Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Jimmy Dean through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Jimmy Dean Delights, all opinions are my own.
Mornings are such a delicate time for our family. They can either go extremely well or they can be an absolute disaster. It’s amazing what a few snoozes, waking up on the wrong side of the bed, skipping breakfast, and seeing your gas tank light go on can do to your day.
I’d love to say that we have our morning routine perfected, but it’s just not true. Some days we have it all together and work in perfect harmony to get out of the house. Other days, I question whether I actually need a shower, scramble to get my daughter ready, and am so frazzled that I need my 1.5 hour commute to get myself put together before the work day starts.
Through all this though, I’ve found some working mom life hacks that do wonders for not only my mornings, but also for my day. The mornings really set the foundation, but so many little things can help the entire day to go smoother.
1. Use your weekends to get ahead. Tackle your laundry, go grocery shopping, organize your calendar, get some sleep… On the flip side though, I’ve had to learn not to wear myself thin on weekends. The goal is to recharge, spend quality time with my family, and to be better prepared for the week ahead.
2. Plan your meals and prep over the weekend. I used to love meal planning, but moved away from it after getting married. Now that I have a daughter, meal planning and prep just makes sense! I save recipes through Pinterest, create a meal plan, and then make a grocery list from there.
3. Shower at night. I used to always shower in the morning, and I still do on the days I work out before work, but showering at night really does help the mornings to run smoother. Being able to shower and dry my hair at night also gives me the time to put on a little makeup in the morning. Added bonus!
4. Lay out clothes for the next day. I personally sleep in my workout clothes, but if I didn’t, I would lay them out for the next day. I also pick out my work clothes and make sure my daughter’s clothes are set. This just limits the number of decisions you’ll have to make in the morning. Some of my friends pick their kids’ clothes for the entire week on Sunday.
5. Have easy breakfasts ready to go. I love making breakfast at home, but some mornings I just don’t have the time. I’ve learned to have a safety net, but realized quickly that my breakfasts, no matter what, had to be packed with protein. I need foods that give me energy, are filling, and are wholesome.
Neal and I are big Jimmy Dean fans. We buy their turkey sausages and Jimmy Dean Delights Turkey Sausage sandwiches in bulk. For us, Jimmy Dean Delights are a delicious, wholesome breakfast option (hello whole eggs and lean meat) and provide us the protein we need when we’re running out the door. Be sure to check out the Jimmy Dean Morning Swap videos and watch as a busy working mom learn where the real ingredients like those in Jimmy Dean Delights come from!
I also keep a few sandwiches in my work freezer, just in case I completely forget to have breakfast at home or during my commute into the office. A wholesome breakfast lifesaver!
6. Have a small coffee maker at work (and use the timer). I haven’t had coffee since last summer, eek!, but if you do drink coffee, I can’t recommend a small coffee maker for your office enough. Kid you not, I used to set my coffee pot timer and have a hot pot ready for me when I got into work. I eventually switched to a single serve coffee maker, but I’ll never forget my fresh pot of coffee days.
7. Use your lunch break for exercise or running errands. I am working really hard on this one, but lunch breaks are incredibly valuable. Whether you’re working out, getting some fresh air, eating lunch with a friend or by yourself, paying a few bills, or running to the post office, your lunch break is an ideal time to get a few things done.
8. Make the most of your commute. Eat breakfast in the car, call a loved one, enjoy an after work snack, listen to an audiobook. You can get a lot done while in the car.
9. Hire out! I’m still working on accepting this one, but boy is it worth it to pay someone to help you. Whether it’s a cleaning service, landscaping service, or even grocery shopping service, I think one of the best working mom hacks is to outsource! I even consider Amazon Prime as outsourcing. Online shopping can save you tons of time (and money)!
10. Ask for help or just let go. We can’t do it all and that’s ok. It’s hard to say no, but it’s so important to remember that we can only do so much!
