10 Easy Ways to Simplify Your Life as a Single Mom

Simplify your life as a single mom

Can you really imagine finding ways to simplify your life as a single mom? Does it sound impossible? It’s easier than you think, but it does take action and determination.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Are you trying to improve your life? Are you trying to figure out why you’re struggling? Desperate to turn your life around? Or are you looking to have a life that more resembles that mom that you admire in the school drop off lane every day?

I can’t promise to change your entire life, but if you make the changes below, you will definitely improve your current way of life. Every small step really does lead to big improvements.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle

Are you where you want to be in life? Are there major changes that you need to make? Or do you need to just tweak a few things? Make sure that when you are evaluating your life, you are being completely honest with yourself about where you are – and where you want to be.

Ways that you’re making your life harder than it has to be

It’s so easy to be complacent and dream about what we want to change, but you’ll never transform your life if you don’t put in the work. By doing the same thing every day or only focusing on what’s right in front of you, it will be difficult to change.

Look to the future and figure what small steps you can take now that will make a difference in the future. Try to squeeze in as many small tasks that you can now along with focusing on the present and eventually you’ll make some progress.

How to Simplify Your Life as a Single Mom

10 Tips that will make your life as a single mom easier:

Setup daily routines. Write out a schedule and stick to it for the most part, but allow flexibility for things that come up unexpectedly. Put everything on your calendar and even set alarms on your phone if it’s helpful. Having a routine that your family can expect will help things go much more smoothly.
Set boundaries. Practice self-awareness and be direct in what you want. Decide how you want to be treated and enforce those boundaries. Set boundaries with yourself, your family, friends and even at work.
Organize your home. Organize every space of your home. Take your time and write down everything in your house that needs to be organized. Each week decide on one thing that you will work on and do it. Don’t just clean each closet or room out, but really decide what things you can get rid of in each area and figure out a long-term organizations system so that it will stay clean. Figure out organization systems that will fix your everyday problems. For example, if you can’t find your keys most mornings, create a space you can leave them every time you walk into your home.
Create a budget – and stick to it. It may feel difficult to stick to a budget (especially if you’re struggling financially), but in the long run you will be less stressed if you are running into less and less financial difficulties.
Get into a habit of planning ahead. This will cut your stress level drastically and can sometimes save you money. If everyone’s clothes are laid out the night before, it won’t take as much time to get ready and kids are more likely to be able to do more for themselves also. One thing that I like to do is to always keep my gas tank over 1/2 full. This way, I never worry about running out of gas and if I do end up with days that I’m running late, I know I have gas and don’t have to worry about it when I’m in a hurry.
Pay off debt. This goes along with #1, but takes it a little further. Yes, it can be difficult, but even $25 extra each month towards your bills is better than nothing. In the long run being debt free feels much better than that family night out you put on your card a few years ago, but you’re still paying for.
Meal plan and prep regularly. Making meals each day can take a huge amount of time. Find a day each month to meal plan and then prep your meals weekly or monthly. You can also involve your kids. It also helps to have a chart similar to these where you can write it out for the whole family to see.
Setup a chore chart or cleaning schedule. No matter what age your kids are, set up a schedule including who will do what jobs and when. On top of this set a rule that each person will put things away when they’re done with it. If less things are left out throughout the day, you really won’t have an overwhelming mess of things to clean up each night.
Prioritize time with your family. Even if it’s watching a movie or playing a game together once each week. Family time will make a huge difference. One of the most important things a family can do together is to eat dinner as a family. this small thing can benefit your family more than you can imagine. To know that there is a small time that you all get together each night and can forget about all other responsibilities while connecting is priceless.
Add spirituality into your life. Whether you go to church, meditate, pray or do yoga, find some time at least once per week to sit and really reflect on life.

Inspiration

It can be difficult to stay motivated, but look at your family and think about the positive changes you can make. Ultimately, think of how you will feel when the above things are implemented into your life. If you’re more organized and prepared for day to day life, you’ll be less stressed and more confident and happy.

Some of these things might seem difficult to implement – not a way to simplify your life! But I promise you that in the long run, your life will eventually improve if you have more structure and purpose to everything you do for your family.

You don’t have to make every change all at once. Just take one small step at a time. Implement one thing into your life each day or each week and eventually those small steps will make a huge difference.

Free downloadable printables

Download these free printables to help while you brainstorm steps that you will take to get to your best life. Share in the comments what you do (or will do) to simplify your life!