7 Important Things a Single Mom Routine Should Have

Important things a single mom should include in her routine that will improve her life

I have been a single mom for a long time and I have discovered there are certain things I need as part of my regular routine if I want to have a good life.

As a single mom, you are consistently on the go with limited time to get everything done. No wonder it’s easy to let some things fall through the crack. But for single moms who want to thrive and improve their lives, there are some things that you can’t ignore. These things should be a part of your regular routine.

Now, they don’t have to be a part of your daily routine, but you need to incorporate them into your life and make sure you do them as often as possible.

So, what are some of the most important activities a single mom should include in her routine?

That’s what you are going to find out in this post. Seven things you should do regularly to improve your life.

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1. A SINGLE MOM ROUTINE SHOULD INCLUDE PLANNING TIME

I never planned or wanted to be a single mom. When it happened, I was at a loss and didn’t know the best way to move on with my life. But, I knew I had to move on and get to grips with my situation as a matter of urgency.

So, I started thinking and planning, trying to figure out the best way to move forward so I could create a good life for myself and my kids.

As a single mom, planning should be a big part of your routine. Whether it’s daily, weekly or monthly, you need to carve out time to plan your life. I know how easy it is to just keep living on autopilot, barely surviving, and not having enough time to plan or execute a plan.

You see, lack of planning (and execution) is what is holding a lot of single moms back. These moms want to improve their lives but they can’t figure out how to do it, or work out the steps they need to take.

So here is a reminder for you. You can’t afford to not plan if you want to improve your life. No matter how busy you are, schedule some time to plan. This is something you have to do regularly.

Make it a part of your single mom routine the same way you have a morning routine or a night routine.

Here are some things you can do during your planning time.

1. SET GOALS

You need something to shoot for. If you are unhappy with your life, set goals to change the things you are unhappy about. Goals keep you focused and motivated.

You need them to stay productive.

2. THINK AND STRATEGIZE

Think about your current life and how things are going.

Do you need to make some changes? What changes do you need to make? What strategies do you need to apply? It’s very important to spend time to think and strategize about your life if you want to keep improving and moving forward.

Lots of single moms are in a rut and the only way forward is to think, plan and strategize.

3. MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR FINANCES

How are you doing financially? Are you struggling? Do you need to make more money? If yes, how are you going to do it? Are your finances under control? How is your spending? Are you keeping up with your bills and budget?

Lots of single moms struggle financially, that’s why taking an inventory of your finances should be a big part of your planning time.

4. DECISION MAKING

Do you need to make some important decisions in the near future? Are you ready to make those decisions? Do you have enough fact-based information to make good decisions?

As a single mom, one of my biggest fears is making a bad decision. I don’t want to make a decision that would jeopardize our lives or future, so I always try to stay informed and avoid making impulsive decisions.

So use part of your planning session to think about any decision you need to make, whether it’s relocating to another state, moving to a new house, changing jobs, starting a business, going back to school, or making a medical decision.

You need time to plan so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.

5. EXPLORING NEW OPPORTUNITIES

How often do you take the time to explore new opportunities that would improve your life? Don’t be so busy with your day-to-day life you forget to explore new opportunities.

I know when you are barely surviving or making ends meet, it’s hard to think of anything else, but you must, for your long-term success.

So, take some time to explore new opportunities and make a plan to go after viable opportunities that will make your life better.

6. MAKE A TO-DO LIST OR CREATE AN ACTION PLAN

You can’t have a planning session without coming away with a list of things to do or an action plan.

At the end of each planning session, make a list of some things you need to do. Write them down and create an action plan. Execution is the most important thing after a planning session. It makes no sense to plan if you won’t follow through.

You will need a planner and a to-do list for your planning session. Keep updating them and crossing out tasks or goals as you complete them.

If you like to plan daily or a week in advance, check out this daily planner pack.

2. LEARNING TIME

One of the biggest lessons I have learned as a single mom is how important it is for me to feed my mind. A single mom who wants a better life must be curious. You must have an insatiable hunger and quest for knowledge.

It doesn’t matter what stage you are in your single mom journey, there are things you can do to make it even better. Time for learning should be an essential part of a single mom’s routine. Learning is something you should regularly engage in.

Now, there are lots of ways to learn something new. You can go back to college, take some online classes, do some independent study or read books, newspapers, or magazines (as long as they are from credible sources).

The key is to always learn something new. Identify areas of your life where you are lacking and fill those knowledge gaps. For example, if you struggle with managing your finances, get a financial education.

There are so many ways and opportunities to learn that it’s almost criminal not to take advantage. Create a schedule and include learning/studying time in your schedule.

3. TIME WITH KIDS

Do you ever feel guilty because you don’t spend enough time with your kids? You are not alone! This feeling is something most single moms know all too well.

It is not easy to find enough time with your kids when you work (perhaps multiple jobs), maybe go to school, and are responsible for everything that goes on in your home.

Many single moms are burnt out from doing everything but they keep pressing on because there’s no alternative. So, don’t beat yourself up if you can’t spend as much time with your kids as you’d like, however, you must spend time with them.

Kids need to bond with their moms. It’s not enough to provide for them. They still need that one-on-one time with you. Schedule time with your kids. Make it a part of your routine.

If you can make it a part of your daily routine, that’s great, if not, just do it as often as possible. Go on fun dates with your kids. Let them know you are there for them. Be affectionate and kind, and find simple ways to show them how much you love them.

I have a teen and a preteen, and it always amazes me how excited they get when I spend time with them. They love it, so I try to make it a part of my routine.

4. BEING PRODUCTIVE SHOULD BE PART OF A SINGLE MOM ROUTINE

How do you spend your days? Are you a productive person or do you spend a lot of time fretting about how much stuff you still have to complete?

Establishing a routine that boosts your productivity is a great way to stay on top of things and make your life better. Whether it is a morning routine, work routine, or evening routine, you should focus on activities that boost your productivity.

A productive single mom can achieve a lot of her goals even with little or no support. Take a look at how you spend your time. Are you managing your time well and getting the most out of your day?

So what kind of activities should you include in your routine?

Some productive activities include:

Working or looking for work.
Exploring ways to earn more money.
Working on a side hustle.
Helping your kids with their schoolwork.

There are lots of things you can do to stay productive, so establish routines that help you become more productive.

5. HOMEMAKING TASKS AND ACTIVITIES

Who doesn’t like homemaking especially when you are tired? No, I am kidding! As a working single mom, staying on top of housework is still one of my biggest challenges.

Homemaking or housework is something that can’t be avoided no matter how hard you try. Instead of ignoring it or wishing it away, it’s better to sprinkle homemaking activities and tasks into your daily or weekly routine.

For example, creating a cleaning schedule can help you stay on top of cleaning. Alternatively, you can just make it a part of your daily routine like doing a load of laundry after dinner.

Some other things that should be a part of your routine include:

Organizing your home
Cleaning
Decluttering
Grocery shopping
Laundry
Meal prep and cooking
Gardening

There are lots of homemaking activities you can incorporate into your routine but the ones above are pretty standard.

Need help with meal planning? Grab a copy of this simple and attractive weekly meal planner.

6. SELF-CARE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A SINGLE MOM ROUTINE

Your routine as a single mom is incomplete if it doesn’t include self-care. Let me just say this. You need self-care more than anyone else. Do you know why? Because it’s just you!

You need to be healthy and happy to take care of your kids or anyone else. Yes, many times your needs have to come last for one reason or another but that’s not an excuse to completely ignore self-care.

You don’t have to spend hours at a time taking care of yourself. Lots of self-care activities only require a few minutes at a time, so stop saying you don’t have time for yourself.

Here are some self-care activities that should be a part of your routine.

Eat well
Drink lots of water (staying hydrated)
Exercise. There are lots of short workouts you can do
Sleep and rest
Read for pleasure
Take a bath

As you can see, self-care doesn’t have to be hard or take a lot of time, so you really don’t have any excuse for not doing it.

7. REVIEW YOUR CURRENT LIFESTYLE

The last thing you should have as part of your single mom routine is to regularly review your life, to see how you are doing.

Remember at the beginning I mentioned the importance of setting time aside to plan? Well, after planning and taking action, you also need some time to review the results.

Are you on track with your goals? How is everything going with your life? Are you happy with where you are right now? If not, what are you going to do about it?

Reviewing your lifestyle is an essential addition to your routine, so find a way to make it a part of your regular schedule.

Final thoughts on things a single mom routine should have

A single mom routine is not just about doing the daily tasks or activities you need to survive. It’s about planning for your future and engaging in activities that will improve your life.

These activities have to be done regularly. They should become a habit for you just like brushing your teeth before bed or drinking a cup of coffee as soon as you wake up.

So, go ahead. Incorporate these ideas into your routine. You can schedule them if you like. Trust me, they will make a difference in your life.

Are you a single mom? Do you do any of these seven things regularly?