Time Management/Life Satisfaction Tips for Parents

Time Management Tips for Parents

For most people, there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to work, raise children, complete household chores, and take care of yourself.  Here are a few tips for improving time management:

1)      Identify all main chores that need to be completed weekly. Make a list of them. Determine which ones you typically complete and note that on the piece of paper. Identify which tasks you can/want to delegate to your significant other, children, or any other household members. For tasks that you are ultimately responsible for, figure out when you will do each task, and put that in your daily calendar (i.e., food shopping on Wednesday evenings, laundry on Monday and Thursday nights, etc.).

2)      Set limits around working at home in the evening when your children are home. If you need to complete work in the late afternoon, make that clear to your children and find suitable activities to keep them occupied and limit disruptions for you. If you need extra time at night to complete work, block out specific times to do so, and spend the rest of your time with your children while they are still awake.

3)      Set aside quality time to spend with your partner.  During the week, this may mean watching a television show together after the children have gone to sleep each night, playing a game together, or doing something else that involves direct interactions. On the weekends, or at least once a week, it can be helpful to block out time together without your children. This could mean a date night on Saturday nights, coffee together at a coffee shop on Sunday mornings, or something else that fits into your schedule.

While it’s not always fun for some people to have everything scheduled, reserving time to complete chores and spend time with your children and partner, as well as family members and friends, is often very helpful in improving time management and life satisfaction. 

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Dr. Carey Heller is a licensed psychologist with The Heller Psychology Group LLC in Bethesda, Maryland. He specializes in work with children, adolescents, and families, and is happy to answer questions and provide consultations for individuals who are considering pursuing treatment, an evaluation, or other services for their child, adolescent, or themselves. Dr. Heller can be reached at (301)-385-2610 or careyheller@thehellerpsychologygroup.com.

*Disclaimer: The previous information is intended as general guidance based on my professional opinion, does not constitute an established professional relationship,  and should not replace the recommendations of a psychologist or other licensed professional with whom you initiate or maintain a professional relationship*