If you are wondering how to prioritize yourself as a working mom, you are already further along than most. I find many moms find excuses for not taking care of themselves. This group of moms is exhausted. They don’t exercise because there is “no time.” When they get to work, they do the bare minimum. They always feel behind and are stressed out as soon as they get home. They avoid making most social plans because they already have so much to do, but then end up feeling annoyed and bored on weekend evenings. They either drink too much alcohol or eat too many sweets or don’t move enough, and they know it but try not to think about it.

Time to learn how to prioritize yourself as a working mom. This is something I feel strongly about. And there are a few steps to doing this.

How to Prioritize Yourself as a Working Mom

1. Stop making excuses and put yourself first.

Working moms have the biggest excuse in the world to not take care of themselves. They are making lunches, getting kids off to school, working, and have almost every minute of the day planned. It is thankless most of the time.

But yet our friend group never has higher expectations. “Of course you don’t have time to exercise! Who does??” “You’re supermom!”

And so we all keep the bar as low as possible for ourselves and those around us.

But we are not doing ourselves any favors. If you put yourself last, rather than raising your family and those around you up, you will drag them down with you. Prioritize yourself – especially your mental health and your physical health – and you will raise up yourself and everyone around you.

The first step is to stop making excuses.

2. Schedule exercise immediately.

The biggest thing you can do to prioritize yourself as a working mom is make sure you add exercise into your routine every single day, six days a week, in the morning. If you have not started, add some amount that is challenging, with a goal to increase it.  

If you already exercise, make it a goal to double your workout routine (over time, not all at once, that is a recipe for injuries).

This is your biggest motivator. You will feel energetic, confident, and good about yourself.

If you meet your fitness goals, you will soon find yourself meeting all of your goals.

3. Value your time.

You have so much to do, but I am going to be very honest with you. Your burden is your own fault.

It is time to ask yourself:

What can I eliminate?

What can I ask my spouse or parent to help me with?

What can my kids do?

What can I pay someone to do?

You need to take responsibility for the tasks on your list. Do the Seven-Hour Challenge as your first step.

The truth is, you do not need to do everything.

Calculate your hourly wage at work. You can divide your salary by your hours worked to calculate your hourly wage. (Include your benefits!) If you would not pay someone that amount to do laundry, you should be paying someone else to do laundry.

Consider how much time you will free up to do things that are meaningful to you if you value your own time.

If you struggle with this, I also highly recommend you ask yourself: what would I do with an extra hour a day? This question is not “wishful thinking”. You can easily find an extra hour per day. Would you exercise? Spend more time with your kids? Journal? Hang out with friends? Start a hobby?

Part of your newfound free time will be used for the next item…

4. Schedule time with friends.

I know what you are thinking. I am so tired, I want to relax!

Planning time with friends is burdensome. And we all dread it.

I am an introvert and I get it. I’d rather read a book and drink a glass of wine by myself! (…Though don’t worry, with your newfound time, you be able to do both!)

But your social life is actually way more important to your physical and mental health than you even realize.

Scheduling time with friends does not have to take long and it does not have to upend your routine. Walk to school with other parents. Grab a quick lunch with someone. Take your kids to hang out with another parent and their kids on a Saturday afternoon. Get lunch with a sibling or a parent.

You may dread it, fellow introverts, but afterward you’ll feel energized and so glad you did it.

5. Win in the morning.

If you are going to win, you must win in the morning.

Exercise in the morning (preferably outdoors). Do whatever is needed for your mental health. And plan your day.

Start each morning telling yourself it is Day One of your journey. This is the “Day One” mentality that has helped me so much.

You are going to have a productive, efficient, healthy day. You will prioritize yourself, your mental health, your physical health. And thereby, you prioritize your family.

Stop waiting for life to slow down before you start taking care of yourself. It won’t. The difference between the moms who stay stuck and the ones who thrive is simple—they stop making excuses and start acting. You don’t need permission. You don’t need the perfect schedule. You just need to decide that your health, your time, and your energy matter. Because if you don’t make yourself a priority, no one else will.