March 3, 2025 • 21 mins
🎙️ Busy Mom? Get Your Time Back with These Smart Hacks
Mama, do you ever feel like you’re running on caffeine, chaos, and sheer willpower—juggling work, kids, laundry, and approximately 837 things on your to-do list? 😵💫 You’re not alone! But here’s the truth: you don’t need more hours in the day—you need to take back the ones slipping through your fingers.
In this episode of It’s A Single Mom Thing, we’re diving into practical, sassy, and sanity-saving time hacks so you can finally breathe again:
✅ Where Is Your Time Really Going? A time audit will expose the black holes of your schedule.
✅ Delegate Like a Boss—Because doing it all = burnout.
✅ Say No Without the Guilt—Your time is sacred, protect it!
✅ Time-Saving Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner—Tech tricks, auto-pay, and grocery pickup to the rescue!
✅ The Power of the Mom Reset—Yes, YOU need a break, too!
🔥 BONUS: Your kids are watching how you manage your time—let’s teach them the power of priorities and balance, not just busyness!
👀 Ready to reclaim your time and your sanity? Grab your coffee (in 👉 this sassy mug, tune in, and let’s do this! 🎧
📌 Join the Conversation:
📍 Hop into our It’s A Single Mom Thing Facebook Group for extra encouragement!
📍 Need prayer? Call our 24-hour prayer line: 855-822-PRAY.
📍 Tag a mom who NEEDS these time-saving hacks!
🎾 Want a break AND a reason to have fun? Join us at the Westshore Services FL HVAC Raise & Rally Pickleball Tournament on March 29—a fun way to support single moms at Shepherd’s Village! Sign up today 👉 www.shepherdsvillage.com/pickleball 🏓💚
🔔 Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or iHeartRadio so you never miss an episode!
It's a Single Mom Thing, Not the Single Thing That Stops You!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing, the show for
single moms by single moms.
This is Sherri, your host, andI am happy you are here today.
Remember it's a single momthing and not the single thing
that stops you.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
If I had a dollar for every time a single mom said I
don't have time, I'd bebroadcasting this episode from a
private island with unlimitedice coffee.
But here's the hard truth youdon't need more time, you need
to take back the time youalready have.
As I like to say, it's yourtime and your dime.
(00:39):
How do you want to spend it?
And, as a side note, I do havethat on a mug that you can get.
You'll find that in the podcastdescription notes.
So let's do a reality check.
Every mom gets 24 hours right.
So how do some manage to work,raise kids, stay sane and even
squeeze in a moment forthemselves, while others feel
(01:01):
like they're constantly drowning, one flush away from going down
the toilet bowl?
Here's the spoiler alert it'snot about doing more sisters,
it's about doing what matters inless time.
So in this episode, ladies, weare going to get busy busting
the biggest myth, and that mythis being busy equals being
(01:24):
productive.
Today, we are reclaiming ourtime with smart, sassy and some
sanity-saving hacks.
Welcome to another episode ofit's a Single Mom Thing, the Too
Busy Trap.
Where Is your Time Really Going?
All right, mamas?
So it's time for a little wakeup call.
(01:45):
If I asked you right now whereyour time goes each day, could
you tell me, like, actually tellme, or would you just say I
don't know, it just disappears.
Well, here's a newsflash Timedoesn't vanish into thin air.
It gets spent like a hundreddollar bill.
The real question is are youthe one spending it or is it
(02:08):
being stolen from you?
Ah, so here's where a littlereality check might come in.
Every single mom gets 24 hoursright.
The mom who's balancing work,kids and personal growth Same 24
hours.
A single mom who somehowmanages to finish school, start
(02:28):
a business or carve out someself-care Same 24 hours.
So what's the difference?
It's not time, ladies, it'schoices.
So let's get real and reflectivefor a moment.
Hope you got your Thriving 25journal handy, or a little scrap
of paper, whatever works foryou.
I just want you to take twominutes and write this down.
(02:52):
Number one three things you dodaily that are absolutely
necessary, for example, gettingthe kids to school, working,
cooking dinner, homework.
Two then, I want you to writethree things that steal your
time without giving much back,for example, mindless scrolling,
saying yes to things you don'twant to do, running around
(03:16):
without a plan.
And then, finally three.
One thing you wish you had timefor but never do.
Could it be like reading a book, exercising, having a moment of
peace, sitting outside, soakingup some sunshine and silence?
Say that really fast and thenpause, look at your list and
(03:40):
what do you notice?
Here's the reality time taker,check.
If you have time to scroll, youhave time to take a breath.
If you have time to binge watch, you have time to plan your day
.
If you have time to say yes towhat drains you, you have time
to say yes to what fuels you.
(04:02):
It's not about doing more.
It's about doing what mattersmore.
Now let's do a quick, powerfultest to see where your time is
leaking For the next 24 hours.
I want you to track everysingle thing you do.
Now, be reasonable here.
(04:23):
We don't have to be ridiculous.
It doesn't have to includepotty breaks and all of that,
but you know what I'm puttingdown.
Then I want you to write thatdown in your journal or use your
phone's notes app and bebrutally honest with yourself.
So how much time are youspending on, say, social media?
How often are you running, say,last minute errands?
How many times are you redoingthings because you didn't plan
(04:45):
ahead?
Or how many times are youpouring into people who don't
pour into you?
These are time takers and timewasters.
Mamas, you see the things andpeople that keep you stuck,
stretched thin and one meltdownaway from losing it over missing
a sippy cup.
(05:05):
Time takers and time wasters.
So time saver, truth bomb hereyou don't have to keep over
pouring into empty cups whenyour own is running dry.
Ooh that was good.
If you wouldn't let someonedrain your bank account, why
would you let them drain yourenergy and your time too?
(05:28):
You see, at the end of the day,I want you to highlight the
things that actually moved yourlife forward.
Be prepared now, mama.
This might be a wake up callfor you, but here's the good
news If you can see where yourtime is going, then you can get
it back.
So, now that we've put sometime thieves on blast, let's get
(05:51):
into the hacks that will helpyou reclaim your time, reduce
the chaos and finally feel incontrol of your day the smart
hacks to get your time back.
The smart hacks to get yourtime back.
All right, mamas, now thatwe've put time thieves on blast
and called out those sneaky timewasters, it's time to flip your
script, because here's thething you don't need more time.
(06:14):
You need to manage the time youalready have.
And let me tell you, it startswith being intentional.
Now, intentional meaning makingchoices on purpose, kind of
like how your kid intentionallyignores you when you say it's
bedtime, but miraculously hearsyou whisper ice cream from three
(06:34):
rooms away.
Or being intentional is likegrocery shopping with the list
first going in just for somemilk and coming out with $100
worth of snacks, candles and aplant you didn't need.
So now that we're clear, we canmove on to some hack helpers.
Hack number one the top threerule, because not everything is
(06:59):
urgent.
Listen, your to-do list, likemine, might look like Santa's
naughty or nice list, but noteverything is urgent and not
everything deserves your energy.
Before your feet hit the floorin the morning, I want you to
ask yourself what are the threemost important things I need to
(07:22):
do today.
Not 20, not 10, three.
If nothing else gets done, butthose three things, the day is
still a win.
Okay, so get that journal backout.
Do not put that away.
We do have some deep work weare doing today.
So in our Thriving 25 journal,I want you to do a little check
(07:45):
in here and write down your topthree priorities for the day.
Now be specific.
Instead of putting at the topget stuff done.
I want you to write somethinglike pay the electric bill, meal
prep for tomorrow or even callthe school about the field trip.
Everything else is a bonus.
(08:06):
This keeps you focused, lessoverwhelmed and out of the quote
.
Unquote.
I ran around all day but gotnothing done.
Trap.
So hack number two time blockinglike a boss.
Ever feel like you'reconstantly multitasking but
never finishing anything?
That's because multitasking isa scam.
(08:27):
Now time blocking?
Well, that is where it is atand that is your new best friend
.
And here's how that works One,pick a task.
Two, set a timer.
And three, do only that taskuntil the timer goes off.
And here are some examples ofhow that looks.
Let's say, 30 minutes forhousework.
(08:50):
When the timer's up, you'redone.
Or number two how about one hourfor work?
That means emails and texts.
They can wait.
Or 15 minutes, for I don't knowsomething like you and no, you
don't owe anyone an explanationfor this one.
This even works for pityparties or full-on cry sessions.
(09:12):
Block out 30 minutes and thenthe party is over Time to
deflate the balloons and sendyour guests packing.
And here's why it works.
Your brain's not a browser with27 tabs open.
Time blocking forces you tofinish things faster instead of
jumping around and gettingnothing done like a buffering
(09:33):
computer.
So here's your thriving 25journal check.
I want you to write down threethings you need to time block
this week.
For example, what's one thingyou always push off and time
block that first.
Now hack.
Number three the no you need tosay because not everything
(09:55):
deserves a yes.
Here's a hard truth that'sgoing to be incoming.
Every time you say yes tosomething you don't want to do,
you are saying no to somethingyou actually need to, and this
includes people.
You need to give yourpermission to say no, granted.
No, you don't have to joinevery PTA meeting.
(10:16):
No, you don't have to be thefirst to volunteer for every
school event.
No, you don't have to answerevery text immediately Saying no
, it's not rude, it'sself-respect and it protects
your time and your peace.
Our journal prompt I want youto write down one, just one, one
(10:40):
thing that you are going to sayno to this week, something that
drains you, wastes your time orjust doesn't fit in this season
of your life.
Hack number four the set it andforget it system.
Mamas, listen, how many thingsare you doing over and over
again that you could automate,delegate or schedule ahead of
(11:02):
time?
Here are a few examples of setit and forget it.
Number one grocery pickup ordelivery.
Stop running to the store fivetimes a week.
Two how about auto pay bills?
No more.
Oh, shoot, I forgot the fees.
Or three pre-made lunch orsnack bins for the kids, so they
(11:24):
stop asking you 47 times a dayfor snacks.
You see, here's the raw andreal reality check.
If you can automate it, why areyou still doing it manually,
girl, again, I know we got a lotof journal prompts that we are
doing today and we're almostdone with those, but these are
important and I hope that youfind them useful.
(11:45):
So, journal prompt write downone thing you can automate,
delegate or schedule a weekahead.
So here's my closing thoughtson the help hack section Take
control of your time.
Here's the deal.
You don't need more time.
You need to manage the time youdo have.
(12:06):
Not everything is urgent andprioritize what matters.
No, well, it is a full sentence, so you need to use it.
And three, if you can't set itand forget it, do it Now.
Take what we just talked aboutand start making changes today,
and you can text me or tag metelling me what hack you're
(12:27):
going to try first.
So up next, we're going to talkabout the me time must have,
because you can't pour from anempty cup.
All right.
So now that we've talked abouttaking back your time from
wasted tasks and time thievingpeople, now let's get into the
part most single moms skip over.
(12:49):
Can you take a guess what thatis?
It's you.
Here's the hard truth alert.
If you don't make time foryourself, burnout will schedule
itself for you.
Now I already know what you'rethinking mamas, me time Girl,
where, between work, kids andlife, I barely have time to
(13:11):
breathe.
So take a deep breath before Ihit you with this.
Self-care is not selfish, it issurvival.
So let's look at some hacks tohelp a sister out.
Hack number one the 10-minuterule, because you deserve a
timeout too.
Yes, girl, yes Mama, you taketimeouts away from your kids
(13:35):
when they're losing it, so whydon't you take one for yourself
before you lose it?
Ever thought about that?
Enter the 10-minute rule, andhere's how this goes.
Take 10 minutes a day just foryou.
Yeah you, no chores, no kidsand no work.
But what can you do in 10minutes?
(13:57):
Well, I don't know.
Sip your coffee while it'sstill hot.
There's a thought.
Sit in your car before goinginside, Just breathing.
A single mom's version of a spaday.
Maybe Read one page of a book,no pressure to finish a whole
chapter here, dance it out inyour kitchen or do nothing.
(14:17):
Yep, I said nothing.
10 minutes a day, ladies.
Well, that is 70 minutes a week.
That's over an hour of you timeyou wouldn't have otherwise.
And don't tell me you can'tfind 10 minutes.
You just found five scrollingsocial media, mic drop, okay.
(14:42):
So hope you got that journalstill there and haven't packed
it away.
I want you to write down onething you can do for yourself in
just 10 minutes today.
Go, you have 10 minutes, Okay.
When you're back, come back.
We're going to go into hacknumber two, and that's the power
of saying hold on, mama's busy.
Let me tell you something wild.
(15:03):
You don't have to be available24-7.
I know this is shocking, right?
It's okay to tell your kidsmama's busy.
Not every snack request isurgent, not every email needs an
immediate reply and not everycall needs to be answered right
now.
You, mama, are allowed to setboundaries with your time.
(15:28):
In fact, you should guard itlike Fort Knox.
So in your journal you guessedit.
I want you to write down justone area where you need to set a
boundary and protect your time.
Then come back and we're goingon to hack number three, and
(15:49):
that's build in a mom rechargemoment.
You see, you plug in your phoneevery night so it doesn't die.
So why are you running on 1%all the time?
Find one small daily habit thatrecharges you, like five minutes
of prayer or gratitude,journaling, or how about a walk
(16:09):
around the block Listening to asong that makes you feel like a
boss, stealing your kids' fruitsnacks and pretending you're on
vacation.
No judgment here, or plugginginto a powerful podcast.
Did I say thank you for beinghere?
You see, recharging doesn'thave to be big, it just has to
happen.
(16:29):
So write down or think about it.
If your journal is full, thinkabout one simple way that you
can recharge daily.
Hack number four treat your timelike a budget.
You wouldn't let someone drainyour bank account, would you?
So why are you lettingeverything and everyone drain
(16:51):
your energy without limits?
You see your time.
Think of it as currency andspend it wisely.
If you wouldn't spend your last$20 on something pointless,
don't spend your last bit ofenergy on things that don't
matter.
Think about things.
One thing that you're going tostop wasting time on this week
(17:12):
so you have more time for whatactually matters.
And here's some closing thoughtsthat I have on this section.
Give yourself permission totake time back, and here's what
I want you to walk out withtoday.
Me time, it's not extra, it'sessential, girl, 10 minutes for
yourself can change your wholeday.
(17:32):
Saying mama's busy is aboundary, not an excuse, and
recharging it isn't a luxury,it's a necessity.
So take one of these hacks andtry it today.
Don't forget to text me or tagme and hit me up with which one
hit home for you today.
So up next, we're going to talkabout the time take back
(17:54):
challenge, because it's yourtime, mama.
So we've called out the timethieves, set up smart hacks and
made space for you in your ownschedule.
Now it's time for the finalstep, or the icing on the cake,
and that means actually doing it, because knowing how to take
(18:14):
your time back is one thing, andactually doing it, that is
another.
That's where the miraclehappens.
So the take back challenge Forthe next seven days.
I challenge you, ladies, to putthese time-saving,
sanity-saving hacks into action.
Pick one, pick one of the hackswe talked about and commit to
(18:38):
it.
Not five, not three, just one.
And then do it daily.
If you can do it once, you cando it again and pay attention to
the shift.
Once you can do it again andpay attention to the shift.
Notice how you feel when youstart taking control of your
time instead of letting it takecontrol of you.
How do you feel?
You see what happens when youtake your time back.
(19:01):
Well, you stop running incircles and start actually
moving forward.
You also stop feeling guiltyfor saying no and you start
feeling powerful for saying yesto what matters.
And you also stop being busyfor the sake of being busy and
you start being intentionalabout what actually matters in
(19:23):
your life.
So here are my final thoughtsyou deserve your own time.
If you take nothing else fromthis episode, take this.
Your time is yours.
You don't have to give it awayto every person, every task or
every demand.
You are worthy of time thatserves you, not just everyone
(19:48):
else.
So go, take it back.
One choice, one boundary, oneintentional move at a time.
Ladies, it's time to take backyour time and stop running on
empty, because when you manageyour minutes wisely, you don't
just survive, you thrive.
Isn't that what you've beenwriting down all morning in your
(20:11):
journal with me?
So text me, tag me and tell mewhich hack you're claiming as
yours this week, so we could dothis together.
And hey, if you need a dailyreminder that your time is your
dime.
Grab that coffee mug and findthat in the episode notes.
Until next time, keep rockingthat single mom life, but now,
(20:33):
with more time for what actuallymatters, are you looking for a
group to call your own?
Join our it's a Single MomThing Facebook group, because
you don't have to figure thisout or go it alone.
Never want to miss an episode?
Subscribe to the podcast onApple, spotify or iHeart Radio.
Need prayer?
(20:53):
Call our 24-hour prayer line at855-822-PRAYER.
Do you know a sister who needsto get her time back?
Tag a single mom who needsthese time-saving hacks and want
to take a break and give back.
Join us at the West ShoreServices Florida HVAC Raise and
Rally Pickleball Tournament onMarch 29th.
(21:15):
Let's have fun while supportingsingle moms like you.
More information atshepherdsvillagecom.
Forward slash pickleball.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Have a wonderful week and remember it's a single mom
thing and not the single thingthat stops you.
Thanks for listening to.
It's a Single Mom Thing.
I hope you enjoyed our timetogether.
If you have more questions onhow to have a relationship with
Jesus or need prayer, visit usat wwwshepherdsvillagecom.
Backslash prayer.
(21:46):
For more information andresources, check out our show
notes.
Welcome to it's a Single Mom Thing, the show for
single moms by single moms.
This is Sherri, your host, andI am happy you are here today.
Remember it's a single momthing and not the single thing
that stops you.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
If I had a dollar for every time a single mom said I
don't have time, I'd bebroadcasting this episode from a
private island with unlimitedice coffee.
But here's the hard truth youdon't need more time, you need
to take back the time youalready have.
As I like to say, it's yourtime and your dime.
(00:39):
How do you want to spend it?
And, as a side note, I do havethat on a mug that you can get.
You'll find that in the podcastdescription notes.
So let's do a reality check.
Every mom gets 24 hours right.
So how do some manage to work,raise kids, stay sane and even
squeeze in a moment forthemselves, while others feel
(01:01):
like they're constantly drowning, one flush away from going down
the toilet bowl?
Here's the spoiler alert it'snot about doing more sisters,
it's about doing what matters inless time.
So in this episode, ladies, weare going to get busy busting
the biggest myth, and that mythis being busy equals being
(01:24):
productive.
Today, we are reclaiming ourtime with smart, sassy and some
sanity-saving hacks.
Welcome to another episode ofit's a Single Mom Thing, the Too
Busy Trap.
Where Is your Time Really Going?
All right, mamas?
So it's time for a little wakeup call.
(01:45):
If I asked you right now whereyour time goes each day, could
you tell me, like, actually tellme, or would you just say I
don't know, it just disappears.
Well, here's a newsflash Timedoesn't vanish into thin air.
It gets spent like a hundreddollar bill.
The real question is are youthe one spending it or is it
(02:08):
being stolen from you?
Ah, so here's where a littlereality check might come in.
Every single mom gets 24 hoursright.
The mom who's balancing work,kids and personal growth Same 24
hours.
A single mom who somehowmanages to finish school, start
(02:28):
a business or carve out someself-care Same 24 hours.
So what's the difference?
It's not time, ladies, it'schoices.
So let's get real and reflectivefor a moment.
Hope you got your Thriving 25journal handy, or a little scrap
of paper, whatever works foryou.
I just want you to take twominutes and write this down.
(02:52):
Number one three things you dodaily that are absolutely
necessary, for example, gettingthe kids to school, working,
cooking dinner, homework.
Two then, I want you to writethree things that steal your
time without giving much back,for example, mindless scrolling,
saying yes to things you don'twant to do, running around
(03:16):
without a plan.
And then, finally three.
One thing you wish you had timefor but never do.
Could it be like reading a book, exercising, having a moment of
peace, sitting outside, soakingup some sunshine and silence?
Say that really fast and thenpause, look at your list and
(03:40):
what do you notice?
Here's the reality time taker,check.
If you have time to scroll, youhave time to take a breath.
If you have time to binge watch, you have time to plan your day
.
If you have time to say yes towhat drains you, you have time
to say yes to what fuels you.
(04:02):
It's not about doing more.
It's about doing what mattersmore.
Now let's do a quick, powerfultest to see where your time is
leaking For the next 24 hours.
I want you to track everysingle thing you do.
Now, be reasonable here.
(04:23):
We don't have to be ridiculous.
It doesn't have to includepotty breaks and all of that,
but you know what I'm puttingdown.
Then I want you to write thatdown in your journal or use your
phone's notes app and bebrutally honest with yourself.
So how much time are youspending on, say, social media?
How often are you running, say,last minute errands?
How many times are you redoingthings because you didn't plan
(04:45):
ahead?
Or how many times are youpouring into people who don't
pour into you?
These are time takers and timewasters.
Mamas, you see the things andpeople that keep you stuck,
stretched thin and one meltdownaway from losing it over missing
a sippy cup.
(05:05):
Time takers and time wasters.
So time saver, truth bomb hereyou don't have to keep over
pouring into empty cups whenyour own is running dry.
Ooh that was good.
If you wouldn't let someonedrain your bank account, why
would you let them drain yourenergy and your time too?
(05:28):
You see, at the end of the day,I want you to highlight the
things that actually moved yourlife forward.
Be prepared now, mama.
This might be a wake up callfor you, but here's the good
news If you can see where yourtime is going, then you can get
it back.
So, now that we've put sometime thieves on blast, let's get
(05:51):
into the hacks that will helpyou reclaim your time, reduce
the chaos and finally feel incontrol of your day the smart
hacks to get your time back.
The smart hacks to get yourtime back.
All right, mamas, now thatwe've put time thieves on blast
and called out those sneaky timewasters, it's time to flip your
script, because here's thething you don't need more time.
(06:14):
You need to manage the time youalready have.
And let me tell you, it startswith being intentional.
Now, intentional meaning makingchoices on purpose, kind of
like how your kid intentionallyignores you when you say it's
bedtime, but miraculously hearsyou whisper ice cream from three
(06:34):
rooms away.
Or being intentional is likegrocery shopping with the list
first going in just for somemilk and coming out with $100
worth of snacks, candles and aplant you didn't need.
So now that we're clear, we canmove on to some hack helpers.
Hack number one the top threerule, because not everything is
(06:59):
urgent.
Listen, your to-do list, likemine, might look like Santa's
naughty or nice list, but noteverything is urgent and not
everything deserves your energy.
Before your feet hit the floorin the morning, I want you to
ask yourself what are the threemost important things I need to
(07:22):
do today.
Not 20, not 10, three.
If nothing else gets done, butthose three things, the day is
still a win.
Okay, so get that journal backout.
Do not put that away.
We do have some deep work weare doing today.
So in our Thriving 25 journal,I want you to do a little check
(07:45):
in here and write down your topthree priorities for the day.
Now be specific.
Instead of putting at the topget stuff done.
I want you to write somethinglike pay the electric bill, meal
prep for tomorrow or even callthe school about the field trip.
Everything else is a bonus.
(08:06):
This keeps you focused, lessoverwhelmed and out of the quote
.
Unquote.
I ran around all day but gotnothing done.
Trap.
So hack number two time blockinglike a boss.
Ever feel like you'reconstantly multitasking but
never finishing anything?
That's because multitasking isa scam.
(08:27):
Now time blocking?
Well, that is where it is atand that is your new best friend
.
And here's how that works One,pick a task.
Two, set a timer.
And three, do only that taskuntil the timer goes off.
And here are some examples ofhow that looks.
Let's say, 30 minutes forhousework.
(08:50):
When the timer's up, you'redone.
Or number two how about one hourfor work?
That means emails and texts.
They can wait.
Or 15 minutes, for I don't knowsomething like you and no, you
don't owe anyone an explanationfor this one.
This even works for pityparties or full-on cry sessions.
(09:12):
Block out 30 minutes and thenthe party is over Time to
deflate the balloons and sendyour guests packing.
And here's why it works.
Your brain's not a browser with27 tabs open.
Time blocking forces you tofinish things faster instead of
jumping around and gettingnothing done like a buffering
(09:33):
computer.
So here's your thriving 25journal check.
I want you to write down threethings you need to time block
this week.
For example, what's one thingyou always push off and time
block that first.
Now hack.
Number three the no you need tosay because not everything
(09:55):
deserves a yes.
Here's a hard truth that'sgoing to be incoming.
Every time you say yes tosomething you don't want to do,
you are saying no to somethingyou actually need to, and this
includes people.
You need to give yourpermission to say no, granted.
No, you don't have to joinevery PTA meeting.
(10:16):
No, you don't have to be thefirst to volunteer for every
school event.
No, you don't have to answerevery text immediately Saying no
, it's not rude, it'sself-respect and it protects
your time and your peace.
Our journal prompt I want youto write down one, just one, one
(10:40):
thing that you are going to sayno to this week, something that
drains you, wastes your time orjust doesn't fit in this season
of your life.
Hack number four the set it andforget it system.
Mamas, listen, how many thingsare you doing over and over
again that you could automate,delegate or schedule ahead of
(11:02):
time?
Here are a few examples of setit and forget it.
Number one grocery pickup ordelivery.
Stop running to the store fivetimes a week.
Two how about auto pay bills?
No more.
Oh, shoot, I forgot the fees.
Or three pre-made lunch orsnack bins for the kids, so they
(11:24):
stop asking you 47 times a dayfor snacks.
You see, here's the raw andreal reality check.
If you can automate it, why areyou still doing it manually,
girl, again, I know we got a lotof journal prompts that we are
doing today and we're almostdone with those, but these are
important and I hope that youfind them useful.
(11:45):
So, journal prompt write downone thing you can automate,
delegate or schedule a weekahead.
So here's my closing thoughtson the help hack section Take
control of your time.
Here's the deal.
You don't need more time.
You need to manage the time youdo have.
(12:06):
Not everything is urgent andprioritize what matters.
No, well, it is a full sentence, so you need to use it.
And three, if you can't set itand forget it, do it Now.
Take what we just talked aboutand start making changes today,
and you can text me or tag metelling me what hack you're
(12:27):
going to try first.
So up next, we're going to talkabout the me time must have,
because you can't pour from anempty cup.
All right.
So now that we've talked abouttaking back your time from
wasted tasks and time thievingpeople, now let's get into the
part most single moms skip over.
(12:49):
Can you take a guess what thatis?
It's you.
Here's the hard truth alert.
If you don't make time foryourself, burnout will schedule
itself for you.
Now I already know what you'rethinking mamas, me time Girl,
where, between work, kids andlife, I barely have time to
(13:11):
breathe.
So take a deep breath before Ihit you with this.
Self-care is not selfish, it issurvival.
So let's look at some hacks tohelp a sister out.
Hack number one the 10-minuterule, because you deserve a
timeout too.
Yes, girl, yes Mama, you taketimeouts away from your kids
(13:35):
when they're losing it, so whydon't you take one for yourself
before you lose it?
Ever thought about that?
Enter the 10-minute rule, andhere's how this goes.
Take 10 minutes a day just foryou.
Yeah you, no chores, no kidsand no work.
But what can you do in 10minutes?
(13:57):
Well, I don't know.
Sip your coffee while it'sstill hot.
There's a thought.
Sit in your car before goinginside, Just breathing.
A single mom's version of a spaday.
Maybe Read one page of a book,no pressure to finish a whole
chapter here, dance it out inyour kitchen or do nothing.
(14:17):
Yep, I said nothing.
10 minutes a day, ladies.
Well, that is 70 minutes a week.
That's over an hour of you timeyou wouldn't have otherwise.
And don't tell me you can'tfind 10 minutes.
You just found five scrollingsocial media, mic drop, okay.
(14:42):
So hope you got that journalstill there and haven't packed
it away.
I want you to write down onething you can do for yourself in
just 10 minutes today.
Go, you have 10 minutes, Okay.
When you're back, come back.
We're going to go into hacknumber two, and that's the power
of saying hold on, mama's busy.
Let me tell you something wild.
(15:03):
You don't have to be available24-7.
I know this is shocking, right?
It's okay to tell your kidsmama's busy.
Not every snack request isurgent, not every email needs an
immediate reply and not everycall needs to be answered right
now.
You, mama, are allowed to setboundaries with your time.
(15:28):
In fact, you should guard itlike Fort Knox.
So in your journal you guessedit.
I want you to write down justone area where you need to set a
boundary and protect your time.
Then come back and we're goingon to hack number three, and
(15:49):
that's build in a mom rechargemoment.
You see, you plug in your phoneevery night so it doesn't die.
So why are you running on 1%all the time?
Find one small daily habit thatrecharges you, like five minutes
of prayer or gratitude,journaling, or how about a walk
(16:09):
around the block Listening to asong that makes you feel like a
boss, stealing your kids' fruitsnacks and pretending you're on
vacation.
No judgment here, or plugginginto a powerful podcast.
Did I say thank you for beinghere?
You see, recharging doesn'thave to be big, it just has to
happen.
(16:29):
So write down or think about it.
If your journal is full, thinkabout one simple way that you
can recharge daily.
Hack number four treat your timelike a budget.
You wouldn't let someone drainyour bank account, would you?
So why are you lettingeverything and everyone drain
(16:51):
your energy without limits?
You see your time.
Think of it as currency andspend it wisely.
If you wouldn't spend your last$20 on something pointless,
don't spend your last bit ofenergy on things that don't
matter.
Think about things.
One thing that you're going tostop wasting time on this week
(17:12):
so you have more time for whatactually matters.
And here's some closing thoughtsthat I have on this section.
Give yourself permission totake time back, and here's what
I want you to walk out withtoday.
Me time, it's not extra, it'sessential, girl, 10 minutes for
yourself can change your wholeday.
(17:32):
Saying mama's busy is aboundary, not an excuse, and
recharging it isn't a luxury,it's a necessity.
So take one of these hacks andtry it today.
Don't forget to text me or tagme and hit me up with which one
hit home for you today.
So up next, we're going to talkabout the time take back
(17:54):
challenge, because it's yourtime, mama.
So we've called out the timethieves, set up smart hacks and
made space for you in your ownschedule.
Now it's time for the finalstep, or the icing on the cake,
and that means actually doing it, because knowing how to take
(18:14):
your time back is one thing, andactually doing it, that is
another.
That's where the miraclehappens.
So the take back challenge Forthe next seven days.
I challenge you, ladies, to putthese time-saving,
sanity-saving hacks into action.
Pick one, pick one of the hackswe talked about and commit to
(18:38):
it.
Not five, not three, just one.
And then do it daily.
If you can do it once, you cando it again and pay attention to
the shift.
Once you can do it again andpay attention to the shift.
Notice how you feel when youstart taking control of your
time instead of letting it takecontrol of you.
How do you feel?
You see what happens when youtake your time back.
(19:01):
Well, you stop running incircles and start actually
moving forward.
You also stop feeling guiltyfor saying no and you start
feeling powerful for saying yesto what matters.
And you also stop being busyfor the sake of being busy and
you start being intentionalabout what actually matters in
(19:23):
your life.
So here are my final thoughtsyou deserve your own time.
If you take nothing else fromthis episode, take this.
Your time is yours.
You don't have to give it awayto every person, every task or
every demand.
You are worthy of time thatserves you, not just everyone
(19:48):
else.
So go, take it back.
One choice, one boundary, oneintentional move at a time.
Ladies, it's time to take backyour time and stop running on
empty, because when you manageyour minutes wisely, you don't
just survive, you thrive.
Isn't that what you've beenwriting down all morning in your
(20:11):
journal with me?
So text me, tag me and tell mewhich hack you're claiming as
yours this week, so we could dothis together.
And hey, if you need a dailyreminder that your time is your
dime.
Grab that coffee mug and findthat in the episode notes.
Until next time, keep rockingthat single mom life, but now,
(20:33):
with more time for what actuallymatters, are you looking for a
group to call your own?
Join our it's a Single MomThing Facebook group, because
you don't have to figure thisout or go it alone.
Never want to miss an episode?
Subscribe to the podcast onApple, spotify or iHeart Radio.
Need prayer?
(20:53):
Call our 24-hour prayer line at855-822-PRAYER.
Do you know a sister who needsto get her time back?
Tag a single mom who needsthese time-saving hacks and want
to take a break and give back.
Join us at the West ShoreServices Florida HVAC Raise and
Rally Pickleball Tournament onMarch 29th.
(21:15):
Let's have fun while supportingsingle moms like you.
More information atshepherdsvillagecom.
Forward slash pickleball.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
Have a wonderful week and remember it's a single mom
thing and not the single thingthat stops you.
Thanks for listening to.
It's a Single Mom Thing.
I hope you enjoyed our timetogether.
If you have more questions onhow to have a relationship with
Jesus or need prayer, visit usat wwwshepherdsvillagecom.
Backslash prayer.
(21:46):
For more information andresources, check out our show
notes.
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