Monthly Routines For Moms – No More Falling Through The Cracks

Looking for a refreshing list of monthly activities to help your life run more smoothly? There are monthly routines here that you can put on autopilot.

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There’s nothing worse than having a bajillion things going on in our heads that need to get done.

One way to avoid all that drama?

Create a time (anytime!) to get it done, then put it off of your mind until then. Some things need doing daily, some weekly, but many things can be done ONCE A MONTH.

Here are a few things you can shove into your phone reminders as a task to do 1x per month. Until it comes up to remind you to get it done… forget about it.

Plan ahead for special events.

Events such as birthday parties, social events, or church functions can really sneak up on a busy family.

Plan ahead by writing them down on your calendar and synching your family calendars. You can also go ahead and work on who you will invite, babysitting, or any other need you may have for that event.

• Buy presents
• Organize babysitting
• Invites for hospitality
• Plan any specifics surrounding these events

Clean your vehicle out.

Ok, so let’s be honest. Once a month is probably not enough for a sweep… especially if you have multiple children. However, once a month deep clean is a great idea.

You know, get that mystery sticky substance from under the seat. Tackle it monthly and it’s sure to help everything go smoothly.

• I pay a monthly fee for our local car wash and can use it as many times as I want per month
• Set a reminder on your phone to clean it out
• Get the kids to help clean out their stuff
• Keep some quick cleaning items (wipes, a rag, spray, etc.) in the trunk for ease.

Check scheduled appointments & make any necessary calls.

Sitting down at the beginning of each month to check appointments can really make things run more smoothly.

• dentist / doctor
• haircuts
• animal groomers
• beauty (nails, massage, etc.)
• therapy (physical, occupational, counseling, etc.)

You don’t want these appointments sneaking up on you.

And, it’s frustrating having to break plans because you forgot you had a doctors apt. etc.

De-clutter under the sink & pantry.

It never fails… there’s a mystery wrapper or a completely empty box of something. So, once a month de-clutter of cabinets such as the pantry or under the sink can feel really great.

You can also use this opportunity to stock up on some things that may be running low.

• snack baskets
• under kitchen sink
• under bathroom sink / drawers
• junk drawers
• fridge (throw out moldy stuff, etc)

Sit down and really, I mean REALLY check your personal wellness.

The days, weeks, months, years fly by when you’re raising small children. As any mother knows… she can lose herself in the hustle and bustle of it all.

So, dedicate an afternoon or evening to you. Take some time to journal, write, pray, and check your overall happiness. Use my free tracker below to help take stock of where you’re at and what you need.

Did you do enough last month to satisfy your needs? If not, make some plans for this month to do better… for your own sanity.

• time alone
• recharge activities (see some ideas here)
• social activities (time with friends, going out for coffee, date night, etc.)
• space, time, and budget to solve problems (below is a video on why that helps us be more present)

Review local events & checking school calendars.

Many local communities have kicked into gear about hosting weekly downtown events and other fun opportunities. I love how it seems that this year, cities are rallies around community and togetherness.

You may be surprised at what local events your family would like to attend if you check monthly and get them on your calendar.

Also, when school is in session… it always is a good idea to review the calendar or days off, special events, etc.

• games
• festivals
• concerts
• awards ceremonies
• parades
• shows

Plan your families prayer and devotion.

It never hurts to plan time together. If you like us, things get busy and it’s hard to keep scheduled devotions. That’s why we usually plan devotion time during a time that we are already together- dinner, bedtime.

Anyways, setting some goals for family prayer and devotion is a monthly routine to help your life run smoother. You can even link it up with the season or month.

• holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc.)
• transitions and life milestones (starting school, etc.)
• topic based, depending on what your children are going through (friendship issues, hard topics, etc.)

Go through kids clothing and get rid of items too small, stains, etc.

Kids grow so fast.

And, I don’t know about you but sometimes one of mine comes out of their room in something that is too short, too tight, or should have been passed down months ago.

So, a great monthly routine is to take one day a month and go through clothes. Take out what doesn’t fit or that is too damaged and pass it along or throw it away.

Get an overall food plan (eating out, cooking, etc.)

Monthly routines can change depending on the season. For example, during sports seasons some families may eat more “on the go.”

So, take a look at what the month has to hold and get an overall food plan. This can include expenses, shopping plans, working on heathy snack options, etc.

Start a new month in your gratitude notepad.

Keeping a gratitude notepad is so rewarding.

Going from month-to-month, it can be nice to start a fresh tab to help keep up with the flow of your families busy life.

You can tear off sheets when you need attitude resets. For you AND the kids!

Plan ahead for outdoor family times.

Organization and proper planning is key in having successful outside activities for the family.

If your family is adventurous you may need to have a system in place to store gear- boards, supplies, etc. Add a day or cleaning and organizing to your monthly routine.

If your family enjoys togetherness in your backyard, a monthly routine to clean up & organize backyard fun items is a great way to keep the good times rolling.

Reset monthly reading goals & revamp bookshelves.

In our house, I routinely flip bookshelves. No… I don’t mean physically flipping them over.

Kids have a bad habit to taking the first book they see and putting it back on top. So, to give them the best possible experience and exposure to ALL our wonderful books, I move them around.

I’ll take the ones from the back of one bookshelf and place them in the front of another.

Review your budget and pay bills.

Some families benefit greatly from sitting down together each month to discuss expenses, saving, bills, and spending. Even if it’s pulling up statements online, getting everyone on the same page is powerful.

This is a time where proposed projects can be discussed and unneeded spending can be addressed.

Organize receipts, bills, and other misc. files.

You know that countertop that catches all the paperwork? Yes, even with a nice filing system… stuff still land there.

A monthly routine that will help your life run smoother is to sit down once a month and make sure things are stored in their proper place. If you are paperless, you can make sure you scanned important documents before throwing them away.

Shred what needs to be shredded, put away important docs, and claim back your surfaces.

Clean out & organize closets.

It can be refreshing to sift through hanging items, pair mystery socks, and pass on unwanted wardrobe items.

Even if your monthly routine is just to straighten and organize, it can make your closet seem much more functional if kept tidy.

• Change seasonal items
• Remove things that have holes, runs, etc.
• Hang up anything on the floor

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