Small Ways to Simplify in the Season of Motherhood

I am constantly on the lookout for ways to make things just a bit easier in this busy season of life. Here are a few ways that I try to give myself grace and keep sane during these sweet and crazy little years.

• Say “Yes” to paper plates – This may seem little, but being a stay at home mom and fixing three meals a day, plus all the snacks, there are already a LOT of dishes. Purchasing paper plates has helped me cut back a bit on the mess. I even try to use paper plates when I host friends or family. This is something that I never used to do, but after a long day with my kids, I don’t want to spend my whole evening at the sink, especially if we have friends over.

• Freezer Meal Prep – This may not seem like an easy task, but each time I have done a mass freezer meal prep, it has been SO worth it. On days that I don’t have a minute to put something together, or if I’m just not in the mood to cook, I can easily pull something out of the freezer. I also always try to keep some frozen vegetables on hand as an easy side to my main dish. Another way to build a freezer stash is to just double what you’re cooking for the night and put the second half in the freezer to save for later. This is a great way to keep dinner easy and still feel great about feeding your family well.

• Turn off all phone notifications – For me, this has been a game changer! I already feel pulled in a million different directions during the day and I started feeling really overwhelmed by the constant dings and buzzes from every app on my phone. I am a people-pleaser at heart so I feel an urgency to respond quickly. By turning off my notifications, it allows me to get back to my messages when I have time and not become interrupted in the middle of whatever I am doing at the time.

• Keep a written family planner – This is something I have always done even after I decided to stay home with my first baby. Even though I don’t have a regular work schedule, this helps me stay on top of what household tasks I want to get done each day of the week. I am also easily able to keep track of all of our appointments and my husband’s work schedule.

• Say “No” to Kids Activities – This is a personal choice my husband and I have made, but for now, as our kids are still really young, we are saying no to extracurricular activities. We know that once our kids are in school all day, there will be plenty of running around and activities that they want to join. Right now, we are enjoying our wide open weekends as a family and evening dinners around our table without rushing around here and there. It simplifies our schedule and it allows more quality time as a family.

I hope this gives you some ideas to make life just a bit easier!

Xoxo