Like all moms, I’m constantly finding myself wanting 10 more minutes throughout the day to do just one more thing. Pick up a few more toys before the guests arrive, have a few more minutes in the shower, unload BOTH racks of the dishwasher, the list goes on forever. All. Day. Long. Luckily I have found a few hacks that allow me to have a precious additional minute or two here and there.
Here are my favorite “momhacks” to date, add your favorites in the comments below and help a fellow mom out!
Co-washing
Co-washing is the act of washing your hair using only conditioner. This method has been around for a long time, but recently became more popular because of websites that are focused on girls with curly hair, like mine. I do this 2-3 times per week and find it to be very beneficial for both times sake and keeping my hair moisturized. If you have curly hair and/or live in a dry climate like Colorado, chances are good that your hair could use a bit more hydration in the form of conditioner. Simply use conditioner in place of shampoo and agitate your scalp and hair. Rinse and repeat or leave in and air dry.
Head Scarf
I never wrapped my hair in a scarf until I started staying at home full time. Before this, the idea of not showering seemed totally foreign. Gone are the days when I can get up and slowly make my way to a hot shower and stand in the water for 15 minutes before I even get my hair wet. Long gone. So, some days I wrap my hair in a scarf to hide my crazy mop. If you have scarves of any fabric and size, you can manage a number of beautiful wraps in just a few minutes. This is especially nice when the weather is cold or wet. Google “head scarf” or “hair wrap” to get some good ideas.
My Signature Color
A few years ago I started weeding out the clothes and clutter in my closet and life. We all have clothes that we wish we could fit back into or think we’ll wear next time, but it never happens. During this process I had an idea to focus my wardrobe and accessories around one color and make that my signature color. It took a few weeks and lots of surveying my friends and family to pick a color that looked great on me, went with lots of other colors, was easy to find, and was a “classic.” I went with Cobalt Blue. Since this change, I have looked at every addition to my wardrobe through the lens of “will it match?” This is not to say that I wear nothing but this color, but I can easily go into my closet and grab pants, shoes, and a shirt and they always match because the color focus is the same. This has saved me both time and money, because it’s easy to put together an outfit and I don’t buy something if it doesn’t go with or have my signature color.
Tinted Makeup Products
I love makeup and playing dress up, but I’ve never been a girl who wears much makeup in my day to day life. When I became a professional I started wearing makeup to make myself look more put together and because I thought it was what I was supposed to do. Now days, I wear makeup to look put together and to feel good about how I look. I have found that tinted makeup products easily fit into my busy mornings and I can tackle a few areas with one product. Tinted moisturizer, tinted lip and cheek stain, and a highlighter are my go to products on a daily basis. I never understood the moms who stay at home and look like they have spent hours on their hair and makeup. Where do they get the time? I know they must have some amazing secrets that they are keeping from the rest of us frazzled bunch.
Books on Tape
I have listened to books on tape forever. I think it’s a hold out to my childhood days when my parents would read to me or maybe it’s the fact that books make my sleepy. Either way, I love to read, just not in the traditional sense. Mastering the library website took some time, but once I got the hang of it, I could read/listen to books on the go, in my car or on my phone at any time. This has saved me loads of time, who can sit down and have ten minutes to read anyway? Plus, I strictly use the library to check out books, which are free!
Online Purchases and Subscriptions
Amazon is my best friend, she knows me better than anyone. Every six months we have several huge boxes filled with everything from toilet paper to chicken stock delivered to our house. Every Thursday our dry cleaners pick up and drop off our clothes. On Mondays, our farm share of fruit, veggies, eggs, cheese, and dairy products arrive at our door. I love purchasing items online and through subscriptions. My life feels easier and more in control when, with a click of a button, I can have something show up at my doorstep. Even for a small additional fee, I weigh what my time is worth in terms of minutes with my son, and it’s usually worth it.
I would definitely add the following grooming hacks: dry shampoo, electric razors (because you don’t have to get in the shower to buzz one over your legs!