Reclaim Your Day: Time-Saving Tips for Busy Mums
Being a mum often feels like running a marathon with a moving finish line. It’s no wonder we’re exhausted—when you tally up the tasks we manage in a single day, it’s easy to see why there’s often little left in the tank for ourselves.
At Beautifully Sorted, I’ve spent the last four years working with amazing clients to help bring more clarity, calm, and control to their homes and routines. I wanted to share a few of my favourite tried-and-tested strategies—some from my own experience, others from clients—that have helped carve out more time and reduce the daily overwhelm.
None of these tips are revolutionary—but they are practical, doable, and incredibly effective when used consistently.
So, grab a coffee (even if it’s your third—no judgement here) and a notepad, and let’s dive into some habits that can help you move from reactive chaos to intentional calm.
A hotel-suite-worthy made bed…. oh how special!
1. Endless Laundry Cycles
Laundry seems to have a mind of its own—no matter how often you do it, there’s always more. And when family members treat the laundry basket like a second closet (looking at you, tee-shirt-for-10-minutes-wearers), the mountain grows fast.
Encourage your household to think before tossing clothes into the wash—can it be re-hung or re-folded instead? This small shift alone can drastically cut your laundry time.
Better yet, get your kids involved. Sorting, folding, and putting away their own clothes (at age-appropriate levels) teaches responsibility and life skills. Use clearly labelled bins for each family member to simplify sorting. The folding doesn’t have to be perfect—just done.
Quick tip: Stick to designated laundry days. Avoiding the “every day is laundry day” trap will save your sanity.
2. Mealtime Chaos
Planning, prepping, and cooking meals (multiple times a day) can be draining—especially with dietary needs or fussy eaters in the mix.
Try meal prepping once or twice a week. Grill some chicken, roast a tray of veg, cook up a batch of rice—these staples can become a range of quick, healthy meals throughout the week. Fewer decisions. Less mess. More time for you.
3. Unplanned Errands
Nothing derails a day faster than five unplanned trips to the shops for forgotten items.
Keep a running grocery list throughout the week and plan one consolidated trip—or better yet, use delivery or click-and-collect options to save time and energy.
Stick to a list, batch errands where possible, and protect that time like gold.
4. The Social Media Time Suck
Five minutes on Instagram can easily turn into 45 minutes of scrolling. (We’ve all been there.)
Set limits using screen-time tracking apps, or schedule your social media check-ins to specific times of day. Try keeping your phone in another room during family time or deep work blocks to stay focused.
Reclaiming even 30 minutes a day adds up to hours across a week—time you can spend resting, creating, or simply breathing.
5. The Constant Tidy-Up
Does it feel like you're always the one picking up toys, shoes, cups, and clothes? Let’s change that.
Introduce a simple “5-minute tidy” before dinner each day. Everyone joins in—no exceptions. With a family of four, that’s 20 minutes of tidying power.
Use baskets and bins with clear labels so every item has a home. It teaches responsibility, builds good habits, and helps keep your home under control without relying solely on you.
6. Ignoring Self-Care
When your needs are always last on the list, burnout isn’t far behind.
Self-care doesn’t need to be elaborate. A walk around the block, 10 minutes of quiet, or a peaceful cup of tea can be enough to recharge.
Remember: You can’t pour from an empty cup. Looking after yourself isn’t selfish—it’s strategic.
A Few More Mum-Tested Hacks to Make Life Easier
💡 Create a Daily Routine
A consistent routine reduces decision fatigue and brings a sense of calm to your day. Set blocks of time for meals, chores, play, and downtime. Structure brings freedom—and fewer surprises.
💡 Delegate and Share the Load
It’s not your five minutes of tidying—it’s everyone’s. Multiply that time by every family member and watch how quickly things get done. You’re a team, and everyone can contribute.
💡 Embrace Time-Saving Tech
From grocery apps to smart home devices, let tech lighten the load. Automate bills, use family calendars, and consider tools like robot vacuums to reduce your task list.
💡 Batch Tasks for Efficiency
Group errands together. Meal prep in one go. Answer emails at one time. Switching less often between tasks helps you stay focused and saves precious minutes.
Our homes should be our sanctuary - Ali, Beautifully Sorted
If you’re fortunate to have extra help at home, these strategies can work for them too—bringing even more calm and clarity to your shared space.
Final Thought
Motherhood is a full-time job (with plenty of overtime). But with a few small, consistent shifts, you can reclaim more time, breathe a little easier, and feel more in control of your days.
You deserve space—for rest, for joy, for you.
And it all starts with being beautifully intentional.
