How to Create a Time Budget
Do you ever feel like you’re constantly busy but never actually getting ahead? You start the day with good intentions, but somehow, it slips away—leaving you feeling scattered, frustrated, and behind.
For many homemakers, the problem isn’t a lack of time—it’s a lack of clarity on where that time is going. Without a plan, the hours get filled with distractions, urgent tasks, and mental overwhelm.
You can listen to this lesson below:
When I was a young mom I often found myself at the end of the day think, “What did I even do today?” It often felt like at the end of the day that I had accomplished very little. And the truth is, when you have young children, managing your time and feeling productive is more challenging. Little ones need more attention, they require more hands on time – and more eyeballs on them. Your time is not your own!
But that’s okay. It’s all part of God’s design. Children needs their mamas. What a precious thing!
By the time I had my fourth baby, I was feeling more confident in my mothering – and my homemaking. Homemaking is a skill you can learn – and so is managing your time.
For a lot of us, we didn’t learn how to do all of these things when we were growing up. Maybe your mom didn’t really know how to teach you or she was struggling herself, maybe your mom worked outside the home and didn’t have time to teach you. The reason doesn’t really matter -what matters is knowing that you have the ability to grow as a homemaker and learn new skills.
Time management is one of those skills that can be learned – and with consistent practice you can create better habits.
And here’s the good news: You don’t need more hours in the day—you just need a simple way to manage the time you already have. Which is good because we all get the same 24 hours in a day, haha.
This is where a personalized time budget comes in.
Creating Your Personalized Time Budget: How to Assign Time for What Matters
Just like a financial budget helps you take control of your money, a time budget helps you take control of your days—so you can focus on what truly matters without feeling exhausted.
Here’s the truth: It’s not about having more time—it’s about knowing where your time is going.
Step 1: Track Where Your Time Is Going
Before we can fix your time struggles, we need to see where your time is disappearing. For the next 2-3 days, use the Time Audit Worksheet (download below) and simply write down everything you do.
💡 Don’t judge yourself. Just observe. This step isn’t about perfection—it’s about awareness.
👉 Example Time Log Entry:
- 7:00 AM – Wake up, scroll phone
- 7:30 AM – Make coffee, start breakfast
- 8:00 AM – Kids up, getting dressed, breakfast
- 9:00 AM – Clean kitchen, throw in laundry
- 10:00 AM – Got distracted, forgot laundry, started organizing a closet
- 11:30 AM – Lunch prep, dealing with interruptions
After a couple of days, patterns will emerge. You’ll see:
✅ What takes longer than expected
✅ Where distractions are stealing time
✅ Tasks that could be grouped together
Step 2: Identify Your Biggest “Time Leaks”
Now, look at your time log and ask yourself:
- Where am I spending time unintentionally? (e.g., scrolling social media, running around without a plan)
- What tasks take longer than they should?
- What interruptions pull me away from what I planned?
Common Time Leaks:
- Scrolling on your phone “for a minute” and losing 30 minutes
- Checking email/messages all day instead of at set times
- Running errands without a plan (wasting time on extra trips)
- Multitasking but never finishing anything
💡 Time leaks aren’t about blame—they’re about awareness. Once you see them, you can fix them.
Step 3: Create Your Personalized Time Budget
Now that you see where your time is going, we’ll create a simple time budget to give structure to your day.
Key Principle: Assign Time Before It Gets Taken
Think of your time like money—if you don’t tell it where to go, it disappears.
Here’s how to structure your time budget:
- First, add the essentials (the things that must happen daily).
- Next, add homemaking tasks in small time blocks.
- Finally, build in time for rest, fun, and personal time.
Example Time Budget (Adjust for Your Needs):
| Time Block | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM | Morning quiet time / prayer |
| 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Breakfast & morning cleanup |
| 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM | Get kids ready, start laundry |
| 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Homemaking task (cleaning, organizing) |
| 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Baby naptime, Personal time (hobby, journaling) |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Lunch prep & kitchen cleanup |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Errands or homemaking tasks |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Rest / kids’ quiet time or naptime |
| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Work on a project or deep cleaning |
| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Afternoon reset before Dad gets home (laundry, dinner prep) |
| 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM | Family time & dinner |
| 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Evening cleanup & wind down |
| 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Family Worship, games, free time, etc. |
| 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM | Relax & prep for bed, start dishwasher |
💡 Your time budget is flexible! The goal isn’t perfection—it’s giving your day a rhythm so you know what to focus on.
The Time Audit and Reflection Worksheets:
Step 4: Adjust & Simplify
Your first time budget won’t be perfect, and that’s okay! Here’s how to make it work:
✔ Start small. Just adjust one or two areas at first.
✔ Give yourself grace. Some days will go off track, and that’s normal.
✔ Refine as needed. After a week, tweak anything that isn’t working.
Step 5: Next Steps Inside The Homemaker’s Society
Now that you have a clear picture of where your time is going, it’s time to build routines that stick.
Click here to become a member!
Starting in March, our theme is Time Management! If you’re a member of The Homemaker’s Society, we’ll be walking through:
✅ How to stop distractions from derailing your day
✅ The 3-Step Process to create a homemaking routine that actually works
✅ Printable Routine Builder Templates
🎉 Join the discussion inside the group!
💬 Prompt: What is the biggest time suck for you when it comes to managing your day?
Homemaking doesn’t have to feel chaotic. By creating a simple time budget, you’re taking the first step toward a home that runs smoothly—without feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. Your time is valuable. Now, you’re in control of how you use it. 💛
More Ideas You’ll Love
- The Revenge Bedtime Procrastination Habit
- Using a Timer for Efficient Homemaking
- 5 Homemaking Habits That Really Make a Difference
Action Steps to Take Today
- Pray and ask God to give you clarity and awareness of how you spend your time.
- Track your time for 2-3 days using the worksheets provided below.
- Create your first time budget—even if it’s just a very simple one!
- Share your biggest takeaway inside Facebook Group!
Free Printable Time Audit Worksheets
The Time Audit Reflection Worksheets help you track your daily activities, identify time leaks, and make simple adjustments for better time management.
How to Download
- If you’re a member of The Homemaker’s Society, you’ll find your link to download the set of Time Audit Worksheets (8 pages) below.
- Become a member of The Homemaker’s Society. and you’ll get instant access to this Time Audit Worksheets and hundreds of other helpful resources for your home as part of your membership.
- FREE for non-members too! If you aren’t ready to become a member yet, just fill out the form below and you’ll get the Time Audit Worksheet sent straight to your inbox!
- OR, you can purchase the printable Time Audit Worksheets here!
Members Only Download here
Just click on the link below to download your notebook. Don’t forget that you can find this and hundreds of printables in the Resource Libraries!
