1. Lower Your Standards

Especially if your children are small, you may have to simply lower your standards. Choose convenience housekeeping appliances such as disposable wipes and toilet brushes. Remember that your children won’t remember whether or not you kept a clean house, they’ll remember that you spent time with them playing games and having fun.
 

2. Keep it Simple


Dinner may not be a three-course affair every night – you may have to settle for a semi-homemade meal. These offer a great alternative to cooking from scratch, while still providing a healthy meal for your crew. Add a bagged tossed salad, and call it good!



 

3. Schedule “Me” Time in Your Calendar
 

Schedule appointments for yourself in your calendar - under your own name. For example “exercise with Vivian – 9 am”. Adding yourself to your calendar makes the appointment seem less negotiable, and more like a “real” appointment. After all – you can’t cancel on your most important client again! If someone asks you to overextend yourself, you can check your calendar and honestly explain to them that you’re all booked up.

4. Pamper Yourself

You’re always looking for the perfect toy for the kids – take the time to buy something nice for yourself. Many websites provide products just for busy moms who need a little pampering. Pampering sites provide weekly newsletters with tips for how to make time just for you! Or, you could buy a nice bath set and spend an hour a week soaking your troubles away with a glass of good wine.

5. Make Friends With other Mamas
 

Mm friends are essential. Who else can you laugh with about the toddler floating the rubber ducky in the toilet? Find a friend to swap horror stories with and share special moments. Doing so allows you to fit time for laughter into your busy life. If possible, find a friend who would be willing to have time out with you and the kids at a park or playground. The two of you can have a cup of coffee and catch up, while the kids run amuck. Even better – find a mom to exchange a few hours of babysitting with each week while you and your partner enjoy some quality time.

6. Add Simple, but Elegant Touches

The Food Network’s Sandra Lee takes each of her meals and builds a “tablescape”  around them. These touches are simple, but add elegance to your table settings. You can use these techniques with guests, or add them to your family meals for a special touch. This concept fits with other areas of your life, as well – adding small touches like colored ice cubes to their water glasses can liven up your children’s moods dramatically, in less time than it would take to make a trip to their favorite restaurant.

Finding time in your busy schedule for yourself and your family can be taxing. Take the time to work smarter, not harder! Use some of the above tips to carve out time for yourself, while adding quality time to your family time. Your family, and your blood pressure, will thank you!




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