Mom Hacks on Getting Things Done!

This post is sponsored by Whirlpool. These items were generously donated in exchange for coverage but all opinions and copy are my own.

If you haven’t heard, we moved! It’s been such a blessing for our whole family. Our house has much more space for everything and everyone! This Thanksgiving Andrew and I were just overwhelmed with how grateful we are for all in our lives right now. From a brand-new baby to two beautiful girls to a new home, we really feel fortunate. So today, I wanted to share with you some “mom hacks” for getting things done around the house. It's that time of year where your to-do list is a mile long, and there always seems like so much is going on! And now with three kids and working from home, I can get in over my head.

As we start to get more settled in our new house, we are now getting more into a routine which I (and my girls) thrive on. So, in today’s post I will share some tactics I have found useful to keeping the house in order.

Today’s post is also in partnership with Whirlpool! We have been using the new Whirlpool® Smart Front Load Laundry Pair since this summer, and it’s been such an upgrade to our laundry routine! There are so many great features that help you multitask and save time, and I think we can all agree that anything that helps us save time is much appreciated.

1.     Save time doing laundry.

So, my first hack is how to cut back on time doing the laundry! With Whirlpool’s® new washer I can fill up the Load & Go™ XL Plus dispenser, which allows me to skip the step of adding detergent for up to 40 loads*. It really feels like I never have to add more detergent. You just throw your clothes in and press start. Talk about efficient! I used to put off doing laundry until my pile was out of hand. Now it’s so simple to do a load so I really stay on top of it all. Another great feature is that it senses how much detergent is needed depending on the amount of clothing you are washing. So, there is no guessing, no wasting what-so-ever.

What I love about the dryer is how it senses the wetness of your clothes and stops once everything is actually dry. So that means I never have to check on it because I know once it stops everything is complete. It saves me so much time! The old dryer we had took forever to dry our clothes. Sometimes I’d have to start it three times until all the clothes were dry. Not fun!

Another great option is you can control it from your phone**. So if I’m running out the door and forgot to hit start, I can get the washer going while I’m out.

2.     Starting something is more important than completing something.

How often do you see a sink full of dishes or a bed piled high with clothes and turn the other way so you don’t have to deal with it?? Not going to lie, I can let things build up sometimes and it makes completing the chore that much harder. What I have learned is that starting something is half the battle. Even for working out! The hardest part is putting on your running shoes! Once you take the first step you are that much closer to being done with it.

I also tell myself that I don’t have to finish whatever I started right then. If you have the mindset of having to complete each thing, then you may think you won’t have enough time which will lead you to continue to put it off. If you tell yourself just to start and get a little done, you’ll amaze yourself at how much you actually get done. And if you don’t get it all done, then think of how great you’ll feel later when you’ve already put half the clothes away!

So tell yourself, “starting is more important that completing!”

3. Work on chores while the kids are occupied.

I always have to find moments in my day to get things done. Working from home with three-year-old twins and a five-month-old baby is ALWAYS interesting. I have to be smart about keeping the house organized and staying on top of things. So, whether my girls are watching a show, coloring or playing nicely together in the playroom, I use these times to get something done. Sometimes it’s washing my face and putting on some makeup, other times it’s to just pick up toys or vacuum the floor.

I try to find moments when they don’t “need” me. There are times when they’ll be playing together and really want me to play with them. In those moments I’ll stop what I’m doing and give them all my attention. They are growing so fast, I really can’t believe it. And I know they won’t always want me to play with them. So, I try every single day so spend some real quality time with them on the ground playing make-believe and being completely present. With features like Remote Start**, I can multitask and be with my family in those precious moments.

But I also understand that I have a business, and things do need to get done. So when the two of them are “in the zone” I call it, playing great together in their own world, I’ll use that time to get some chores done. I typically do all my computer work while they nap (they started napping again guys!!!!!!!!), after they’ve gone to sleep or if they are out with grandparents.

4.     Ask for help.

Not sure why, but this used to be the hardest one for me. I feel like I have to do it all, all the time. Once Owen came along, I really had zero time to get work done so I had to figure something out. Now what we do, is have Andrew’s mom pick up the girls and take them to her house once a week for a few hours. This gives me time to either clean or work and just take care of Owen. So when he is asleep, I get so much done!

We also hired a nanny who comes twice a week, 4 hours at a time. When she comes, she’s just in charge of the girls and I take care of Owen. He’s still nursing a ton, and it’s just easier to deal with him myself. But when she comes, I have my to-do list all ready to go so I can be as focused as possible for those hours. In the beginning I didn’t want to have to pay for help because I thought I could manage alone, but let me tell you how much stress has been lifted ever since we decided on hiring someone. And it’s just two days a week, but I can get so much done during those mornings and it helps me to just breathe a little!

It’s funny because right when Andrew and I first got married I was a nanny to two little girls, and the mom I worked for worked from home. It has come full circle let me tell you! I used to think it was so weird how happy she was when I would just play with them and do fun crafts, but now it all makes sense!

So there you have it. Those are my tips on getting things done during this crazy time of year. Every family is different and has their own ways of doing things, so just find what feels right for you. And if you have some tips I’d love to read them in the comments!

*Based on an 8-lb load. Actual dispenser capacity varies by model.

**Appliance must be set to remote enable. WiFi & App Required. Features subject to change. Details and privacy info at whirlpool.com/connect.