How to Manage Time as a Freelancer Mom Who Does Everything Herself

When I take care of my first children and working as a freelancer from home, I know that this is not an easy path.

Now, I have him who need my attention and presence. I also have a house that constantly needs to be cleaned, organized, and maintained. And I even have work waiting to be done, client deadlines that don’t pause just because I am sick, tired, or overwhelmed. All of this happens within the same twenty four hours of one body.

If housework is ignored, it piles up quickly. If freelance work is delayed, clients get disappointed and trust can slowly fade. On top of that, there is always a burnout heart when the workload becomes too heavy.

At some point, the same questions kept coming back to me. Should I choose career or family. Should I focus on work or on my children and husband. Is it even possible to do both without losing myself.

Time management is often discussed as a productivity tool, but for me, it became something else. It became a survival skill.

This does not apply only to freelancer moms. Working moms also face similar struggles. The difference is that office working moms usually have fixed working hours. Freelancer moms work from home with schedules that look flexible on paper. It sounds ideal. It looks like we can work anytime.

In reality, managing freelance work while taking care of children is far from easy. Without clear boundaries, many things get neglected or sacrificed. That is why the right approach to time management matters.

For me, time management is not about waking up extremely early, sleeping less, or pushing myself to be endlessly productive. It is about having a clear direction so I can function, stay sane, and keep going.

My Twenty Four Hours Can Be Categorized Into Three

To understand how I use my time, I started by dividing it into three simple parts.

Time for myself.

Time for family.

Time for work.

As a freelancer, no company sets my working hours. That responsibility is entirely mine. If I do not consciously choose how to spend my time, distractions take over and personal time disappears without me realizing it.

The goal is not to divide time perfectly. The goal is not balance in a mathematical sense. The real goal is awareness and intention.

Time for Myself

The first thing that often disappears when a woman becomes a stay at home mom is time for herself. I used to think this was normal. I thought sacrificing myself was part of being a good mother.

I was wrong.

Time for myself does not need to be long. Sometimes it is fifteen quiet minutes without interruptions. Sometimes it is drinking my favorite beverage, writing for five minutes, getting dressed just for myself, or taking a short walk outside.

That small space matters. It recharges emotional energy. Without it, emotions explode more easily, focus disappears, and everything feels heavier than it should.

When I have time for myself, it does not mean I am selfish. It helps me to stay mentally healthy.

Time for Family

I spend most of my time at home on domestic responsibilities, especially when children are still very young. The reason I chose freelancing over office work also because I want to witness my children growing up.

Children do not take every second of my day. They sleep. They play. They have moments when they are independent. They only truly need me when they are hungry, tired, bored, upset, or need help.

As children grow, their dependence slowly decreases. Toddlers need more hands on care, but they are also more capable than we think. Children are naturally intuitive when it comes to eating. But, when I teach them how to eat independently early, it saves me time and builds me confidence. Yes, it is messy at first, but it pays off later.

Children under three need help bathing, but after that age, they can slowly learn to bathe and dress themselves. Teaching independence is also a form of care.

Managing the House

Housework becomes lighter when it is structured. I separate tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly lists.

Daily tasks include cleaning floors, washing dishes, and laundry.

Weekly tasks include grocery shopping, bathroom cleaning, and yard maintenance.

Monthly tasks include financial planning, meal scheduling, and bigger household needs.

And yes, intimacy with my husband also matters. Marriage needs care too.

Time for Work

Freelancing can be enjoyable. More work often means more income. But work is also the area that needs the strongest boundaries.

When time is unmanaged, work can take more time and space. Late nights become normal. Weekends disappear. Family time gets replaced with deadlines. Health eventually suffers.

Even with flexible hours, I still decide when I work and when I stop. I just want to make sure each project has a clear time frame from start to finish.

Final Thoughts

When I categorized my time, doesn’t mean I need to divide my 24 hours perfectly or each area should gets exactly eight hours.

It means clarity.

When it is time to rest, I rest.

When it is time to handle household responsibilities, I focus on them.

When it is time to work, I work without guilt.

Some days work takes more space. Other days family does. Sometimes I need more time for myself. None of that means failure.

It is adaptation.

And when I am able to shape my twenty four hours with intention, I know this. I am present. I am strong. And I am fully capable as a freelancer mom.