With the school year back in full swing, do you feel like you are trying to keep 15 balls in the air, just waiting for them to drop? With 3 children, our schedule is very busy, but with these few easy tips for busy moms, we have managed to make our week run much smoother.

We are about a month into school and we have 3 kids in 3 different schools this year – one in each – elementary, middle, & high school. Add in sports & extra curricular activities and our weekdays and B.U.S.Y. From the moment my feet hit the floor at 6AM til my head hits the pillow (sometimes as early as 9PM), I feel like I am on the go.

This year, I was determined to work smarter in both my business and home life and have been putting a few concepts into play that are making me a much more sane and productive person. Not only am I getting more done, but I am much less stressed than I usually find myself.

I made the conscious choice this year that I didn’t want to be that mom that was always forgetting important details (like open house or missing permission slips…yes it’s happened) and always running 15 minutes late to everything. I looked into ways that I could be more productive and happier and have been trying them out over the past 4 weeks.

I didn’t advertise to my family that I was doing anything differently but with a few minor tweaks that I am going to share with you below, everyone, including my 7 year old, has noticed a difference. And while our family is not running like a well-oiled machine (cause honestly, whose does??), we have been having some pretty great weeks with a lot less stress.

5 Quick Tips for Busy Moms to Make Your Week Run Smoother

Tips for Busy Moms: Get Organized on Sunday

Take the time each Sunday afternoon to prepare for the upcoming week. Look at your calendar to mentally prepare for the meetings, appointments, games, and activities that you and your family may have. I also create our weekly menu and grocery list on Sundays and either make that weekly trip to the grocery store on Sunday or first thing Monday morning. Sunday is also a good time to ensure homework is completed for the week or to at least have the conversations with the kids on what upcoming assignments/tests they may have. By having everything organized on Sunday, before the week starts, we are both physically and mentally prepared for the week.

Tips for Busy Moms: Work from a Schedule

Another way I like to stay on top of my week is by physically writing out our schedule. I like to work with a paper calendar & agenda and I take the time to schedule out each day of the week – from kids practices to what I need to get done each work day. It may just be the way I am wired but I work well when I have a to do list in front of me. I create the weekly list on Sunday (see above) and divide it out across the week. It helps keep me accountable to each day and I find myself getting much more done this way.

I’m not going to recommend or advise a specific system of scheduling, as everyone has their own way that works best. But I am highly recommending that you take the time each week to make a schedule.

Tips for Busy Moms: Invest in Your Health

If you are anything like me, you keep the family running. And if you don’t keep yourself healthy, everything falls apart. For the longest time, I used to put off my health for my family – I would find excuses to not exercise or eat healthy because I was too busy taking care of my family, or putting my work first.

In the past month, I have added in 60 mins of exercise to each day. I have also taken the time to plan our healthy meals for my family. And I have made a point of getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night (yes, I know 8 is ideal, but our days start at 5 am!). Because I am taking the time to take care of myself, I physically feel better, I have more energy, and I am in a much better mood. I can see the difference in myself and how it helps our family run better.

Tips for Busy Moms: Plan for Healthy Snacks

One of the changes I have made in eating better was the addition of snacks, so I am eating 5 times a day. By adding in a small, healthy snack at mid-morning and mid-afternoon, my metabolism stays humming all day and I’m never hungry.

One of my favorite go-to snacks are LALA Yogurt Smoothies. Beyond being convenient, grab-and -go snacks, they taste delicious – so much easier to have over the boring, every-day yogurt cup. Made with real fruit, they also provide the nutrition needed to power your day – including protein, calcium and Vitamins A & D. Personally, I love the LALA Curb Yogurt Smoothie as it has 10g of protein, 5 grams of fiber and 8 grams of whole grains. It helps keep me full so I’m not snacking on junk later.

My daughter likes to take a LALA Yogurt Smoothie with her to school. During the fall, she has both cross country and soccer practice each morning and needs as much protein and nutritional goodness as she can get. She likes the convenience of the grab-and-go bottles that she can drink in-between the two practices. Plus, she loves how yummy they are. It’s a win-win.

Tips for Busy Moms: Take Time to De-Stress

As important as your health is, it’s just as important to keep the stress away. By recognizing what triggers your stress and/or finding ways to relax, you can help keep yourself sane during times where you would normally stress-out. What do you love to do? Take the time to do that. How do you like to relax? Make sure to call upon that when you feel stressed.

Back to my Sundays again, I try to take an hour to do something I really like. Lately, I have been reading some great books so I make a point of taking an hour each week to be alone with a great book – by the pool, on the patio under my tree, or even curled up on the couch, I love taking a little time for me.

By incorporating a few little changes in your daily life, you will see a noticeable difference in your self and your family. What tips work for your family? Share them below.

Go to LALAFoods.com to find LALA Yogurt Smoothies near you

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LALA Yogurt Smooothies. The opinions and text are all mine.