When I say life-saving I mean exactly that. I have always been an overachiever to prove my worth to others, and although it served me well in my career, when I became a stay-at-home parent it got to be too much. I ended up in the ER and from that point on decided I was already enough. I didn’t have to prove anything anymore. This time in my life was what I had already worked so hard to achieve, so I was going to enjoy it. Then I started putting systems in place that started working for me. You may take some of mine and implement them or feel inspired to create your own. The key is to change your mindset from performing to creating. When you get creative you start asking questions like, “How can I do this better?” or “What about this isn’t working/serving me?” Then you pivot. Experiment, and pivot.

Does this resonate with you too? These are the five life-saving hacks I’ve implemented to maintain balance, ease stress, and ensure that I don’t end up back in the ER from exhaustion. Or worse.

1. Laundry Service – A Weight Off Your Shoulders

One of the biggest time-consumers in our daily lives is laundry. To ease the burden, I found a nearby laundromat that offers a wash-and-fold service for just $2 per pound with a 25lb minimum. I take the time consuming items there and the easier items like undergarments, towels, and easy-to-fold clothes I do myself at home. Even when I utilize this service twice a month, at a total cost of $100, it’s a small price to pay for the tremendous time and stress relief it provides.

2. House Cleaning – Call in the Calvary

Maintaining a clean home can be a never-ending struggle. To tackle this I found a cleaning crew that charges within my budget. I’ve tried both the crew method, where she sends three to five ladies at a time, and the single person who is here all day. I prefer the crew, they swoop in when my house is in dire need of attention and have it sparkling within an hour. The cost is $130 per cleaning, and it feels like a mini-vacation every time they leave.

3. Mother’s Helper – Professional Assistance

Recently, I found a “mother’s helper” service run by experienced moms with grown children. They charge $25 per hour and are worth every penny. When I’m overwhelmed, I have a mother’s helper come for 2.5 hours, and we tackle various tasks together. It’s not just about getting the job done faster; it’s also about sharing stories and connecting with someone who understands the daily struggles of parenthood.

4. Streamlined Meal Prep – Efficiency in the Kitchen

With other chores off my plate, I started enjoying meal planning and grocery shopping more. I devised a system for prepping and invested in essential kitchen tools, such as an Instant Pot, a Vitamix, Ninja, an air fryer, a FoodSaver vacuum sealer, a Sous Vide thingy, and glass storage containers. This way, I make big batches of meals and store them for later use. Not only does this save time, but it also saves money when I buy groceries in bulk.

Let me take a moment now to break this one down:

  • Steak will normally come with five in a pack. I rinse them and then place them individually in a FoodSaver bag, then vacuum seal the bags. Originally I would freeze the extra steaks raw, but the time to thaw and the foresight needed to remember to bring them out in time was an obstacle. I later found a much faster method and it made sure I didn’t forget to bring them out in time for them to thaw. Before I start the packaging, I turn on the sous vide stick in a pot of water to heat up. Once this is ready and the steaks are in their individual bags, I place them in the hot water and let them cook for the next four hours. After four hours I put ice in the sink and water to make an ice bath and throw all the steaks in there. I’ll leave out three for the week then freeze any overage. For the weeks I use the overage steaks all I need to do is put them in the refrigerator to thaw and they are ready when I need them. During the week I’ll pull out a steak, season it, spray a little avocado oil on it, and pop it in the air fryer for 6 minutes. This method warms the steak up, crisps the outside without cooking the steak any further. NOTE: If you put a steak straight from the sous vide into the air fryer without the ice bath or starting from cold, you’ll overcook your meat.

  • Chicken I grill. I like the flavor better. I take all my anxiety and frustration out on these little chicken breasts with a meat tenderizer, season them, sprinkle with olive oil, and throw them on the grill. Be sure to use a thermometer so you don’t overcook your chicken. When they are thinner from tenderizing they cook much faster, but if you don’t over cook them they are tender and juicy. Cooked filets go into a glass container to rest with aluminum foil on top. When I’m finished I take half, chop them up for my salads that week, and leave the rest whole for snacks or to add to meals. Again, pop in the air fryer to warm them up for only a few minutes.

  • Fish is easier. When purchased in bulk they come individually wrapped so I pull them out and let them thaw and do a light sautee while I put together the rest of the meal.

  • Spaghetti and rice I make in bulk. My son went through a period where he wanted pasta for dinner every night, and every night I’d find myself filling a pot, waiting for it to boil, wait for it to cook, then serve, and then I thought, “What am I doing? Just make a bunch and put it in the fridge!” So now I bring out my large pot, make a batch and anytime it’s pasta time, I warm it up in the pan with some EVOO sprinkle some parm and we’re done. (We like it simple, but I would only add sauce when warming up, store your noodles naked.)

  • Rice is another carb staple in our house, and no matter which kind you like, this is where the instant pot comes in. My mother cringes when I make rice in the instant pot, but honestly, I’m okay with it, and it still tastes delicious, so win for me. (Love you mom!) My instant pot like many has a rice setting.
    The rice batch goes immediately into a glass container and then an ice bath, then straight in the fridge. Both rice and pasta, or any carb, shouldn’t sit out for too long so bacteria doesn’t grow. The added bonus to not poisoning yourself is refrigerating carbs make them “starch-resistant” so the glycemic impact is lower than the traditional cook-and-serve method.
    To reheat rice, grab a saucepan with a lid. Place your rice in the pan with about a quarter cup of water. You’ll want to steam your rice back to life. If your serving prepped meats, you can place the meat on top of the rice in the pan and it’ll prevent it from boiling in the water. The whole meal can be steamed and ready to serve in about 5-8 minutes. Trust me the rice is better steamed.

Those are the staple go-to methods of food prep in my house. Some other things to consider would be my method around spaghetti. Make extra!

Once you purchase a FoodSaver, freezing food takes on a new meaning. The food lasts much longer, you’re able to freeze smaller portions, and there’s almost never freezer burn if you’re eating it within a reasonable timeframe. (The five year old chili in the back of the freezer is probably better off going in the trash.) If you’re making lasagna, make more and separate out portions to either freeze or have later that week. Casseroles aren’t something common in my house so I don’t know how well they will freeze, but soups, chili, taco meat, the list could go on. Even if you choose to make more to use later in the week, the FoodSaver method of storage keeps your food fresh in the fridge.

Instant Pot has been a game-changer in my kitchen. It get’s the most use during the cooler seasons. I make soups, chili, bbq pulled chicken, chuck roast, goulash, and more in the Instant Pot, then separate out into smaller portions for quick warm up during the week.

After I’ve made some of these weekly staples up front, during the week I only need to purchase some fresh food items to accompany the meals or for snacks.

5. Involve Your Children – Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Lastly, involving your children in daily tasks can be highly rewarding. With electronics, we’ve developed a culture believing we need to entertain our children or keep them busy. For me however, my son has been my buddy since day one, and although yes there are times he’s watching a cartoon or on the ipad, for the most part, he’s always been included in what I was doing.

My little piece of “mom-wisdom” is, instead of entertaining them, let them help you. Whether it’s in the kitchen, folding laundry, or cleaning up, including them can be a bonding experience and an excellent way to teach those skills along with responsibility. Will they fold the clothes perfectly, no, and that’s okay. They can have a lot of fun sorting socks and placing them on top of each other. Let them fold the undergarments too. (Resist the urge to “fix” it until they are out of the room though.) When you’re cooking let them add some ingredients, and then give them a bowl with some things they can mix together. One time my son made a sauce I used in our food. It was a pleasant surprise. When it comes to cleaning up we either make it a game of who does the most, or how much can you do in five minutes and then set a timer. Honestly, they just want to be with you, that’s all that matters to them.

In conclusion, when you’re overwhelmed, it’s essential to get creative and ask how you can make your life easier in an affordable way. I had to give up certain things to pay for the laundry service, and the cleaning help, and for me it was worth the exchange. As for maintaining a perfectly tidy household, it’s okay to let go of perfection and focus on finding what works for you. One day your house will be tidy again, and the laundry load will be small again. To combat the sneaky frustration during this season though, stay curious and creative so you can develop hacks of your own to help you manage your balance and sanity.

So take a step back, breathe, and embrace the assistance that’s available to make your life more manageable. You’ll all remember the memories of the things you did together. “My favorite memory was that we always had a clean house growing up.” Said no-one ever. 🙂

Your well-being and happiness are worth it!