“Single Mums: Discover How To Get More Organised & Overcome Overwhelm”

For single Mums, the feeling of overwhelm can stem from so many various sources. Balancing work, kids, household chores, and personal time is just a start. Add dealing with all the household decisions, court proceedings, or organising kids’ activities. Not to mention, lack of rest, support, and a dreaded feeling of aloneness all apply pressure on every single mum out there.

While I have addressed the feeling of overwhelm in the “3 Tips to Achieve Calm and Deal with Overwhelm” article, where techniques to de-stress are listed. This blog post explores practical strategies to help you overcome overwhelm by getting organised and becoming a productive powerhouse whilst minimising stress. I’ve got you!

A small disclaimer before we proceed. No amount of practical tools will assist you in getting entirely in control of your overwhelm. Every practical step must be taken hand in hand with mental health support.  

Four Practical Steps for Single Mums

1. Decluttering the Home

Let’s begin with a simple but powerful step: decluttering your home.

You don’t have to live a minimalist life, but getting rid of unnecessary items can work wonders for your overall organisation and mental well-being. Clutter can make you feel suffocated and stressed, so let’s clear it out!

Start by taking it one room at a time. Tackling the entire house all at once might feel overwhelming and lead to prematurely giving up. Begin with common areas like the kitchen or living room.

As you declutter, ask yourself questions about each item, such as its usefulness and sentimental value. Donate, sell, or toss items accordingly. Remember, keeping things that bring you joy is okay, but ensure everything has a designated place to maintain order and avoid unnecessary dusting.

By decluttering, you’ll have more space, less cleaning to do, and more time for activities you love. Depending on the age of your children, you could involve them in the process, teaching them a valuable lesson. 

2. Set Up a Cleaning Schedule

Cleaning and organising are ongoing tasks, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed without a plan. The easiest way to overcome this is to create a cleaning timetable that suits your lifestyle and commitments. Determine which chores need daily attention, like dishes and picking up toys, and allocate specific days for weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks. 

Single mama way members have access to a few printable planners and schedules that will help you in this endeavour. Whether you handle the cleaning yourself or enlist some help, a plan will ensure things don’t pile up, leading to less stress and a more organised home. Be bold and outsource some tasks if it fits your budget and allows you to focus on other priorities.

Creating and following a plan may seem tedious, but it will become second nature with time, so you will no longer have to consult it often. A timetable is also a great way to introduce the concept of organised tasks and timekeeping to your kids. Boom, two birds with one stone!

3. Meal Planning and Meal Prep

Meal planning and prep are a lifesaver for busy single mums. Creating a meal plan for the week saves time, reduces stress, and helps you stick to a budget and a diet if you follow one. Decide how many meals you want to plan for (e.g., dinners only or all meals), and pick your family-favourite recipes that are easy to prepare.

Consider how often you’ll go grocery shopping to avoid food waste. If you have fresh produce, plan meals around them first. Meal prep can take different forms, from preparing full meals in advance to prepping individual ingredients. Find what works best for you and embrace the time-saving benefits it offers.

Set aside time while your kids are at school or with their dad, and hold a massive cook-off. Storing the meals by freezing them as needed to last you a week. If you are a full-time single mum working, weekends would be the best time to attempt this. Are your kids old enough to start learning to cook? Enlist their help. Yes, it will be a much messier affair, but it can also be a lot of fun.

4. Digital Organization

Digital clutter can increase stress levels as we navigate the digital age. Take some time to declutter your digital devices and accounts. Clear out unimportant emails, organise your files and delete duplicate or unnecessary pictures.

It is a colossal task, especially since we are inundated with spammy emails daily. However, creating a strategy for organising your digital life, whether sorting files into folders or using cloud storage services, makes a tidy digital space. Enhancing your productivity and reducing feelings of overwhelm.

Cleaning and Organisation with Kids.

Getting your kids involved in cleaning and organising lightens your workload and teaches them valuable life skills and responsibilities. Even young children can help with simple tasks like putting away toys and tidying up their belongings.

Create designated areas for their belongings and involve them in the decluttering process. As they grow, they increase their responsibilities and assign age-appropriate chores. Every child is different, so tailor the tasks to their capabilities and development.

Sharing the workload and instilling a sense of responsibility in your children creates a more organised and harmonious household.

Single mums need relaxation too.

Remember, you are not a superhero, and making time for yourself is non-negotiable. Self-care is not selfish; it’s essential for your well-being. Prioritise getting enough sleep. Go to sleep with your kids. Get up before them. You will be much more productive in the morning. Understand that some things can wait, and it’s okay to lower your expectations when needed.

Taking short breaks during the day for activities you enjoy can help you recharge and maintain focus. They do not have to be long or super involved. A simple minute of deep breathing while looking out into the backyard if you have one, or a 2 min daydream of your favourite holiday destination. These seem trivial, but they add up, shifting your poor brain from overwhelmed into a more lax state and helping you cope with unexpected issues.

Asking for help is not a show of weakness. Reaching out when you need friends and family is okay. Believe it or not, it gives your close ones a sense of pride and satisfaction to help. Look at your child’s school or after-hours activities if you have no family nearby. Are there any mums you could team up with?

If you need more in-depth support, please book some one-on-one time with me. Single Mama Way counselling offers non-judgemental support in a confidential virtual setting. Put your little one to sleep or send your child to preschool or school; without leaving your home, you can unload all that clutters your mind. The first consultation is complimentary, so what are you waiting for?

By decluttering your home, creating a cleaning schedule, planning meals, involving your kids, organising your digital life, and making time for relaxation, you’ll find yourself better equipped to handle the challenges of daily life as a super-productive mum.

You’ve got this, and I believe in you! Stay positive, take it one step at a time, and watch your life transform into a well-organised and fulfilling journey.

Cheers to you, the productive mum!

Single Mama Elle

Elle is our compassionate single mum counsellor, dedicated to guiding fellow mamas through life's challenges. With a heartfelt commitment to transforming obstacles into opportunities, Elle provides empathetic support and practical guidance to her clients. As a single mother herself, she intimately understands the daily struggles and joys of single parenthood. Outside of counselling sessions, Elle finds rejuvenation in nature walks and yoga practice, nurturing her own well-being to better support others. Through her counselling practice, Elle aims to instil unwavering belief in single mums, empowering them to navigate life's journey with resilience and optimism.

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