, simply place it on a napkin that acts as a plate as well as serves its original purpose. Have each family member use the same cup all day to avoid getting an unnecessary amount dirty. Also, clean food-encrusted pans immediately after use to save yourself from having to scrub later. Use these easy tips and dirty dishes won’t drag you down!

The Never Ending Fruit Bowl

I have three boys- it seems like they eat non-stop!  To quell the before-dinner snacking, I filled a big pretty fruitbowl with seasonal fresh fruits that are easy to eat out-of-hand, and sat it smack in the middle of the kitchen table.  The bowl may hold apples, pears, bananas, tangerines, and often those miniature boxes of raisins. 

When the boys come in for a late afternoon snack, I simply point them to the fruit bowl, especially if dinner is within site!  Sure, kids often want to eat junk, but if they’re really hungry, that fruit bowl gets more and more tempting…….. and it keeps them satisfied until dinner!  And if any of the fruit gets past its prime, I use it in banana bread, baked apples, or other simple recipes- That they boys will also eat!

Don’t think your kids are that into fruit? Take them to the grocery store or farmer’s market, or even a local fruit farm and let them pick it out themselves.

Develop Productive Habits

Good habits are not born, they’re made with hours of repetative actions. If you’ve ever felt that you could be just a bit more productive, now is your chance to sit down and hone your productivity skills. Joel Falconer from Stepcase LifeHack takes the nonsense out of productivity and gives some great insight on how to get out of the cycle of unproductive habits.

It’s about the way you consciously and subconsciously approach taking action in general. If you’ve got a procrastination problem, you’ve most likely got one that affects getting around to changing a lightbulb at home just as much as tasks at work.

Use a SWOT on your Life

GoodlifeZen.com has a great idea for sitting down an analyzing your life: using a SWOT matrix. This step by step approach will help you cut through the haze of daily life and find out what’s really going on.

A SWOT matrix is a framework for analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats you face. This helps you to focus on your strengths, minimize weaknesses, and take advantage of every opportunity.

So What’s For Dinner?

Dinner is often the most exciting meal of the day. Breakfast fuels up our engines to get us going in the morning. Lunch is there to hold us over and dinner, well dinner is what it’s all about! Dinner is the time everyone convenes around the table and discusses how his or her day went. We’re glad to be home from work or happy that the kids will be in bed soon so we can get a little “me time”. And who cares if the dinner dishes sit until the morning? No big deal. Take the stress out of this wondrous daily event with a little organization and planning. A friend once told me to know what you are going to make for dinner by noon that day, even if you’re going to eat out or get food delivered. Great advice. Some Moms (or Dads) are very organized and have a weekly or even monthly menu planned out. If you’re not wired that way, just try the daily method. When you go to the supermarket, stock up on meat sales and freeze it when you get home. That way you always have a main dish on hand. It’s also wise to stock up on cans of fruits and veggies as side dishes and dinner rolls are easy and fast to make. Or you can just skip the extra carbs. Find out when everyone is going to be home for dinner and then subtract the cooking time of the item that takes the longest. Plan to start dinner then. Don’t forget the extra time it takes for the oven to preheat or a pot of water to boil. And if you are craving carbs, they take time to prep and bake as well. Know all of these things well in advance of dinner time. Have one of the kids set the table, serve it all up, and bon appetit!

How To Form A Mommy Co-op

Imagine how wonderful it would be if a group of trustworthy Mommies got together and decided to help each other. One could watch the others’ kids while the rest did some shopping. They would return the favor by picking up her groceries while they were out. Or they could come up with a carpool schedule so everyone wouldn’t have to drive to school every single day. Sound good to you? Here’s how to set up a Mommy co-op:

1. Bounce the idea off of some of your closest friends or neighbors. Have those interested commit to the co-op and set up an e-mail account or group chat room to communicate with each other.

2. Come up with a list of chores or favors you’d like your co-op to help each other with. Choose a leader and use a voting system to make decisions.

3. Have a common calendar with everyone’s availability each month. Have each person express how they would like to contribute to the group. (Example: I’ll take the kids to school every day if someone runs errands for me, etc.)

4. Try to have a monthly meeting to make sure everyone is getting what she wants out of the co-op. Adjust accordingly.

5. Keep the co-op rather small so it can be managed successfully. Consider charging a small monthly due to cover gas expenses for Moms who contribute car-related favors.

No need to go it alone…let a Mommy co-op make your life easier!

Set Boundaries on After School Activities

There are so many activities these days for our children to participate in. While most of us believe we should provide as many opportunities as possible for our children it is possible to go overboard. So how do we draw lines and set boundaries while providing the best opportunities? BusyMomsOnline has put together a great method of setting priorities with the whole family in mind when scheduling after school activities.

* Make the family the priority. Yes, its true that as children go through their school years they will find more and more extra-curricular activities they would like to be involved in. Instead of allowing them to be involved in them all, tell them you expect them to be home to eat with the family. Your family is more important than any school activity.

Planning Ahead for Dinner

It can be exhausting to hear the constant question–what’s for dinner? To help ease that a little preparation can go a long way. Planning ahead for your meals for the week can make your job as head chef of the household run much more smoothly.

If you’ve never visited a meal preparation place, then you can really fill up your freezer quickly with very little effort at all. These fantastic places allow you to either prep a bunch of meals yourself or order online and simply pick them up. All of the prep work and clean up is done for you, you walk away with a basket full of meals that you can easily pull out of the freezer and throw in the oven. These are well worth the money and take the stress off of you!

When you do cook, make extra and you will be surprised at how quickly your freezer fills up. If you make meatloaf, make an extra and freeze it. If you make spaghetti sauce, throw some extra in the freezer and it will come in handy in a bind. Prepping a little extra of whatever you’re cooking that evening can make your mealtime frenzy much easier to navigate through.

Shop ahead whenever possible. If you’re buying ground beef, buy it in larger quantities and freeze smaller portions in individual bags. This can then be used for meatballs, taco meat, or hamburgers. Get a larger package of chicken breasts and freeze these as individual portions. These can then be pulled out of the freezer and thrown into a casserole or simply grilled. Buying in larger quantities will also ensure tht you don’t have to run to the store as often.

With a little bit of preparation and a fair amount of planning ahead, you can make mealtime easy and enjoyable for the whole family. Never have to struggle to answer the question “what’s for dinner?” again.

Staying Home with Your Children

I always knew I wanted to be home with my children. I knew it would be a lot of work, but I had no idea. I hear this sentiment echoed amongst many other stay at home moms I know. So what should you expecte if you plan to stay home with your children? I’ve heard it said before and it’s so true that being a stay at home mom is the most challenging job you will ever love. It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but it’s also important to keep a few things in mind.

*Balance is key. You can’t possibly get it all done and you shouldn’t put that expectation on yourself. It’s been said a million times but making a list and prioritizing everything on it can work wonders. The baby may not nap as long as you need her to, feeding may take longer than anticipated–there will be unexpected circumstances that can put a damper in your most well meaning plans.

*Keep the baby interested and stimulated. Whether you join a mom’s group, have playdates, or take a class with baby, ensuring that the baby has social interaction is key. This is not only an essential part of baby’s development, but will help you to get out a bit too. It’s a great thing for everyone, so start slow and pick an activity that sounds like a good  match for both of you.

*Try to break your day into blocks. There’s the morning feeding and then (hopefully) nap, think of what you want to accomplish during that ahead of time. Then there’s lunch and the afternoon block, and then the evening routine. Determining when you will fit in meals, naps, bath, reading, and playtime can make the day run smoothly. This schedule will certainly not always run the way you want it to, but it gives you a guideline to work towards. Structure is good for both of you, but just don’t get carried away because you can box yourself in if you’re not careful. It’s a fine line and you will find the best patterns for you and baby.

*Do whatever prep work you can the night before or on a chosen day of the week. If you find yourself struggling to get everything done, then designate the evening to do certain activities. Washing bottles, taking a shower, and even throwing in a load of laundry can easily be done while the baby sleeps at night. it also helps to designate a day of week to cook up some meals to freeze or do your grocery shopping so that it doesn’t build up and weigh you down each and every day.

Being a stay at home mom is the greatest gift and most wonderful job in the world! With some preparation, planning, and a lot of patience you can enjoy being with that little baby each and every day.

Scheduling Me Time

It matters not whether you are a stay at home mom or a mom in the workforce, your life is likely chaotic. You are constantly on the run, fitting things in your schedule, all the while taking care of your baby’s every want and need. You can barely fit in all the doctor’s appointments and playdates, much less think of taking care of yourself. Scheduling in some “me time” is not only helpful but really essential to keep your sanity and well being.

As you think of what you want to do with your very own time to youself, it shouldn’t be something off of the to do list. Any time that you can capture in a day or week should be focused around an activity that brings you peace and happiness. It need not be extravagant, but should allow you to relax. A manicure, lunch with your sister, or drinks with your friend are great examples. If you don’t have that much time or want to keep the spending to a minimum then it can be something as simple as going to a book club meeting, having time to write in your journal, do yoga, or even just take a long hot shower without interruptions.

You should discuss the importance of time for each of you with your spouse. Though your baby brings you more joy than anything in the world, you each need some down time and should make sure to schedule this on your calendar at least once a month if not once a week. It need not be anything over the top or cause you to spend too much, but having some time to decompress can do wonders for your mental well being. Discuss this up front and then it will just be a part of your schedule as soon as you are both adjusted to life with a baby.

Starting New Family Traditions

The holidays are upon us and that means observing and enjoying old famiily traditions. There are likely certain foods and rituals that you practice with your family each and every year. What about new traditions? If you have a baby at home and are celebrating their first Christmas, why not start some new traditions? Not that the new traditions have to take the place of the old tried and true ones, but they can make the holidays that much more fun for your newly growing family.

Start an ornament or special keepsake collection. We decided that we would get a snowman ornament for the tree each year for our daughter. We started it this year for her first Christmas and plan to get her one each year from here on out.

Designate a special time for you to open presents with your little one. Perhaps allow one present to be opened on Christmas Eve and then the rest get opened the next morning along with the Santa gifts. This can be an easy tradition to implement, and it gets everyone excited when the time approaches every year.

Make a special meal that becomes part of your tradition. You likely eat a huge dinner with your extended family, so how about a special breakfast that becomes tradition? Maybe you have chococolate chip pancakes each and every Christmas morning after presents are open. It’s something simple and sweet that cements your new family’s love of traditions.

Get together with friends or go to a special Christmas day. Before the holidays hit each year, designate a day each year that your new family gets together with friends and their kids. You could also designate a specific day each year that you go see Santa, have some lunch, and do a little Christmas shopping at the mall.

Traditions are what the holidays are all about! Enjoying old traditions and creating new ones are what makes this time of year so magical.

Unexpected Company…What Do I Serve?

It happens to all of us, especially at this time of year. Either you have the company that drops over unexpectedly or you get a call from your husband to let you know that he’s invited people over. You have been taking care of the kids all day, aren’t exactly looking entertaining worthy, and have nothing prepared to eat. What now? Well here are a few tried and true methods to throwing together a last minute spread of food without ever having to panic.

*Always keep cream cheese and some sort of spread in the house. A good example is a chipotle jam (easy to find in a jar) that can easily be thrown over a block of softened cream cheese, served warm with crakers. Presto! You’ve got an instant appetizer that’s super easy and delicious.

*Keep a jar of sundried tomato pesto in the house, along with some sliced appetizer sized baguettes in the freezer. When you’re in a pinch you can spread the pesto on these breads pop them in the over to broil and you’ve got a delicious appetizer sure to please. It’s made even better if you have garlic and parmesan cheese to mix in, but just the pesto works great as well.

*As it should be part of your kitchen basics anyhow, be sure to stock the kitchen with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and dried basil in the house. If you’re really in a pinch you can throw together crusty bread (have your hubby pick up a loaf on the way home) with this delicious olive oil mix for dipping. It’s sure to please and looks like you actually fussed!

*It helps to have some entertaining basics in the house such as hummus, crackers, a good cheese, and some amazing salsa and tortilla chips. If you’re really pressed for time and need to put some munchies out you can still supply a tasty spread with some of these party basics. The reality is that most people will munch on whatever you put out for company, and these are sure to go a long way.

No need to panic if you have the inevitable unexpected company. By keeping some basics in the house you can put out a spread that will look as if you cooked all day.

Entertaining Made Easy

Tis’ the season for entertaining! You may be one of those people who entertains all the time but runs short on time, or perhaps you are not big into it but want to figure out some good tips. Entertaining doesn’t have to be overly complicated nor does it have to be overly expensive. Here are a couple of tips that make entertaining easy and much more fun:

*Keep it simple and try hard not to go overboard. It can be easy to get carried away and feel like you don’t have enough. Remember in this instance a little can go a long way! Putting out a few well thought out appetizers that are filling can be perfect to please the crowd. Including some sort of hot dip (like a simple artichoke), some classy sandwiches, and a few cold items can look like more than it is. Get some easy to make recipes off the many websites out there or ask a friend who has a signature recipe.

*If people offer to bring something, take them up on it. There’s no shame in having people bring a dish to pass, most occassions warrant it. This can save you a lot of time and money as you plan your festive gathering.

*Keep it simple with beverages. Make a signature drink or festive punch, and then offer wine, beer, and pop. You can get carried away trying to supply a full bar and people can certainly find something they like with those choices.

*Be shopping well before the occassion to stock up on items when they are on sale. You know that you will likely need staple items such as crackers, wine, and canned goods such as artichokes and olives. Keep an eye out for these items as the year goes on, that way you don’t have to get hit all at once with a crazy shopping bill that’s way too expensive.

Entertaining can be easy and fun with a little bit of preparation. You can wow your guests with less effort than you think, and it will likely look like you did far more than you did.

Tips for a Happier Holiday with the Baby

It’s that time of year again! Hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us. This time of year can bring much joy–it can also bring a great deal of stress! With all that has to get done and fitting it into a short time period, the anxiety can raise every day. So too can the concern about how to get your baby through all the family fun time. While it’s wonderful to engage in family traditions, sometimes your baby has a different idea.

So how can you plan for your baby’s reaction that may be less than favorable at the next holiday gathering? First and foremost you have to roll with the punches. Anybody with kids knows that every time you go out with your baby, the experience can be unpredictable at best. Most people understand that and getting upset by your baby’s temper tantrum or crying fit won’t help the situation, but only stress you out more. Go with whatever comes your way and know that most eople will be more than understanding of your circumsance.

Come prepared! This seems obvious, but when you already have so much to think about it can go by the wayside. Bring whatever bottles, sippie cups, and food that you may need for the amount of time you’ll be gone–packing a little extra can be helpful if you run into any unexpected circumstances. Be sure to pack any favorite toys or blankets that can offer comfort. It’s essential to leave the house will a well stocked diaper bag as well, pack all the basics and then go above and beyond. Having an extra outfit or pajamas for a long day can make things much easier on you.

Bring a pack and play so that you can set it up if it will be a late night or you are working around baby’s nap time. Whenever possible, try to plan around this so that the baby can still get in a nap or some sleep time in the car. A tired baby is a cranky one, so if you have to be a few minutes late in the name of sanity, it’s worth it!

Enjoy it! The minor setback or crying fit is short lived. The holidays are a time of year for everyone to come together and celebrate. Any fit that your child throws will be temporary and you want to make some great memories for the whole family to look back on.

Enjoy that Early Morning Quiet Time

It’s important to carve out a section of quiet time for yourself. Of course, it doesn’t have to be in the morning. But I find the morning hours perfect for having some quality me time. I can’t turn on the TV, I can’t call people on the phone, I can’t clean the house. I can’t do these things because the rest of the family is asleep, and because of that this is the perfect time for me to allow myself to be a little stingy as to how I spend it. ZenHabits.com has some great tips on how you can carve out a slice of time for yourself.

For those with kids. Many of these things can be difficult if you have kids to take care of — trust me, with six kids, I know the feeling. Some suggestions: take advantage of the early mornings or late evenings when they’re sleeping; exchange quiet times with your significant other so that one watches the kids while the other relaxes or exercises; trade kid-watching duty with a friend or relative; pay a babysitter for a short time each day; or find activities for your kids to do while you get your quiet time.

Working from Home with Baby

Many of us dream about what it will be like when our baby arrives and how we will find a work situation that is conducive to our wants and needs. Focusing on what you enjoy doing or what you are good at and then looking for something that allows you to either work reduced hours or from home is a popular choice. So you get a situation where you are lucky enough to work from home, it’s a dream come true! Then the reality sets in–how in the world will you get it all done with baby underfoot and tending to their every need? Here are some tried and true tips to help keep baby as your number one priority while allowing you to keep your sanity.

*Develop a more creative work schedule. The regular 9-5 schedule that you used to keep may no longer be a reality. Once the baby is mobile, your dreams of putting baby next to you and jumping on the laptop are short lived. It helps to be able to get up early to get some work done, or to focus on your job after you’ve put the baby down for a nap. Getting work done in the evening in front of the tv works well, and it’s worth noting that you are still doing all of this from the comfort of your own home.

*Learn to make the most of your time. This sounds obvious, but it really helps to make a list and prioritize every item on it. If the baby goes down for a nap or daddy is spending some quality time with her, then use that time to cross off the higher priority items. Just keep chipping away at it little by little and you will be amazed at what a multi tasker you’ve become. It happens to every mother, you learn to manage your time and multi task–both of these skills will help you in getting work done while still taking care of baby.

*Keep things in perspective as it helps you from getting stressed out. You are still home with that little darling and that’s the most important thing. You’d be amazed at what a couple of hours on the weekend or in the evenings can do for your workload. Even if the days get crazy or you don’t get as much done as you’d like, remember that you’ve still managed to find a situation that allows you to be home with your baby. A dream come true!

Working from home can be possible if you make some slight adjustments in your mindset and priority list. If you are lucky enough to find something allowing you to work from home, keep in mind how lucky you are and use that positive energy to help you get through the craziest of days.

Balancing Your Time with a Baby

Having a baby is one of life’s greatest joys, there’s no doubt about it. Most moms would agree though that once that baby arrives, their time is no longer their own. First you go through the huge adjustment of having a newborn and never knowing when you might be feeding or have a clue as to when they will sleep. Then you start to get a little more adjusted and then it’s time for the baby to be mobile, and the cycle goes on. It’s safe to say that every mom goes through a period of time wondering when they might get some “me time” back.  I’ve found that a few minor tweaks in the daily schedule can help a bit and hopefully these tips will help other moms out there that have struggled with the problem of how to get everything done in a day when you have a baby.

*Work while you can around the baby’s schedule. Once the baby goes down for a nap, use that time to get the necessities done that day. Recognizing that you will never get every little thing done, make a list and work through it in order of priority. There are many days that I have to let some tasks go as I have to be realistic about how to use any free moment that I have.

*Let some things go and know that it’s okay. There’s no such thing as a super mom and trying to be one will only stress you out. If you only threw in a load of laundry but couldn’t quite get to dusting, let it go. The chores will always be there, and you just have to know that you can’t get it all done like you used to.

*Remember your number one priority. Even though it’s tempting to try and breeze through a huge to do list like you used to, your new and most important focus is the baby. You are taking care of that little bundle of joy and that’s the most important way to spend your day. If you get nothing else done in a day but ensuring that the baby is well fed and taken care of, then that’s still a very good day.

Learning to focus on your high priorities and sometimes let the rest go can make your days with baby much more enjoyable. Every time you feel stressed out and as if you can’t get it all done, take a look at that sweet little face and remember what it’s all about.

Just Say No

WorkingMomsAgainstGuilt put together a list of small things a person can do during the course of the day to increase efficiency. Ways to multitask represent the majority of the tips both at home and the office. A couple rang true for me, while some seemed more difficult to undertake. The tip below is my favorite tip from their article and one I hope to implement - at home and work:

Say no to things that do not contribute to your objectives. If that’s hard for you to do, ask for some time to think about it, compare it with your priorities, and then say no.

When Not to Waste Time at the ER

You may have already been unlucky enough to go through this situation. I can tell you it’s frustrating! Hours with a sick child in a rather unfriendly waiting room doesn’t make either of you feel good, especially when the doc tells you to give him some cold medicine and check in with your primary in the morning. If your going back and forth about the severity of your child’s symptoms there are a number of things you can try to help you make the decision:

• Call your hospital’s Advice Nurse.
• Attempt to call your primary physician. Many have an answering service and can be reached after hours.
• Call the Advice Nurse associated with your Health Insurance.
• When in doubt, follow your gut and go. Sure it may not be much fun for either of you, but if it is something serious you’ll be thanking yourself later.

Make the Most of an Hour

Working Moms Against Guilt has multitasking down. These ladies offer sound advice on how to carve out some more productivity during the day:

Have something with you to do for that unexpected delay, while waiting for an appointment, during a child’s practice or lesson - reading, writing cards, or your to-do list. If you want to use it as a refill time for yourself, bring along that book you can’t wait to finish.

Listen to the news while getting ready in the morning.

Make phone calls while doing mindless tasks: walking, riding in a car/public transportation, filing, decluttering your desk or another surface or room, laundry, cleaning, ironing, unloading the dishwasher, etc. Consider getting a headset to free your hands.

Do mindless jobs when you can be interrupted.

Record or Tivo TV shows and fast forward through commercials. Use TV time to read mail, exercise, iron, clean, make shopping lists, pay bills, cut coupons, wrap presents, etc.

Reclaim your Schedule

When school first comes back in session there’s usually a transition period when it comes to schedules. Kids who were used to staying up all night are now required to go to sleep earlier for a school night. The same thing can happen during the winter break, albeit to a lesser degree. Busy-online-moms.com had these sage words of advice in getting your children back to their school sleep schedules:

Instead of goofing off when they first wake up, have your children start getting ready as if they were going to school, also within that same re-training period. Before they go to bed each night, have them set out their clothes for the next day so everything’s ready for them when they rise.

Spend Less Time in Your Email

It’s worse than junkmail. And, unlike junkmail, it has a tendency to grow to uncontrolable proportions. There are some things you can do to reduce the amount of time you spend in your In-Box:

1. Create Folders
2. Create a Message Rule for Common Emails

Blissfully Domestic gives you advice on how best to set up these folders and the key points for creating your “message rule.”

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