Let’s be honest — mom life is chaos. Between running a household, parenting tiny humans, supporting a business, and attempting to remember to drink water, my brain often feels like an internet browser with 47 tabs open… and at least 3 are frozen.
Over the years, I’ve found a few simple habits that help me stay mentally organized. It’s not perfectly, but just enough to feel like I’m not drowning. If your brain is as overloaded as mine can get, I hope these tricks help lighten your mental load too.
1. Brain Dumps Are My Therapy
When my mind is cluttered, I open a notebook, the Notes app, or even a scrap piece of paper and just dump everything out. No order. No categories. Just whatever is swirling around in my head. I write down appointments, groceries, ideas, reminders, feelings, kid things, business tasks, the corner of the house I have been meaning to organization for 2 years, everything.
Once it’s out, I breathe easier. Then I can go back and sort the list into what’s urgent, what’s “someday,” and what I can delegate (or let go of completely). Brain dumps help me sleep better and stop mentally spinning.
2. I Make Packing Lists — and Then Edit Them While On Vacation
Before every trip, I create a master list: clothes, toiletries, snacks, toys, charger cords, toddler “emergency” supplies, etc. But here’s the trick — I bring the list with me and make notes during the trip.
What we didn’t use.
Items that I’m definitely glad we brought.
Things I wished I’d packed.
That way, I’m not reinventing the wheel every time we go somewhere. I’ve now got go-to lists for beach trips, camping, hotel stays, and even day outings and they keep getting smarter. Total mom win.
This really helps me to start remembering those items that I NEVER remember to pack (husband’s belt, toothbrush, my own clothes, etc.)
3. I Set a Daily “Top 3” (and Let the Rest Go)
If I try to do everything in a day, I feel like I’ve done nothing. So instead, I pick a “Top 3” for each day — the three things that, if I finish them, I’ll feel accomplished. That might be:
- Emailing the permit office
- Folding one load of laundry
- Playing outside with the kids without multitasking
Everything else is extra. This helps me feel productive without burning out.
4. I Keep a “Running List” of Gifts
My biggest mom, wife, daughter and friend flex is that i keep a running list of gifts in my phone throughout the year.
Whenever someone around me mentions something that they want or a hobby that they are really interested in, I take out my phone and make a note.
When it comes time for my mother-in law’s birthday or finding a Father’s Day gift for my husband that has everything, I can quickly see gifts to get without having to scroll Google.
Once they open that gift, I always get the response of “How did you remember that?”. Well, I didn’t but I took the 30 seconds to jot it down and it helps me look like a “Superhero”.
5. I’m Learning to Let “Done” Be Better Than “Perfect”
This one’s hard. But some days, the win is just showing up. The kids are fed. The invoices are sent. The house is semi-safe. The trip is planned, even if I forgot the sunscreen again. My brain feels clearer when I stop trying to be supermom and just do what I can.
Mom Brain, but Make It Manageable
Mental organization doesn’t mean color-coded spreadsheets or minimalist perfection. For me, it’s about giving myself tools that work for real life — kids, chaos, and all. I’ll keep editing my vacation lists and brain-dumping my way through the week, and if that sounds like your kind of survival strategy, you’re in the right place.
Other Simple Tips for Mental Clarity:
- Create theme days (e.g., Monday = bills, Friday = errands).
- Use a shared family calendar (digital or paper).
- Declutter just one drawer when you feel overwhelmed.
- Keep a “don’t forget” sticky note by the front door or place important items under your keys.
- Say “no” to one thing a week — it’s powerful.
Mental Organization Products:
Check out my other blogs to try to keep sane as a busy mom!
5 Tips for Surviving the Chaos of Being A Contractor’s Wife
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