15 GAME-CHANGING ORGANIZATION HACKS FOR BUSY SINGLE MOMS

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As a busy single mom, every single day can feel like a whirlwind of activities.

Between doing school runs, extracurricular activities, household chores, your work and life errands, everything can quickly become a little too overwhelming.

I used to be swallowed by the chaos but I knew I'd go crazy if I didn't do something about it and quickly.

Organization is your number one friend when trying to manage everything solo especially if you want to keep your sanity, be a happy mom and have happy kids.

Organization hacks for single moms can be a life and sanity saver and here are 15 organization hacks that have helped me and I most definitely know will help you too!

Helpful Organization Hacks for Single Moms

1—Make use of a family calendar

One of the best things you can do is to get your family a family calendar. You can place it in your kitchen because no one is going to miss it especially if it's on the fridge!

Make it a habit to add school events, work events, appointments, and family outings. You literally can put your whole life on there so you have a bigger picture of what will be happening throughout the week or even month. This will literally free up some brain capacity for other things!

The kids can always check the calendar to see what's coming up, allowing them to be a bit more proactive. It's a great way to help them learn about organization and schedule keeping. You can encourage them to add their own things on there as well to make them feel like they're participating in this overall family calendar.

2—Create a command center

Create a dedicated space in your home for all family and to-do related items. You can set up a small area with baskets or cubbies for each of your children and yourself where they can put in their homework, forms that need to be filled out, bills that need to be paid, and other important papers that need your attention.

Having this setup can help you reduce the tendency of just having things all over the place and not being able to find them when you need them the most. Especially in the mornings when you and your kids need to gather your stuff before you run out the door, you'll know exactly where to look.

3—Meal prep like a pro

This is just one of those things that will save you a lot of time and stress, and I cannot preach this enough.

Meal prepping can be daunting to begin with because it can seem like a lot to do on a weekend. But trust me when I say, that when weekday meal times come around, you will be thankful that you spent that extra time during the weekend meal prepping.

If it's too overwhelming to actually have full meals prepped and in the freezer, you can start small by just chopping vegetables, onions and garlic, marinating proteins, or making easy pasta bases and having them ready for when it's time to cook for dinner.

Meal prepping not only saves you time and stress but having your meals ready and easily available will also reduce takeouts and save you money in the long run. Plus you know you'll be comforted by the fact that your kids are having healthier, home-cooked meals, at least most of the time.

4—Set up a clean-up routine

Cleaning can feel like an endless chore and you can end up feeling frustrated with the piles of clothes, toys, dishes, and overall mess here and there.

The tip that has saved me is spending 20 minutes before bed tidying up. Nothing compares to waking up to a clean house.

My teen likes to leave dirty dishes for me to wake up to when all I want to do is make myself a cup of coffee. That cup of coffee - just doesn't taste the same! Dishes in the sink first thing in the morning is a pet peeve of mine - I hate it!

But at least the rest of the house is as I left it before bed.

So get your kids to help out and make it a routine before everyone turns in. You can turn it into a game to make it more fun and it can teach them about responsibility but most importantly, it'll make your mornings a lot more happier and will be a great start to your day.

5—Declutter regularly

Decluttering is important if you want to keep your home organized and free from unnecessary items that you don't need but seem to be hanging on to.

You don't have to do everything all at once - that would be too overwhelming and you'll probably give up before you even start.

But what you can do is tackle one room every month (or every week!) with a thorough cleanup. The kids can join you in sorting out toys, books, and clothes they want to keep or donate.

Decluttering can help you clear up space, not only in your home but in your head too. You'll feel relieved and lighter after each of your clearouts.

Read 101 Things to get rid of to declutter your home

6—Use organization apps

I used to be the king of to-do lists at the office, but at home, I just depended on my brain, I didn't have the time to write everything down and go through them one by one. That proved to be the wrong thing to do. Since then I've resorted to apps that I could access easily on my phone.

These can be as simple as your reminder app or even your notes app on your phone. There are also Google Tasks. If you need something that gives you a bit more, there are apps like Todoist and Notion for your to-do lists and overall life organization, as well as Paprika specifically for meal planning and grocery lists.

You can sync these apps to your phone so you can come back to them and check off items on the go.

Whatever it is there is an app out there for you to try out. One that suits your lifestyle and needs.

7—Create homework stations

Homework time can often turn into a struggle (and get ugly!). We've all been there.

To ease this process, create a dedicated homework station for your kids, complete with the essentials they need with pencils, paper, and maybe sometimes, even snacks.

Having a dedicated homework station not only helps them focus better but also makes it easier for them to clean up after themselves and have all their school work and books in one place.

8—Have a weekly family meeting

Every week, make an effort to have a family meeting to discuss schedules, events, and goals for the week.

In those meetings, your kids can be active participants by telling you what's going to be happening in school for the week, whether they are upcoming tests, sports tournaments, school events, or even plans for the weekend.

These meetings encourage communication and open discussions, and it's a great way to make your kids feel included in the overall family planning rather than all on mom.

All important dates and appointments can then be added to the family calendar so no one forgets.

9—Organize seasonal clothes

Seasons change and kids outgrow their clothes at an astonishing rate. So keeping up with these changes can be a nightmare if not dealt with properly.

Instead of keeping away all your kid's clothes in one bin, organize their outfits by season and size. You can use labeled storage bags to store off-season clothing. So when the season comes around again, you won't be rummaging endlessly in one huge bin or bag, just to find they don't fit or that it's not the right clothes for the season.

I've also been a big believer in capsule wardrobes and it shouldn't just be for adults. Why not create capsule wardrobes for your kids too? These would make life so much easier not only for them but for you too. It will streamline the process of dressing your kids every day.

10—Automate your bill payments

Managing finances can be a hair-pulling experience, for anybody.

One thing you can do to ease the stress is to automate your bill payments. Doing this ensures that you're on top of bill payments and never miss the due date. You don't even have to remember these due dates so it lets you focus on other things instead.

Not having to remember your bill payment due dates is one thing off your plate, at least.

11—Use a chore chart

We all know that giving our kids chores teaches them about responsibility and taking ownership of them. That's why we give them chores, right? - and also to help us out around the house!

Chores are not naturally high on our kid's list of things to do. Not because they don't necessarily want to do them, but sometimes they just forget (or not!)

Having a chore chart can be a a great way of having a list of chores everyone has to do in one place. Place this chore chart in the kitchen or hallway, somewhere it cannot be missed. It'll be easier for your kids to be reminded of the chores that need to be done and they can easily tick off each chore once done. This way it's easier for you and them to monitor what's been done and what's not.

With a chore chart, they might even enjoy doing their chores. It can be seen as a personal accomplishment for them having everything on their list ticked off.

12—Make morning stress-free

Like many parents, my mornings initially used to be chaos.

But it doesn't have to be that way, does it?

To make your mornings more manageable and stress-free, try preparing what you can in the evening. Lay out clothes to wear, pack lunches, fill water bottles, check backpacks, and put everything away so you have the least things to do in the mornings and more time for yourself and the kids in the mornings before everyone goes their separate ways.

It will most certainly make your mornings easier and if there are any morning anxiousness from your kids, you'll be able to manage them better without having to worry about the million things you had to do knowing that you already did them the night before!

13—Designate a family fun night

We live such busy lives that sometimes time with our kids takes a backseat.

My advice is to pencil in one family fun night every week (if possible). You and the kids can take turns picking the activity during your family meetings. You can create an activity bowl with as many activities written on pieces of paper and every week one person draws from it.

It can be anything from indoor games, a movie night, a pizza night, cooking dinner together - anything!

To make it a bit more special try scheduling it on a weeknight to break the monotonous routine we often have during the week.

14—Keep a donation box accessible

Keep a designated 'to-donate' box in a common area of your home that is easily accessible.

Whenever you find items that you no longer use but think that someone else might find useful, you can toss them in there. Your kids could do the same too with their toys, books, and even clothes they no longer wear.

Once the box is full, you can make a trip to the charity shop. You kill two birds with one stone by keeping your home clutter-free as well as teaching your kids about giving and generosity.

15—Most importantly, be kind to yourself

Finally, it's important to remind yourself to be kind and patient.

Perfect organization isn't the goal here, but finding balance is. If things don't go as planned, that's perfectly okay. It's part and parcel of life!

Being a single mom is challenging, and these organization tips can help you create a more manageable and enjoyable life with your kids.

Feel free to adapt these ideas to fit your unique situation. Remember, even small changes can make a big difference. So embrace the journey and find what works best for you and your family!