Four Areas to Focus On to Save Your Sanity as a Mom
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Let’s be real—mom life can feel like an endless loop of noise, messes, and someone always needing something. You’re constantly spinning plates, managing schedules, refereeing arguments, and figuring out what’s for dinner…again. If you’ve ever felt like you’re two seconds away from hiding in the bathroom (or you’re frequently hiding in the bathroom…) with a bag of chocolate chips and a Diet Coke, you’re not alone.
I’ve been there. Honestly? Some days I’m still there. As a human being, it’s only normal to have days when emotions are high and nothing goes as planned leading you to lose your mind.
But over the last twelve years of motherhood, I’ve found a few simple, doable hacks that help me keep it together—at least most of the time. These sanity-saving tips don’t require a major lifestyle overhaul. In fact, the best part is they’re small changes that create big relief.
In this post, I’m breaking these down into four key areas that make the biggest difference: decluttering, planning, self-care, and fun. You can think of these as your mom-life toolkit to help you breathe a little easier each day.
#1 Decluttering: Clear the Chaos Around You
Gretchen Rubin shares that one of her favorite secrets of adulthood is “Outer order contributes to inner calm.” I can’t agree more. A cluttered home often equals a cluttered mind. And when your environment is chaotic, it’s way easier to feel overwhelmed, irritated, and like everything’s out of control.
Try these tips to create inner calm:
The 5-Minute Pick-Up.
Set a timer and have everyone in the family tidy up for just five minutes. It’s amazing how much you can get done in such a short time—plus, it teaches the kids that cleanup doesn’t have to be a major production.
When my boys were little, I assigned them “zones” of the house to pick-up before bed. This gave them a structured task which is much more manageable for young minds, then just asking them to help pick-up.
Now that my kids are older, it’s easier to have them help out with a 5-minute pick-up at the end of the night.
Create systems for the clutter magnets.
Mail and school papers are the biggest offenders in my house. I now have a simple system: recycle, respond, or file. It takes 2 minutes and keeps kitchen counters from becoming Mount Paperwork.
I’ve also added these fun envelopes to our mudroom, everyone in our family has their own. My husband’s mail ends up in his envelope, and then anything that needs future reference goes in the appropriate envelope.
Teach the kids to help.
Get them in the habit of putting their shoes, backpacks, and jackets away as soon as they walk in. It seems small, but a tidy entryway actually does something magical to your mood.
When my kids were young, this task was included on their After School Routine Checklist. Since they started this helpful habit at a young age, it’s become second nature for them to take care of their jacket, shoes, and backpack. Of course, they still need reminders!
#2 Planning: Give Your Brain a Break
One of the biggest sanity drainers? Mental overload. When you’re constantly trying to remember everything—appointments, dinner plans, who needs a permission slip—it’s no wonder you feel fried. Take a little bit off your plate by using some of the following tips.
Try these tips to plan ahead:
Start with a 5-minute nightly prep.
Each night, set your timer for 5 minutes and do a quick review of the next day. Prep lunches, thaw dinner, lay out clothes, and check the calendar. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a game-changer for how the next day feels.
By using the timer, you’ll start to recognize that a little planning ahead of time doesn’t have to take up much time.
Keep a running grocery list.
Every time you run out of something, add it to your list. I use the Skylight app on my phone since it has a Grocery List section. Since the *Skylight calendar* is accessible for everyone (we have it in the kitchen), the whole family is responsible for adding items to the list.
However, your Notes app on your phone will work, or even a simple piece of paper placed on the fridge!
Use block scheduling.
Instead of juggling everything at once, assign blocks of time for different parts of your day—work, house chores, downtime, etc. It helps you stay focused and actually finish what you start.
To learn how to create your own block schedule, check out this popular blog post, “How to Time Block Your Schedule as a Stay-at-Home Mom”.
Embrace routines.
A morning or evening routine doesn’t have to be rigid—it just gives your day some anchor points. Something as simple as “coffee, planner check, start laundry” can make the morning feel smoother and calmer. Routines also help you spend your time intentionally, which always feels better then mindlessly wasting time.
I’m the most consistent with my morning and evening routines, and I can say the same about my kids. My morning routine sets the day up for success, and my evening routine assures that I get enough rest so I can do it all again the next day…
#4 Self-Care: Prioritize You
If you’re waiting for a free day to prioritize yourself…you’ll be waiting forever. The truth is, when you’re a mom, you have to create your own pockets of rest and joy—however small they may be.
Try these tips for self-care:
Start small.
Lay on your bed for five minutes. Meditate using a free app. Read for five minutes. Take a walk around the block. These tiny actions give your brain and body a reset—and they matter more than you think.
Check out “14 Daily Habits that Improve Motherhood” to see all the small habits I incorporate on a daily basis. These habits create a pretty good self-care routine.
Wake up before the kids.
Even waking up 15 minutes earlier to sip your coffee in peace or just stare at the wall in silence can make a huge difference in how grounded you feel. (And yes, I know this isn’t always realistic every day—grace over perfection.)
My current morning routine evolved from waking up just 20 minutes earlier than my kids. And if they woke up with me, I made sure to put out toys, puzzles, or something to keep them occupied until I was done with my routine.
Put on comfy clothes.
It’s hard to feel calm and capable when your jeans are cutting off circulation. Choose clothes that feel good on your body and give you room to breathe—literally and emotionally.
If there’s a weeknight when I don’t have to leave the house, you’ll find me in my sweatpants and sweatshirt making dinner and getting stuff done (or not). I’m way more productive in my comfy clothes.
Use screens strategically.
Yes, screens can be helpful. If your kids watching a 30-minute show gives you a breather to regroup, take it. Sometimes your sanity is more important than how many minutes your child has been on a screen. You’re not a bad mom. You’re a smart one!
#4 Fun: Don’t Forget to Enjoy Motherhood
It’s easy to get so caught up in the doing that you forget to just be with your kids—or with yourself.
Tips to enjoy motherhood:
Make room for lightness.
Put on a playlist and dance in the kitchen. Tell silly jokes at dinner. Try a simple puzzle or board game. These moments don’t require much effort, but they create connection and ease.
My kids and I have fun watching TV together. Our favorite thing is comedies that center around families (The Goldberg’s, Family Matters, Modern Family).
Schedule quiet time.
Even if your kids don’t nap, you can still designate 30-60 minutes each day for quiet play, reading, or screen time. Use this for yourself—read, rest, do something creative, or just be.
You can learn more about my afternoon quiet time in this post, “Afternoon Routine of Stay-at-Home Mom”.
Say yes to something fun for you.
Maybe that’s a solo trip to Target, bingeing your favorite show during nap time, or texting your favorite mama friend to vent. You deserve moments that are just for you.
And contrary to popular belief, you DO NOT have to earn these joyful moments. You’re deserving of having fun and doing something for yourself no matter how productive or unproductive you are. In fact, research has shown that you’ll be more productive if you allow yourself some “play”.
Switch up your scenery.
When the walls feel like they’re closing in, get out. Go to a park. Grab drive-thru dinner and eat it picnic-style. A small change in environment can do wonders for your mood.
Use These Tips to Save Your Sanity
There’s no gold medal for doing motherhood on hard mode. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. You do deserve support, systems, and sanity-saving hacks that make your days easier.
Pick one thing from this list to try today. Just one. See how it feels. Then maybe tomorrow, you try another. These little shifts add up.
And remember: you’re doing an amazing job. Even on the messy days. Especially on the messy days.
Let me know in the comments—what’s one thing you do that helps save your sanity?
And for a more in depth look into these tips, check out this post, “38 Mom Hacks That Save Your Sanity”.
Want more calm in your morning? Check out these FREE Morning Routine Checklists by clicking here.
