Daily planning for the busyness of motherhood has been life changing for my routine as a busy mom. On default, the logistics of the day can take over and before I know it (without a plan), I’m putting out fires, spread so thin, feeling overwhelmed, and not enjoying any of it (at best) and yelling (at worst).

Planning has become a super power of mine because of how I utilize these tools to evolve and grow as my life and family changes.

In this post, I’m sharing daily planning tips for busy moms that will make a huge difference in your every day life. With that, let’s dive in!

Prioritizing Tasks: My System For Staying Focused Amidst Chaos

At the heart of my daily plan is my defined purpose and priorities. With these as my North Star (and a little help from Google Calendar!) it’s easy to create a system that works exceptionally well for my family and me.

My purpose is to grow my family and be the best mom I can be. My top priorities right now are my family and my business. There are, of course, other things I do in my life (like self care, friendships, exercising, etc.), but these are the two areas that take the most time right now.

It follows, then, that my calendar reflects this. It shows a lot of activities, events, etc. that relate to motherhood and work (my two main priorities).

With this in mind, here are the tools and system I use to stay on track and make my days run smoothly.

My main system for planning my days as a busy mom is:

  • gCal (Google Calendar)
  • Schedule all events and appointments in time blocks
  • List 3-5 items at the top of every day that are my “daily to-dos” on a Flex Time List

That’s it! I follow my calendar and rely on it like she’s a personal assistant. It makes the flow of the day so much more effortless and enjoyable. I know what I’m working on and what we have going on for the day.

Resources:

Morning Routine: How I Start My Day With Intention

Successful days start with successful mornings. If you’re waking up looking at your to-do list, feeling overwhelmed immediately, you’re doing it wrong! Instead, here’s what I do (and recommend). It starts the night before by checking the weather. Then I know what I’ll do with the kids for the morning. If it’s nice, we’ll head out. If not, we might go to a local children’s museum. Either way, on most days we leave from 9am—11am. This makes our days so much better!

I also make sure to shower and do my hair and makeup every morning. It’s nothing fancy, but it is intentional. I feel SO much better when I’m clean and put together. If I was going into an office all day I would never roll out of bed and go in sweats, looking like a hot mess. I take being a mom and running a business just as seriously as I would if I was a corporate employee, so I treat dressing like it the same—I care about it and put effort in. This helps me show up with such a better attitude.

Sometimes I journal in the morning, too. This helps me live more purposefully, have a better attitude, and live from my Future Self. CLICK HERE to download 75 journal prompts for moms.

Creating A Flexible Daily Schedule For Moms With Young Kids

When I was practicing as a lawyer and then as a CFP, it was easy to time block everything on my calendar. This meant I could do exactly what I wanted at a certain time. Now, as a mom with littles, that’s not possible! There’s nap time, appointments, activities, and just a whole lot more uncertainty. To plan for all this, I rely on having my daily to-dos instead of time blocking. This means that on any given day, I have a few to-dos I plan to get done that day, “in the cracks.” This helps me get more done, stay focused, but not need a specific time block to do it. This allows for both high flexibility and high productivity. 10/10 recommend!

Meal Prep And Planning: My Time-Saving Strategies

Again, before I had kids, I meal planned from time to time but it never seemed all that important. Now, it is a lifeline! It saves a ton of time on a daily basis. It reduces decision-fatigue so I’m not wondering what to make for dinner, and it helps me cook for my family without a lot of mind drama.

I meal plan very simply. I write M—F on the white board on our fridge, and I just write the dinner plan for that day. That’s it! Then, during the week, on that day, I look for what I’m scheduled to make, and I make it. Easy peasy. Such a game changer.

Handling Unexpected Interruptions: My Tips For Staying On Track

As a mom of young kids, interruptions are a daily reality. Whether it’s a toddler meltdown, an unexpected diaper change, or a phone call you weren’t anticipating, things don’t always go according to plan. Over time, I’ve learned that the key to staying on track isn’t about avoiding interruptions—it’s about how you respond to them.

Here are a few of my go-to strategies:

  1. Embrace Flexibility: Rather than stressing when something throws off my schedule, I remind myself that flexibility is part of being a mom. I try to leave buffer time between tasks, which gives me a cushion to handle interruptions without feeling behind.
  2. Focus on Priorities: When things go awry, I quickly reassess what absolutely needs to get done that day. If something lower on my list gets pushed to tomorrow, I don’t sweat it. Focusing on the must-dos keeps me productive, even when things don’t go smoothly.
  3. Use Quick Resets: I’ve found it helpful to have a reset ritual when I get derailed. Whether it’s taking a few deep breaths, having a glass of water, or jotting down the next task in my planner, this helps me transition back into my routine with a clear mind.
  4. Set Expectations: My kids are still very young, but even at this stage, I’ve started gently setting boundaries. I explain when mommy is working or needs a few minutes to focus. Though it’s not perfect, it helps to establish some sense of routine and predictability.

These simple practices keep me from feeling overwhelmed and help me maintain a sense of balance throughout the day, even when the unexpected happens.

A huge part of this work is the mindset (perspective) you have with respect to interruptions.

Here are some of my best resources for mindset:

Evening Wind-Down: How I Reflect And Prepare For Tomorrow

At night, I embrace the slowness of the evening. It’s often filled with a strong nighttime routine that has its bits of chaos (as is to be expected). What I don’t do is fight this. I plan for it. I know it’s part of being a mom with littles. I give myself grace and allow for all of it.

I think about the day, reflect, and often validate myself for doing a great job (validation is SO important in motherhood!). I look at the day ahead and adjust my calendar so that the next day is set up for success.

A Final Note

At the end of the day, planning as a busy mom is about creating a rhythm that works for you and your family, not striving for perfection. I’ve learned that it’s okay to be flexible, to prioritize what really matters, and to give myself grace when things don’t go according to plan. By having a routine in place, I’m able to navigate the chaos of motherhood with more calm, purpose, and confidence. Remember, it’s not about getting everything done—it’s about making time for what’s most important and feeling good about how you spend your days. With the right mindset and a few simple strategies, you can find balance and create a daily routine that supports both you and your little ones.