As a busy mom juggling kids and work, you find yourself rushing from your office to the after-school car pool. Struggling to balance your work and family commitments while maintaining your sanity, you long for more hours in the day. By employing several time-saving techniques, you can simplify your schedule, increase productivity and decrease stress all in a day’s work.

How many times a week do you stand in front of the refrigerator at 5 p.m. and wonder what you can magically whip into a fulfilling meal? Save yourself time by planning your menu. Rotate your family’s favorite meals every two to three weeks. Post the menu in the kitchen for easy access. If you have an emergency at work, your partner or older children can prepare dinner using your posted menu, and everyone eats a balanced meal.

Like meal planning, grocery shopping eats valuable time from your demanding schedule. Instead of forgetting vital ingredients when you rush through the store or purchasing junk food to appease your hungry children, arrange for grocery delivery. Save time for work duties without sacrificing your family’s physical needs.

No one wants to live in a pigsty, but a house quickly becomes cluttered and dirty while busy moms work. Instead of feeling pressured to dust, vacuum and pick up toys every day, create a rotating cleaning schedule. For example, wash the dishes and do a load of laundry each day. Pick one room to organize, dust and vacuum or choose to clean the bathrooms from top to bottom. By cleaning a little bit every day, you keep your home neat and presentable throughout the week and save valuable time. You could also assign age-appropriate chores to your children, which will help them learn responsibility while helping your home stay clean.

Update a daily project board. Hang a large desktop calendar or an erasable whiteboard on your office wall. List priorities like client meetings, phone calls or dentist appointments. Before leaving your office for the day, record your priorities for the next day. At a glance, see the tasks you must complete and plan your schedule accordingly. The project board decreases the chances of missing an important activity, and it allows you to be in control of your schedule. Decide your priorities. Do you want to be home after school every day with your children? Do you wish to save $1,000 a month? These priorities dictate how you will spend your time. Plan for success in these areas and schedule other activities when possible.

Every mother wants to be a supermom, but most successful work-at-home moms have learned the value of relaxing their expectations. Most likely, you will not live in an immaculate home where gourmet meals grace your dining room table every night. Let go of unreasonable expectations and guilt. Your children will be fine if they have to entertain themselves for 30 minutes while you work. Likewise, the police will not arrest you for dust bunnies. Do what you can and learn to let go of everything else.

Balancing motherhood with all of other daily activities challenges even the most energetic women. Simplify your life by implementing time-saving tips. Prioritize your goals and give yourself a break. Your family and work will thank you.

Holly, a work-from-home mother, loves writing on behalf of MyGofer.com and other quality brands. She gave up on trying to be perfect about five minutes after her first child was born.