5 Lockdown Life Hacks That Will Save Mom’s Sanity
Moms are no strangers to multitasking.
Chances are you know a mom that listens to a podcast during her commute, speeds up an audiobook while working out, or answers emails in the bath.
With the current stay-at-home order in effect until May, finding creative “mom hacks” are more critical than ever before. Parents face the impossible task of being productive employees as they home school their children, all while maintaining their house, health, and sanity.
Now that we’re stuck at home with our families with no outlet for escape, mom hacks that allow parents to find more “me time” during the day have grown from a nicety to a necessity.
We asked real moms to share their creative ways to buy you more time during the day. Here are the top five answers.
Don’t Try to Do It All Yourself
“My children are fully capable of helping with things around the house, and it’s a perfect time to teach them what they don’t know how to do. It’s been a great learning experience for all of us!”
-Sely Peña of Vancouver
Give each family member a task and schedule it through an app like Microsoft To Do. Each member of the family should have clear and consistent chores to do and check them off as the day goes on. Not only will this help with the responsibilities of the house, but it will also take some of the emotional labor away. Instead of remembering who’s responsible for each chore with a chart or notes, you can now leave it up to the app. It’s like the old saying, “many hands, make light work.”
Put the Kid to Work
Gain back an extra half hour of time by sending your child on a scavenger hunt. Before they wake up, hide a special toy, or even all their toys, around the house. When they wake up, let them know they have to collect all of them and turn them into you. It will buy you some time while you enjoy a cup of coffee or get in an early morning cardio session.
Educate While Entertaining
Kids are sponges, and they will soak up anything new and exciting to them. Use this quarantine as an opportunity to expose your children to what excites you. The chances are, if you’re excited about what you’re showing them, they will be excited too. Your kids will learn something new about you and it will give you time to read something that you’re interested in. For example, Heather Wagner, the Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi in New York found a way to stay up-to-date on fashion and entertain her son.
“I work in fashion/beauty advertising and always have to keep on top of competitive brands. So, when I get home from work, I will open the latest Vogue or ELLE and read the ad pages to my 4-year-old-son. It helps me stay on top of the trends, exposes us both to creative, beautiful imagery, and enhances his spelling: ‘G is for Gucci. C is for Chanel. B is for Burberry. V is for Van Cleef & Arpels!'”
-Heather Wagner, creative director at Saatchi & Saatchi
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
“I am currently trying to work with a 6-month-old at home. My husband is in sales and I am a program manager, so we both have meetings all day. The only way that I’ve been able to get work done is to wake up at 4 am to get some hours in before the baby even wakes up.”
-Miranda Carter of Vancouver
According to the Mayo Clinic, spending alone time in quiet can provide many benefits. “Even a few minutes of quiet time can be refreshing and help to quiet your mind and reduce anxiety.” You may think you’re wasting valuable time sitting in silence and enjoying a cup of coffee, but you’re giving yourself the ultimate mom hack. It’s a chance for your nerves, body, and mind to relax all at the same time.
Use Your Children to Stay Connected
Put the kids to work, creating a digital yearbook that gets shared with family members who are also social distancing.
“Create a shared photo stream for your kids and invite friends and family. This is a great way for everyone to see your kids’ day to day lives without posting it on social media.”
-Danni Johnson, founder of Blake Media
Practicing social isolation can be stressful, so giving your children a project that involves connecting with family and friends is a great way to distract them while you finish up on your work or take a much-needed break.
Whether you choose to use these hacks or create a different one that suits your particular situation, remember that you’ve got this. It’s impossible to do it all, so cut yourself some slack, take that nap if it re-energizes you, turn off the news and take a moment to breathe. Kids don’t remember every magical moment from their childhood, but they will remember a happy mother.
