Time management made easy

Now that your baby’s here, life may be a little more hectic. You want to spend time with your new baby, but you still need to get things done. How do find the right balance? Everyone is different so what works for your best friend may not work for you. But here are a few basic tips:

• Divide and conquer. There are things you have to do and things you would like to do. You have to buy groceries and do laundry, but you don’t have to shop at three different grocery stores or do laundry every day. By breaking down tasks into what you absolutely must do versus what you would like to do, you can quickly prioritize your days into a more manageable schedule.
• Plan ahead. Double or triple recipes when cooking so you can pack meals in the freezer for later. Pick up supplies at one store instead making stops all around town. If mornings are a challenge, lay out clothes for you and your baby the night before.
• Keep an updated calendar. List appointments, social events, and meetings as soon as they’re scheduled so you always know what’s coming up.
• Allow for free time. Be realistic about what you want to accomplish each day. Being a mom means being flexible. Something unexpected almost always comes up so leave some time for those little surprises.
• Rely on lists. With so much going on, it’s easy to forget things. Keep a pen and notebook handy and write down what needs to be done as soon as you think of it. Keep a running list, and you won’t have to rely on your memory.
• Make time for the important things. Make a commitment to do only those things that are truly important to you, like spending time with your baby and having a weekly date night with your partner. If it means that you can’t get less important things done, like cleaning out the garage, then leave them undone or find someone else to do them.
• Relax. Fight the urge to keep up your "before baby" schedule. Take the time to enjoy every moment you can with your newborn.