Five Simple Hacks to Simplify Your Life as a Busy Parent

It’s hard to believe we are at the end of 2018 and on the verge of a new year already. It seems like just a few months ago I was in this same space reflecting on the past year and making plans for the new year. I made big goals for this year and I was elated when we closed on our house. It’s been hectic the first few months getting our home together and with the new year approaching, I’m making a new set of goals to help make life a little simpler.

With four kids life can become very hectic. There’s always so much to do and not enough time to do it. Navigating motherhood can be a maze at times, but I’ve found a few hacks to make my life more simple and run with ease. I’m sharing some of these hacks with you.

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by Store Brand Formula. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Plan Meals Ahead of Time

Deciding what to cook for dinner is always a big hassle for me. I can spend at least thirty minutes each morning debating on what I want to cook for dinner that night. I’m usually going through the freezer to see what we have, then the pantry and figuring out what I’ve made recently so I’m sure I’m mixing things up instead of making the same things over and over again.

Meal planning is a great way to save time on what to make for dinner every day. This simple printable from 4 Hats & Frugal is easy to use. Simply plug in your meals for each day of the week. Pick one day a week or bi-weekly to plan out your meals. It’s easier and it also helps when going grocery shopping as well. Save your printables and once you have a few months rotate them to save even more time. I love using Pinterest when I’m meal planning, I get tons of great ideas I’d never think of on my own.

Make a Chore Chart

When we first moved into the new house I found myself doing laundry just about every day. It seemed like I was always washing and folding clothes. For weeks I spent most of the day washing and folding clothes, vacuuming, and mopping the hardwood floors. I needed a chore chart to help me plan out my day better and it also helped me get my family’s help with some of those tasks. It was a huge time saver and now I get some time to do things for myself during the day when the kids are at school.

Find Your Tribe

I’m a special needs mother, we have a son with Autism, and without my Autism Parents Tribe, I would be lost. They have helped me so much since we first got the diagnosis. Parenting isn’t easy and we don’t have all the answers, it helps to have a group when I can ask questions and find answers with ease from parents walking the same journey as my family.

Store Brand Formula has a great parenting resource for new parents. With Parents’ NewsFEED, moms and dads like you can share the daily ups and downs on the journey of parenthood. Check out all the videos on their YouTube channel and learn more about Store Brand Formula. Take advantage of the Store Brand Formula e-book on formula feeding, it’s an informative free resource geared towards helping you make the right choice for your baby.

Skip Grocery Shopping In Store

Technology can be amazing at times and sometimes it’s even necessary. Last year my husband had knee surgery right before Christmas. He’s the only driver in our house and since the surgery was very sudden we didn’t have time to properly prepare for his recovery. Thankfully I was able to have our groceries delivered to our door. With just a few clicks of my mouse, I shopped for food and other household essentials, picked a delivery date and time, and just waited for it to arrive. It allowed me to stay home with him and also not stress out about how I would manage this task without him driving me to the store. It was a lifesaver.

I still use it now to stock up on essentials like toilet paper, laundry supplies, and more. It’s easy and super convenient. Check your local supermarket to see if they offer this option, you can also check stores like Walmart and Target for store pick-up shopping options that will limit your time in the store.

Automate Everyday Tasks

Since becoming homeowners I’ve been looking for ways to make life much easier. I’ve added technology to help make our life easier and less stressful. We have a smart thermostat that we can control with our phones but we can also easily set custom settings for when we are at home or away to save on energy. We use Eve Room to monitor our air quality even when we aren’t home. Our Eve Aqua waters our lawn in the summer, eliminating the task for us. There are so many great smart appliances you can use in your home to automate everyday tasks like vacuuming and even cooking dinner. One of my goals for 2019 is to automate a few more of my regular tasks to help make life a little easier.

For more parenting hacks visit the Store Brand Formula website, and follow them on social media to learn more especially if you’re an expecting or new parent.

Giveaway

Thanks to Store Brand Formula one lucky Nicki’s Random Musings fan will win a $25 Electronic Visa Gift Card. The giveaway ends January 8, 2019. Enter via the tool below.

Nickida

Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.