5 Things you don’t have to do as a parent (if you don’t want to)






As parents, there are lots things on our to-do list that seem essential, but in reality, they’re not always as important as we first think.

Trying to do everything can leave us feeling overwhelmed and burnt out.

Let’s take a bit of a breather and let go of these 5 things (if you want to):

Cook every meal from scratch.

Preparing home-cooked meals is important, but it doesn't have to be done for every meal. You can opt for simple, healthy meals that take less time to prepare, or if budget allows, you can outsource it to meal delivery services, meal prep companies or take turns hosting an extended family or friends dinner night to help take some of the burden off your shoulders.


Keep up with a spotless house.

Keeping a clean and tidy house is important, but you don't have to strive for perfection. A little mess and clutter is normal in a family household. Focus on maintaining the areas that matter the most - kitchen, bathroom, rubbish, and washing - the rest can be done a little less and you can also delegate chores to other family members to share the workload.


Attend every event and activity.

As a parent, it's easy to feel like you have to attend every social event to keep up with your family, friends and community. But trying to attend everything is only going to lead to burnout. You need down time for you and your family too! Prioritise the activities that matter the most to you and your family, and don't feel guilty about saying no to others. Keep the no short & sweet - “Thanks but I can’t make it to that one” - and move on.


Volunteer for every school thing.

Volunteering at school is important, but you don't have to do it for every activity. Focus on the ones that are most meaningful to you and your kids, and kindly but firmly say no to the others. Your time is valuable too.

Do everything on your own.

It's easy to feel like you have to do everything on your own, especially when the kids are little. It can feel like it’s easier to just do it yourself rather than explain what you need done and how to do it, but the more you reach out to family, friends, and professionals for help, the less pressure you’ll feel to be the superhero and handle it all. It’s ok to ask for help regularly and have sharing the load become the new normal, and it gets easier every time you do it.

I hope you found these ideas helpful! If you’re ready for next steps in organising your home & life, you might want to check out my popular House & Family Binder. It’s a simple set of prints to help you get organised and run your household without stress or overwhelm.


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