Working moms from home, do you feel like the to do list is never ending. You finally get to check a project off this list, just to add three more to it. It can feel overwhelming and never ending.
What is the secret to mastering time management for working moms from home?
I started 2025 a little different than normal. I was actually looking for the reset button a week into the new year, but that is more details than we have space for right now. Usually, I take January to plan my year, and I know the formula that works to get all the things done. This year I wanted to narrow my focus a bit more.
This is not an easy task for me. A friend once asked me if my brain ever turns off. The answer was no. It never stops churning, and it can be exhausting. As 2025 approached, I decided I wanted to do the hard work and focus more. But opportunity pounded on my door, and I needed to open it.
This left me feeling very overwhelmed by my bursting to do list. But I just needed to take a deep breath and tell myself, “One step at a time.” Focus on the important stuff, right now, not on the important stuff that was coming up.
Mom, these are exciting opportunities, and I love the fact that I can juggle all of this from the comfort of my home. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t overwhelming at times. Working moms from home need to make an effort to not blur the lines between work, home, and school because it creates a never ending cycle of tasks.
Understanding how to manage your time effectively and knowing when to draw the line is crucial for maintain both productivity and sanity for working moms from home.
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The Challenge of Working Moms from Home
Mom, it is challenging juggling work, home, and school. As working moms from home, I think there are more challenges we face because we see all the things that need to be done around the house. The kids need our attention, and we are still working with clients.
It is a lot.
But I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve spent years working in an office while my kids were in daycare or school. That is not something that I ever want to go back to. So while being a working mom in an office comes with its challenges, and being a working mom from home presents its own unique challenges. I’ve chosen my hard, and I am ever grateful that I can be home with my kids in my work from home mom job.
Although, I’ve chosen my hard, I still want to juggle everything well. I want to manage my time well, manage my clients well, and be with my kids well.
That means we need to manage our time well as working moms from home.
The Emotional Toll of Doing it All as a Working Mom from Home
The pressure to balance everything—from deadlines to dinner prep—is exhausting. It can leave us feeling drained, burned out, and inadequate. Doing it all usually doesn’t happen. Although, we do try really hard.
The first step to a more manageable routine and better time management as working moms from home is understanding that no one can do it all.
My January looked a lot different this year because I needed to take things off my list. There were things I was determined to finish and accomplish, but when opportunity came pounding on my door I needed to make room for it. That means I needed to eliminate things from the list.
If you want to enjoy your life and use your working from home as tool to that enjoyment, then you might need to eliminate things from your to do list. And that’s ok. Our priority as working moms from home is our kids. Once they are at the top of the to do list, everything else falls into place or is removed from the list.
Good time management requires knowing what you need to take off this list as well as leave on it.
Embracing Limitations as Working Moms from Home
In order to create balance as working moms from home, we need to understand our limitations. It is impossible to do it all.
Even for your homeschool there are limitations. I use all in one curriculum because piecing everything together takes too much time. This is a limitation, but there is a solution to it and that is all in one curriculum. I don’t use curriculum that places a heavy emphasis on being parent-led. I use curriculum that is designed for the students to be independent.
Let go of the idea that you need to be involved in every subject. We homeschool for the flexibility and to tailor learning for each child. I can still do that with all in one curriculum and understanding my limitations.
What are your limitations? What can you realistically do in a day? Are there days where you need to plan easy meals?
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Time management for working moms from home is really about understanding what’s important to you and eliminating those things that aren’t. You can’t do it all. There are limitations to your time, so let’s start managing it effectively to improve your productivity, gain a sense of control, and enjoy your life.
1. Identify your priorities
What are your non-negotiables? List the things in a notebook that are most important to you. Create categories for clients, business, and homeschooling. Or the categories that make the most sense to you. Under those categories list everything that comes to mind.
Rate your list from 1-10. One being the least important and ten being the most important. Pick your top 3 on work on those.
Whether you do this for the year, month, or week. It is important to see what is most important to you right now, and work on those. If they are large projects, then focus on one instead of three. Work your way through your priorities, and then more to the next ones.
2. Determine what can fit into the margins
There are so many things you can fit into the margin of your day. Maximize your margins. Sitting in the car picking up a kid from work, bring a book along. Or bring a notebook to write down your to do list or start a blog post.
There are certain things that require time and focus. Those are your priorities. But, then, there are other things that can get done in 5-10 minutes. Or you can at least make progress on them in 5-10 minutes. Need to read a 10 page report, bring along as your brush your teeth and read it.
Identify those things that are still important but can be done in short spurts of time. Maximize the margins of your day.
3. Set boundaries
Working moms from home, if we are going to juggle it all then you need to set personal boundaries with clients, with kids, with expectations, and so on. This is the only way you will be able to get things done.
It is ok to set deadlines that work for you with your clients. As long as you are clear with what you can realistically do, clients will be ok with it too. Also, it is ok to tell your young son, who just realized that he can read, that he can only read you 3 books instead of 5. And it is ok to take a project off your list, or to push it down the list because you just don’t have time. Yes, I know it is a brilliant idea, but you may need to set boundaries on your expectations.
4. Create a realistic routine
I know I say this a lot because it was such a game-changer for me, but you need to create realistic routines. It is amazing how creating a routine will change the tone of your home, and the brain space it frees up for you.
If you aren’t sure where to start, then start with a morning routine.
5. Have office hours
Yes, you need to have office hours. If we are working moms from home, then this is a must. State it clearly in your freelancer contract and then stick to it.
For example, I only work Monday–Thursday. That means if I get a phone call on Friday, I don’t answer it. Now, there may be things that pop up very, very rarely, and I will make exceptions for those rare occasions. Things happen. But the clients that I work with are great and respect my time limitations. So office hours aren’t an issue.
You also need office hours for yourself. It is important that you stop working. It is very easy to keeping going because there is always one more thing to do. Write it down in a notebook, and then hang up the closed sign. Or just turn your computer off and walk away from your desk.
Conclusion: Working Moms from Home Find Your Rhythm
It is possible to live your impossible dream of working from home and homeschooling. That doesn’t mean it will be easy, but it is totally possible. It just requires figuring out what works for you and your family and understanding your limitations. Working moms from home set realistic routines, focus on the things that really matter, and set clear boundaries. You will rock this working moms from home journey.
Mom, sometimes we can feel like islands as working moms from home. Having a support system can make all the difference in balancing work and family. That’s why I want to personally invite you to join the Rebel Moms Club, this is the working moms from home community that you’ve been looking for.
FAQ: Time Management for Working Moms from Home
Q: How can I manage time with a baby or toddler at home?
A: Flexible schedules, nap-time productivity, and babywearing can be lifesavers. Use moments of quiet to tackle high-priority tasks.
Q: What if my job has unpredictable demands?
A: Build buffer time into your schedule and communicate openly with your clients about your availability.
Q: Is it okay to let my kids watch TV while I work?
A: Absolutely! Screen time can be a helpful tool when used in moderation. Choose educational or age-appropriate content to make it more beneficial.
Q: What’s the best way to transition between work and mom mode?
A: Create a ritual—like a short walk or a cup of tea—to signal the end of work and the beginning of family time. This helps you mentally shift gears.
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