The Busy Mum’s Guide to Finding 10 Extra Hours a Week

As a mum, your to-do list never seems to end. Between school runs, work, meal prep, laundry, and the countless other tasks that keep your family running smoothly, it often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day. Nothing new there…

But what if I told you that you could reclaim ten extra hours every week? Imagine what you could do with that time—start a side hustle, read a book, or simply have a quiet cup of tea in peace. It’s absolutely possible, and this guide will show you how to find those hours without sacrificing your sanity.

Step 1: Track Your Time for One Week

Before you can find extra time, you need to know where your time is actually going. Spend a week tracking your daily activities—from the minute you wake up to when you go to bed. Use a notebook, a time-tracking app (like Toggl or RescueTime), or even your phone’s Notes app.

Why it works: Most of us are surprised by how much time we lose to things like scrolling through social media, binge-watching TV, or multitasking poorly. By seeing where your hours go, you can identify opportunities to reclaim time.

Example:

• 2 hours spent on social media each day = 14 hours a week.
• 30 minutes of mindless TV before bed = 3.5 hours a week.

While no one wants to encroach on your fun or downtime, that’s a lot of hours, especially on social media!

Step 2: Identify Your Biggest Time-Wasters

Now that you’ve tracked your time, it’s time to cut the fluff. Identify any low-value activities or tasks that eat up your day without giving you much in return.

Common Time-Wasters:

1. Endless Social Media Scrolling: The Instagram rabbit hole is real, and TikTok can be significantly worse…hours of scrolling giggles, and before you know it, it’s past midnight already. Set a daily time limit on apps like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
2. Multitasking: Switching between tasks reduces your productivity. Focus on one task at a time for better results.
3. Unnecessary Errands: Consolidate errands into one or two days instead of running out every day for something small.
4. Overcommitting: Say no to tasks or events that don’t align with your goals or priorities.

Actionable Fix: Use tools like the Screen Time feature on your phone to set app limits and block distractions during focus times.

Step 3: Create a Realistic Daily Routine

A clear, realistic routine is key to reclaiming your time. When you plan your day intentionally, you eliminate decision fatigue and reduce wasted minutes.

Start With These 3 Key Blocks:

1. Morning Routine: Start your day with intention. Get up 15-30 minutes earlier to enjoy some quiet time, exercise, or plan your day.
2. Time Blocking: Assign specific blocks of time for work, housework, errands, and family time. Include breaks to recharge.
3. Evening Wind-Down: Use 15 minutes before bed to prepare for the next day—lay out clothes, prep lunches, or tidy up.

Pro Tip: Use a planner, Google Calendar, or apps like Trello to structure your day and stick to your blocks.

Step 4: Automate and Delegate

The key to finding more time as a busy mum is realising you don’t have to do everything yourself. Automate, delegate and outsource where you can.

What Can You Automate?

• Grocery Shopping: Use delivery services like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, or Ocado to save hours wandering the aisles. It can also help you save money because you have to search for everything instead of being tempted to throw things that were not on your list in your trolley.
• Meal Planning: Use apps like Mealime or Plan to Eat to create weekly meal plans and shopping lists in minutes.
• Recurring Tasks: Automate bill payments, reminders, and subscriptions.

What Can You Delegate?

• Housework: Get your children involved with age-appropriate chores—tidying rooms, setting the table, or folding laundry.
• Errands: If your budget allows, use apps like TaskRabbit or hire a cleaner for a couple of hours a week to lighten the load.
• Work Tasks: If you have a side hustle, hire a virtual assistant to help with admin, emails, or social media.
• Your Virtual Assitant: Use the likes of ChatGPT to help you get things done faster! Technology is changing the way we work, and if used well, it can have an amazingly positive impact on the way we work.

Real Example: A mum of two saved 5 hours a week by outsourcing grocery shopping and delegating laundry folding to her older children.

Step 5: Master the Art of Saying No

Saying no to things that don’t align with your priorities is one of the most powerful ways to reclaim your time. If you’re constantly overcommitting, it’s time to set boundaries. Saying no doesn’t mean you are selfish, so ditch the guilt now.

Practice These 3 Responses:

1. “I can’t commit to that right now, but thank you for thinking of me.”
2. “Let me check my schedule and get back to you.” (This gives you time to decide without feeling pressured.)
3. “I’d love to help, but I need to focus on my family/work/priorities right now.”

Saying no helps you protect your time and energy for what truly matters.

Step 6: Batch Similar Tasks Together

Batching similar tasks is a huge time-saver because it reduces the mental energy of switching between activities.

Examples of Batching:

• Meal Prep: Cook meals for the week on Sundays so you spend less time in the kitchen each day.
• Errands: Do all your errands on one day instead of spreading them throughout the week.
• Emails and Calls: Set aside specific times to reply to emails or make phone calls instead of doing them sporadically.

Time-Saving Insight: Batching can save you up to 3-4 hours per week by reducing task-switching fatigue.

Step 7: Use Pockets of Time Wisely

Sometimes, finding extra time is about making the most of the little moments scattered throughout your day. These 5-10-minute windows add up!

Ideas for Using Pockets of Time:

• While waiting in the car: Reply to messages, read a chapter of a book, or listen to a podcast.
• During nap time: Tackle one small chore or task you’ve been putting off.
• In the evening: Plan your next day, prep meals, or enjoy a few minutes of self-care.

Example: Spending 15 minutes planning your day before bed can save you an hour of decision-making the next morning.

Step 8: Prioritise Self-Care

You can’t pour from an empty cup, and neglecting yourself only makes you less productive. Prioritise self-care so you have the energy to make the most of your reclaimed time.

Simple Self-Care Ideas:

• 10 minutes of deep breathing or meditation.
• A walk in the park or a quick home workout.
• Reading a chapter of a book you’ve been meaning to finish.

When you take care of yourself, you’ll find you’re able to get things done faster and with more focus.

Your 10 Extra Hours Are Waiting…

Finding 10 extra hours a week might sound impossible, but when you break it down into small, practical steps, it’s completely achievable. By tracking your time, setting clear routines, cutting time-wasters, and delegating where you can, you’ll discover pockets of time you didn’t know you had.

Imagine what you could do with those 10 hours—finally start that side hustle, spend quality time with your family, or just enjoy a moment of peace for yourself. The time is there, waiting to be claimed—you just have to take that first step. You’ve got this!