How to Find & Eliminate Bottlenecks in Your WAHM Routine

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can find my full disclosure page here.

As a work-at-home mom (WAHM), you’re juggling homeschooling, parenting, and running a business—all while keeping the house from falling apart. You dream of a routine that flows smoothly, but bottlenecks can grind everything to a halt.

Think of Applejack in My Little Pony’s “Applejack’s Day Off.” She stuck to her chores the way she’d always done them, and they took forever—until Twilight and Spike showed her a streamlined approach so she could enjoy a spa day with Rarity. Like Applejack, we all have tasks we do out of habit that slow us down. By spotting and fixing these bottlenecks, you can reclaim your time and sanity. Here’s how I do it as a homeschooling mom of 12 and freelance writer.

What Are Bottlenecks in Your WAHM Routine?

Bottlenecks are tasks or processes that slow down your entire day, creating stress and eating up time. They’re the moments when you’re stuck, whether it’s spending too long on meal planning or getting lost in social media.

By addressing these, you can streamline your routine and boost productivity. Let’s dive into how to find and fix them.

How to Identify Bottlenecks

To eliminate bottlenecks, you first need to spot them. Here’s how to reflect on your day and pinpoint problem areas:

• Reflect Daily: At the end of the day, mentally review your routine. Ask yourself:

  • Which tasks felt most stressful, and why?

  • Are any activities taking longer than they should?

  • What would make me more productive if I could eliminate it?

  • When did I feel overwhelmed or out of control?

  • Can any tasks be streamlined to save time or energy?

• Talk to Your Family: Your kids and spouse can offer valuable insights. Ask your kids what parts of the day feel chaotic or frustrating to them. If you’re married, check in with your spouse—they often notice patterns you might miss.

• Track Your Time: For a week, jot down how long tasks take. You might be surprised to see where your time goes (social media, anyone?).

My Top Bottlenecks

Over the years, I’ve used the process above to identify several bottlenecks in my life. Here are four examples of things that have gone wrong in my WAHM routine. Later in this post, I’ll share how I eliminated these.

1. Meal Planning: I used to spend hours deciding what to cook or rummaging through cupboards, wasting time and energy.

2. Homeschooling Support: With a large family and multiple grades to teach, I was stretched thin helping each one, leaving them waiting and me frazzled.

3. Cleaning: Without a plan, housework (and laundry) piled up, forcing me to spend entire days playing catch-up.

4. Social Media: What should’ve been quick business posts turned into hour-long distractions.

How to Eliminate Bottlenecks in Your WAHM Routine

Once you’ve identified your bottlenecks, it’s time to fix them. Here’s a step-by-step process to streamline your routine:

1. Prioritize Your Bottlenecks

You can’t fix everything at once. Pick the bottleneck that, if resolved, would free up the most time or reduce the most stress. Focus on that first, then move to the next. Small changes really do add up!

2. Analyze What’s Not Working

Examine your chosen bottleneck closely:

• Why is this task slowing you down?

• Is it a lack of planning, tools, or delegation?

• Brainstorm with your kids or spouse for fresh perspectives.

3. Brainstorm Solutions

Write down every possible fix, no matter how out-of-the-box. Consider:

• Can this task be moved to a different time of day?

• Could someone else (kids, spouse, or a hired helper) take it on?

• Is outsourcing an option (e.g., hiring a virtual assistant or cleaner)?

• Can you batch or automate this task?

• Does it even need to be done?

4. Test Your Solution

Pick one or two ideas and try them for at least two weeks. Consistency is key, especially if your solution involves kids learning new habits. For example, teaching kids to help with chores takes time but pays off.

5. Tweak and Refine

If your solution isn’t working, don’t scrap it entirely. Identify what’s effective, keep it, and adjust the rest. There’s always a way to make a task less overwhelming.

6. Repeat

Once you identify and remove your top bottlenecks, you’ll be more used to looking for them. And you’ll find more.

But, they won’t be so overwhelming since you’ll know how to tackle them.

Just don’t get discouraged. I still have bottlenecks I’m working on fixing. We will never actually “arrive” at a perfect WAHM routine. The goal is simply to do better today than we did yesterday.

My Solutions to Common WAHM Bottlenecks

Here’s how I tackled the four bottlenecks I mentioned earlier:

Meal Planning

I created an annual meal plan. Yes, it sounds intense, but planning meals for the year in just a few hours each July saves me daily stress. My kids love the predictable routine, and I’ve memorized recipes, making cooking faster. Previously, weekly or monthly planning felt chaotic, leaving me feeling disorganized and scrambling. Now, I avoid the “what’s for dinner” panic.

Homeschooling Support

With multiple kids needing help, I set up a rotation system. We group subjects (science, history, art) together, then I cycle through one-on-one help while others work independently or participate in structured activities, such as coloring. This keeps everyone productive and reduces wait time.

Cleaning

I implemented annual chore charts to distribute tasks among my kids. If we fall behind, we do quick 15-minute quick cleans to restore order. Teaching kids tasks like sweeping took time upfront, but now the house runs smoother without me carrying the full load.

Social Media

To stop wasting time, I:

• Use schedulers to batch-post content.

• Outsource social media planning and image creation.

• Pay for high-quality stock photos to save time.

• Focus on high-engagement platforms (Pinterest, Instagram) and drop low-value Facebook groups. I’m still working on sticking to time limits, but these changes have freed up hours.

Keep Improving Your WAHM Routine

Eliminating bottlenecks is an ongoing process. As you solve one, new ones may appear—especially as kids grow or your business evolves. Don’t get discouraged. Each fix makes your routine more efficient, giving you more time for what matters.

Pro Tip: Revisit your routine every few months. Life changes, and so should your strategies.

Your Turn: Take Action

What’s one bottleneck in your WAHM routine? Share in the comments below, and let’s brainstorm solutions together!

For more productivity tips, check out these posts:

• 10 Common Mistakes that Destroy Your Productivity
• How to Be Productive When Your Kids Are Home All Day
• 20 Ways to Boost Your Productivity as a WAHM